Avoid These 7 Common Mistakes to Succeed on Walmart Marketplace

Understanding the Walmart Marketplace

Selling on Walmart Marketplace offers a huge opportunity for eCommerce sellers looking to expand beyond Amazon. However, many sellers make critical mistakes that can hinder their success. If you’re looking to maximize sales and grow your Walmart store, avoid these common pitfalls.

1. Treating Walmart Like Amazon

One of the biggest mistakes sellers make is assuming that what works on Amazon will automatically work on Walmart. While both are major online marketplaces, they have different algorithms, customer expectations, and operational rules.

Key Differences Between Walmart and Amazon:

Pricing Matters More on Walmart – Walmart prioritizes competitive pricing and expects sellers to offer the lowest price available, even compared to their own Amazon listings.

Strict Content and SEO Guidelines – Walmart has different product listing requirements, meaning optimized Amazon listings don’t always translate well.

Fulfillment Options Differ – Unlike Amazon’s FBA, Walmart’s WFS (Walmart Fulfillment Services) operates differently, with specific storage fees and restrictions.

Sellers who copy and paste their Amazon strategies often struggle. Instead, tailor your approach to Walmart’s unique ecosystem.

2. Ignoring Walmart’s Pricing Rules

Walmart is highly price-sensitive and enforces strict price parity policies. If your product is priced lower on another platform (even your own website), Walmart may suppress your listing, making it invisible to buyers.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

- Regularly monitor pricing across all sales channels.
- Use repricing tools to ensure compliance with Walmart’s pricing policies.
We suggest only Flashpricer as other take Amazon pricing and apply it to Walmart or don't correct the API errors.
- Consider Walmart’s Price Leadership Rule when setting prices to avoid suppression.

3. Poorly Optimized Product Listings

Many sellers simply copy their Amazon listings to Walmart without adjusting for Walmart’s SEO and content guidelines. Walmart’s algorithm prioritizes different ranking factors, including clarity, completeness, and competitiveness.

How to Optimize Your Walmart Listings:

Titles: Keep them concise, keyword-rich, and focused on the product’s primary use.
Bullet Points & Descriptions: Use structured, easy-to-read formatting.
High-Quality Images: Walmart favors professional images with a plain white background.
Attributes & Keywords: Ensure all relevant product attributes are filled out to increase visibility.

4. Ignoring Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS)

Many sellers underestimate the power of Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS). Unlike FBA, WFS provides benefits like higher search rankings and Walmart+ eligibility, which can significantly boost conversions.

Why Consider WFS?

- Products fulfilled by WFS are more likely to win the Buy Box.
- Walmart+ members prefer WFS items due to free shipping benefits.
- Faster delivery times lead to higher customer satisfaction and better reviews.

5. Overlooking Walmart’s Customer Experience Standards

Walmart holds sellers to high performance metrics. Failure to maintain strong customer service can result in penalties, lower visibility, or even suspension.

How to Maintain a Strong Reputation:

Fast & Reliable Shipping: Ensure timely order fulfillment to meet Walmart’s standards.
Customer Response Time: Walmart expects fast responses to buyer inquiries, ideally within 24 hours.
Monitor Return & Cancellation Rates: Keep these low to maintain a positive seller rating.

Neglecting Customer Feedback

Customer reviews and feedback are crucial components of the Walmart Marketplace ecosystem. Ignoring negative feedback or failing to address customer complaints can damage your reputation. Actively engage with your customers, respond to their concerns, and use feedback to improve your offerings.

Lack of Marketing Efforts

Simply listing products on the Walmart Marketplace isn't enough. You need a robust marketing strategy to drive traffic to your listings. Consider using social media, email marketing, and sponsored ads to increase visibility. Consistent marketing efforts can significantly boost sales and brand awareness.

Conclusion

Succeeding on the Walmart Marketplace requires attention to detail and strategic planning. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can position your business for growth and success. Focus on compliance, optimize your listings, manage inventory effectively, and engage with customers proactively. By doing so, you'll be well on your way to becoming a successful seller on Walmart Marketplace.