How to Grow Your Walmart Marketplace Sales Without Getting Suspended

Every business owner aims to maximize their operations and increase brand awareness, which can lead to eCommerce success on platforms like Walmart Marketplace. But selling online comes with its own set of challenges. One common issue is account suspensions due to avoidable rule violations.

New sellers often face account suspensions, not because they’re reckless, but because they’re unaware of Walmart’s strict guidelines. While making mistakes when you’re just starting is understandable, it’s crucial to learn the rules and best practices to protect your seller account.

In this blog, we’ll cover how to join Walmart Marketplace, why some sellers get suspended, and tips to help you avoid common pitfalls and grow your business on this platform.

What is Walmart Marketplace and Why Should You Sell There?

Like Amazon and eBay, Walmart Marketplace allows third-party sellers to list and sell their products on Walmart.com. However, Walmart is more selective about the sellers it accepts, ensuring the platform maintains high-quality products and services for shoppers.

But why choose Walmart Marketplace over other platforms?

1. Increased Visibility and Reach

With over 380 million monthly site visitors, Walmart.com offers sellers unparalleled access to a vast customer base. Your products will also appear in Walmart’s mobile app and search engine results, enhancing your online visibility. Sellers can further boost product visibility by utilizing Walmart Sponsored Products for pay-per-click (PPC) ad campaigns.

2. Less Competition

Amazon supports a vast network of 2 million active sellers, while Walmart Marketplace has a smaller community of about 150,000 sellers. Less competition means you have a better chance to stand out and connect with Walmart’s loyal customer base.

3. Lower Selling Costs

Walmart Marketplace only charges sellers a referral fee, ranging from 6% to 20%, depending on the product category. Unlike Amazon, there are no monthly subscription fees or upfront costs, making it a cost-effective option for new sellers.

4. Convenient Fulfillment with Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS)

Much like Amazon FBA, Walmart offers its fulfillment service known as Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS). This program lets you store your inventory in Walmart’s warehouses. Walmart takes care of packing, shipping, customer service, and returns, allowing you to concentrate on scaling your business.

5. Free 2-Day Shipping

Walmart offers free 2-day shipping on orders over $35, without requiring a subscription like Amazon Prime. This competitive shipping option can help you win more customers and boost your product rankings.

Why Do Some Sellers Get Suspended on Walmart Marketplace?

While Walmart is a great platform, it’s also strict when it comes to seller performance and policy adherence. Below are the common reasons why some sellers find their accounts suspended:

1. Failure to Meet Seller Performance Standards

Walmart closely monitors seller performance through metrics such as:

• Order Defect Rate (ODR): Should remain below 2%.
• On-Time Shipment Rate: Should exceed 99%.
• Valid Tracking Rate: Must be higher than 99%, ensuring buyers can track their shipments.

Sellers failing to meet these benchmarks risk account suspension.

2. Non-Compliance with Walmart’s Retailer Agreement

Sellers must agree to follow Walmart’s Retailer Agreement, which includes regulations about not selling counterfeit, used, or prohibited products. Violating this agreement can lead to account suspension or product delisting.

3. Trust and Safety Violations

Walmart takes its Trust and Safety Standards seriously. Selling prohibited or offensive products, or infringing on intellectual property rights, can result in a suspension.

4. Pricing Violations

Sellers at Walmart are required to follow its Every Day Low Prices (EDLP) strategy. Your prices must align with other marketplaces and competitive sellers. Repeated pricing violations can lead to account suspensions or SKU delistings.

How to Avoid Getting Suspended on Walmart Marketplace

To prevent account suspension and ensure your Walmart Marketplace journey is smooth, follow these best practices:

1. Understand and Comply with Walmart’s Policies

Familiarize yourself with Walmart’s seller policies, marketplace guidelines, and prohibited product lists. Keep an eye on policy updates to avoid non-compliance issues. 

2. Maintain Accurate Listings

Make sure all product details, images, prices, and descriptions are correct. Misleading or inaccurate listings can result in customer complaints, which harm your seller metrics.

3. Offer Competitive Pricing

Ensure your prices comply with Walmart’s pricing standards, including price parity across platforms. Offering competitive prices will also help you win the Walmart Buy Box.

4. Deliver on Time

To maintain a high on-time shipment rate, ensure that all orders are shipped promptly with valid tracking information. Walmart’s system expects a minimum 99% on-time delivery rate.

5. Prioritize Customer Satisfaction

Ensure quick responses to customer questions and address concerns as soon as possible. A high customer satisfaction score will improve your seller metrics and reduce the risk of suspension.

6. Work with Experts

If you’re unsure about Walmart’s policies or how to maintain good performance metrics, consider consulting a Walmart account manager or a third-party service like Pro Seller Marketing. Experts can help you navigate the platform and prevent costly mistakes.

Final Thoughts: Protect Your Seller Account and Thrive on Walmart Marketplace

Selling on Walmart Marketplace is a great opportunity, but it’s important to follow their rules and maintain excellent performance. By avoiding common mistakes and focusing on customer satisfaction, you can protect your seller account and grow your business on this platform.

Ready to elevate your Walmart Marketplace sales?  Let Pro Seller Marketing manage your account and drive your business growth. Contact us today to learn how we can help you avoid account suspension and maximize your sales!