One convenient thing about shopping at Walmart is that you can do so online with Walmart’s eCommerce platform, having access to millions of products without ever having to leave your house.
If you’ve been on Walmart’s website, you may have seen something called Walmart Marketplace and wondered what it was. If you’d like to find out, continue reading to see what I learned!
What Is Walmart Marketplace In [currentyear]?
Walmart Marketplace allows third-party sellers to sell products on Walmart’s website as of [currentyear]. Walmart Marketplace also allows companies to expand its customer base and have access to Walmart’s omnichannel network. Additionally, Walmart makes it simple for Marketplace sellers to integrate its products on the website, manage orders, offer customer support, and arrange shipping.
If you want to learn more about Walmart Marketplace, like other advantages to selling on the Walmart website, what items are prohibited on Marketplace, how you return Marketplace purchases, and much more, keep reading for more facts!
What Is Walmart Marketplace?
Walmart Marketplace is a specially curated network of professional sellers who sell their products on Walmart’s website.
Additionally, Walmart assures its customers that Marketplace sellers are respectable and only offer top-quality, authentic products on the platform.
Further, Walmart integrated the Marketplace feature so customers can access even more products than what Walmart itself can offer.
On top of that, Walmart wants the Marketplace to be an easy-to-use outlet for sellers to integrate their product catalog, manage orders, arrange shipments, and provide customer support.
What Are the Advantages of Selling with Walmart Marketplace?
Perhaps the most apparent advantage of sellers using Walmart Marketplace to sell products is having access to Walmart’s enormous customer base.
Millions of people shop at Walmart every day, so sellers can vastly expand their customer reach with Marketplace. Also, Marketplace sellers have the opportunity to partner with the world’s biggest innovative omnichannel retailer.
For example, with Walmart, shipping is more efficient, and doing so is much cheaper. Essentially, Walmart Marketplace makes doing business a lot simpler and more streamlined for third parties.
What Products Does Walmart Marketplace Sell?
Walmart allows a broad range of products on the Marketplace site, so you can find almost anything you’re looking for.
Naturally, Walmart Marketplace sellers must follow Walmart’s policies and abide by product limitations.
Therefore, Walmart recommends potential Marketplace sellers review the Prohibited Products Policy for more information.
Moreover, some of the items that are prohibited on Walmart Marketplace include the following:
- Alcohol
- Natural fur products
- Fossils
- Mini bikes
- ATVs
- Digital products
Of course, this is only a tiny portion of the prohibited items on Walmart Marketplace. For a complete list, review Walmart’s policy here.
Can You Return Things You Bought on Walmart Marketplace?
You can return items you bought from a third-party Walmart Marketplace seller.
However, keep in mind that Marketplace sellers can implement their own return policies that may be different from Walmart’s corporate return policy.
Go to your purchase history on walmart.com and click the “Contact Seller” button to inquire about returns.
Additionally, before you buy something from a Marketplace seller, make sure you check the product reviews from past customers who purchased things from the seller.
By doing this, you can see whether or not the Marketplace seller issues returns and if other people recommend buying stuff from them.
How Do You Return Items From Walmart Marketplace?
Even though Marketplace returns are slightly different from Walmart’s return policy, the retail company has minimum return standards in place to ensure a consistent customer experience.
Before you initiate a return, it’s essential to make sure your product is eligible for a return. For example, Walmart’s minimum standards for returns are as follows:
- Electronics: 14 days to return products from the original purchase date
- Luxury items: 14 days to return products from the original purchase date
- Other items: 30 days to return products from the original purchase date
More specifically, the following products fall under the “Electronics” category for Marketplace items:
- Computers
- Computer and video game hardware
- Printers (excluding 3D printers)
- Camcorders
- Digital cameras
- GPS units
- Digital music players
- Tablets
- E-readers
- Portable video players
- Drones
- Prepaid and postpaid cell phones
Additionally, the following items are considered “Luxury items” under Walmart Marketplace standards:
- Fine Art
- Loose Gems & Gemstones
- Jewelry & Watches above $300
- Collectibles (e.g., Coins, Stamps)
- Memorabilia
- Precious Metals
If your product qualifies for a return, you’ll need to contact the Marketplace seller to find out how they would like to process the return.
With that, some Marketplace sellers ask that you pay for shipping and send the original product back. However, others will issue you a return and cover the shipping costs for you.
How Do You Know If an Item Is Sold by a Third-Party Seller on Walmart’s Website?
If you’re shopping on walmart.com, there isn’t a dedicated section for Walmart Marketplace sellers.
Instead, Marketplace sellers’ products are seamlessly integrated with other products based on category.
However, it’s still very easy to identify whether or not a product is sold by a third-party seller or Walmart itself.
For example, on a product page, the item will include a small text reading “Sold and shipped by.” Then, either “Walmart” or a different company is listed.
So, if the name after the “Sold and shipped by” text is a name other than Walmart, you know it’s a Marketplace seller. On the other hand, if the text reads “Walmart,” you know that Walmart is selling and shipping the item to you.
How Many Walmart Marketplace Sellers Are There?
Currently, Walmart Marketplace boasts more than 100,000 sellers, which continues to grow.
In a single year, Walmart saw 31,000 people join the Marketplace platforms, and the company says it expects the rate to continue growing.
Additionally, Walmart recently opened the Marketplace platform to include international sellers.
Does Walmart Ship Marketplace Orders?
Walmart does ship Marketplace orders, but only if the seller is enrolled in the Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) program.
With this program, Marketplace sellers can store their inventory at Walmart fulfillment centers for a fee.
Then, when a customer places an order, WFS packs and ships the item for the Marketplace seller. Additionally, WFS handles all customer service and returns for these orders.
If you want to know more about Walmart, you can also read our posts on Walmart Marketplace return policy, how to get free shipping at Walmart, and if Walmart is a supermarket.
Conclusion
Walmart Marketplace is an online platform that allows people to sell products on Walmart’s website. Currently, Walmart Marketplace includes over 100,000 sellers, which continues to grow.
Also, Walmart Marketplace sellers can alter their return policies, so it’s different from the Walmart corporate return policy. Therefore, it’s best to check with a Marketplace seller directly to inquire about their return policy.
