News & Announcements
Improve Your Listing Quality Performance
In case you missed it, last month we introduced a new set of criteria for the Pro Seller Badge and paused the next badge cycle until October 5. Until then, all sellers who currently hold the badge will retain their badges and if you become eligible for the badge during this grace period, you’ll receive the badge in October.
Later this month, we’re refreshing the Listing Quality Dashboard with a new name: Listing Quality and Rewards. We’ll also be updating the dashboard with more detailed information so you can better understand how to improve your listings. Head over to the dashboard now to check your score and learn how you can boost your Listing Quality just in time for the holidays.
*Walmart reserves the right to remove any badges from existing sellers if they violate any policies during this time frame.
Guide for Responding to Customer Messages in Message Center
Addressing customer inquiries is even easier now with the new Message Center enhancements in Seller Center. For example, sellers can now quickly reply to messages using pre-written templates that insert customer order details, view the remaining time left to respond, and flag and report spam.
Plus, read our Sell Better blog for 8 best practices to implement in your customer communication process, so you can continue to meet customer expectations with high-quality, timely responses.
Scale Your Business Operations with Fiverr
Take the stress out of finding the best talent for your projects with Fiverr, a digital suite of freelancers who specialize in over 500 different services such as Item Setup, marketing, content creation, and more. Quickly grow your business at a low cost with service packages starting at $5. Also, Walmart Marketplace sellers get 10% off their first purchase using code WALMART10.
Unpublished Item Dashboard Resources
The Unpublished Items dashboard in Seller Center not only provides detailed insights into unpublished items but it also includes tools sellers can use to quickly return their items to sell on Walmart.com. For example, if an item is unpublished due to “Reasonable Price Not Satisfied” and you believe your item is reasonably priced, use the Incorrect Match Tool to easily submit a comparable item URL.
If the option to submit an incorrect match is not available, please create a case for Partner Support and provide the item ID(s) and competitor URL(s).
Better Financial Insights Coming Soon
We’re refreshing the Financial Overview dashboard in Seller Center later this month to give sellers more user-friendly navigation, additional data points, and better visualizations when tracking their financial performance. Plus, we’re redefining how we measure Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) and will now determine the calculation based on “Auth Sales – Cancelled Sales – Returns.”
BigCommerce Make it Big Conference
New Full Item Setup Spec Version
We are excited to introduce Item Spec 4.3, an improved version of the Full Item Spec sheet, designed to simplify the Item Setup process. Some enhancements include:
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- Updated 65 variant attributes to provide more consistency
- New External Product Identifier field that will help you competitively price match your items
- Image definitions have been updated for clarity
Item Setup Workflow Improvements Coming Soon
We are working on improvements to the Item Setup and management workflows in Seller Center. In the coming months, sellers will experience more user-friendly navigation including new “add items” and “update items” buttons, and more tool tips to help you in case you get stuck. Stay tuned for updates!
Payments & Tax
Payment Fees
As a reminder, in accordance with our Seller Promise, our default payment method is “direct deposit” to your bank account with no fees to you, ensuring that you receive 100% of your funds.
Requirements for no fee payments:
- Enrollment with your payment processor must be initiated from your Seller Center account.
- Payment must be delivered to a U.S. or Canadian bank account that supports direct deposit (ACH).
If you are paying fees today and wish to change to “no fees payment delivery”, please contact your payment service provider (Payoneer or Hyperwallet). You will need to have your business bank account details available when you contact them.
IRS Mandates
IRS mandates require Walmart to ensure that your tax profile on file with us is accurate and a W-9 or W-8 form is on file with your payment processor.
Please note, that in order to comply with this mandate, we will be verifying seller tax IDs and legal names on file with us with the IRS and we may contact you if your information cannot be verified.
How do I verify my tax profile is correct?
- Login to Seller Center
- Select “Tax Profile” under “Settings” on the top menu bar
- Verify that your:
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- Legal name in the Name field
- Tax ID (TIN)
- Tax classification (W-9, W8-ECI, W-8BEN) are correct.
- If the information shown is correct, please open a Partner Support case for further assistance
- If you made changes to your tax profile, you will be notified after the information has been verified
We are also working with Payoneer and Hyperwallet to ensure that every seller receiving payments has a W-9 or W8ECI/W-8BEN-E form on file with them. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in payment delays.
What happens if I don’t correct my information?
If after 30 days, you have not updated your information or opened a Partner Support case, your payments may be suspended until we can verify your tax information with the IRS. Further actions may include, but are not limited to:
- Collecting backup withholding on gross payments at the rate of 24%, as directed by the IRS
- An IRS-imposed $280 penalty for incorrect information if updates are not made before your 1099-K form is filed for the calendar year (penalty assessed each year information remains incorrect)
- Additional solicitations from Walmart to obtain correct information
Please refer to the IRS for more detailed information.
Policies & Guidelines
Arkansas Online Marketplace Consumer Inform Act Reminder
In compliance with the Arkansas Online Marketplace Consumer Inform Act, all Walmart Marketplace sellers are required to provide a valid Business Name, Address, and Customer Service Phone Number in Seller Center. Please make any necessary updates to your seller account as soon as possible.
Prohibited Products Policy Reminder
We want to remind you of our Prohibited Products Policy, which lists the types of products that are prohibited and/or restricted from the Walmart Marketplace. The policy is subject to change so please periodically review the page.
Walmart will remove any product listings that per our discretion may be in violation of Law, the Prohibited Products Policy, or any other Walmart policy. Please consult with your legal counsel if you have questions about the laws and regulations concerning your products. Note that corrective action may be taken on your account as needed due to violations of our policies, this may include suspension and/or termination of your account.
If you have questions about our Prohibited Products Policy or would like additional guidance, please create a case for Partner Support and reference code TNS.
Review the Walmart Seller Pricing Policy
We want to remind sellers that the Walmart Marketplace pricing policy is in place to ensure that customers have access to fair, competitive prices for products offered by sellers on Walmart Marketplace.
For all products, including products such as hand sanitizers, cleaning agents, face masks, etc., we require sellers to continue to adhere to Marketplace policies regarding price and advertising claims to ensure customer trust in Walmart Marketplace. Products that are priced in violation of the pricing policy will be removed. Please refer to the Pricing Policy and our Prohibited Products Policy for more information.
If prices change and the item now falls within the acceptable range, the item will automatically republish, typically within 48 hours. If more than 48 hours has passed and you believe your item remains incorrectly unpublished, please create a case with Partner Support.
Product Restrictions - Pre-Approval Categories
Walmart strives to be the most trusted retailer, having a marketplace that is inclusive, robust and compliant is one of our highest priorities. As per our Prohibited Products Policy, please be aware that the following categories require pre-approval from Walmart before a Seller may offer such products on the Marketplace.
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- Fragrance
- Luxury brands
- Software
- Cell Phones and Accessories
- Halloween and select seasonal products
- Custom Content
Sellers may apply for approval to offer products in these categories by contacting Partner Support and selecting: Items/Inventory > My item is unpublished. Include a list of the brands or products you wish to sell. Approvals will be granted for specific brands or products within these categories. Please note that approval may be retracted if there are any legal claims related to products or if your products, or account are found to be in violation of any of our policies.
If you have questions about category restrictions or our Prohibited Products Policy, please create a case via Seller Center with the code “TNS”.
Security & Privacy
Walmart protects your security and privacy. We will never ask for personal information (such as passwords or credit card numbers) in an email. If you receive such a request, please do not respond to the email.
