Selling on Walmart Marketplace can be a lucrative opportunity for eCommerce businesses, but it comes with strict policies and guidelines. Violating Walmart’s rules can lead to account suspensions, listing removals, or even permanent bans, hurting your sales and reputation.
To help you stay compliant and maximize your success, we’ve compiled a list of the most common Walmart Marketplace violations—and actionable tips on how to avoid them.
1. Listing Policy Violations
Common Issues:
Inaccurate product titles, descriptions, or images
Misuse of Walmart’s brand names or trademarks
Incorrect categorization of products
How to Avoid Them:
✔ Use clear, accurate product titles (include brand, model, size, color, etc.).
✔ Ensure descriptions match the product exactly—no misleading claims.
✔ Upload high-quality images that comply with Walmart’s standards.
✔ Select the correct product category to avoid misplacement.
2. Pricing Violations
Common Issues:
Selling at higher prices than on other platforms (Price Parity Rule violation)
Hidden fees or unexpected charges at checkout
How to Avoid Them:
✔ Maintain price consistency—Walmart requires that your product prices (including shipping) are equal to or lower than on other marketplaces.
✔ Avoid surprise costs—clearly display all fees upfront.
✔ Use repricing tools to stay competitive while complying with Walmart’s policies.
3. Shipping and Fulfillment Violations
Common Issues:
Late shipments or failure to meet delivery promises
Using unapproved carriers or shipping methods
Incorrect tracking information
How to Avoid Them:
✔ Ship orders on time—Walmart requires sellers to meet specified handling times.
✔ Use Walmart-approved carriers (FedEx, UPS, USPS, etc.).
✔ Provide accurate tracking details to avoid order cancellations.
✔ Consider Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) for reliable, fast shipping.
4. Prohibited and Restricted Items
Common Issues:
Selling banned products (e.g., weapons, illegal substances, counterfeit goods)
Listing restricted items without approval (e.g., pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements)
How to Avoid Them:
✔ Review Walmart’s Prohibited Products Policy before listing.
✔ Obtain necessary approvals for restricted categories.
✔ Avoid counterfeit or unauthorized replicas—only sell genuine products.
5. Customer Service Violations
Common Issues:
Poor response times to customer inquiries
High order defect rates (cancellations, returns, negative feedback)
How to Avoid Them:
✔ Respond to customer messages within 24 hours.
✔ Process returns and refunds promptly to maintain good ratings.
✔ Monitor feedback and resolve issues proactively.
6. Intellectual Property (IP) Violations
Common Issues:
Selling counterfeit or unauthorized merchandise
Using copyrighted images or text without permission
How to Avoid Them:
✔ Only sell authentic, authorized products.
✔ Use original product images and descriptions.
✔ Obtain proper licensing if selling branded goods.
7. Review Manipulation & Fake Feedback
Common Issues:
Offering incentives for positive reviews
Creating fake accounts to leave feedback
How to Avoid Them:
✔ Never incentivize reviews—Walmart prohibits paid or biased feedback.
✔ Encourage organic reviews by providing excellent service.
Final Thoughts: Staying Compliant on Walmart Marketplace
Avoiding these common Walmart Marketplace violations is crucial for maintaining a healthy seller account and maximizing sales. By following Walmart’s policies closely, optimizing your listings, and delivering excellent customer service, you can minimize risks and grow your business on one of the world’s largest eCommerce platforms.
Need help staying compliant? Contact our experts today to ensure your Walmart Marketplace account runs smoothly!