Amazon and Walmart generate more sales than any other eCommerce sites in the US. Amazon receives two billion US site visits each month while Walmart attracts just under 400 million.
While Amazon is well ahead of the Walmart marketplace in terms of both traffic and revenue this doesn't necessarily mean it's a better platform for your brand. When it comes to selling on Walmart vs. Amazon both sites offer pros and cons.
However with almost half of Americans beginning their product searches on online marketplaces brands should ensure they have a presence on at least one of them. So here's our guide to selling on Walmart vs. Amazon.
Back in 1994 Amazon began selling books online. Today it is the world's biggest eCommerce store and sells everything from foodstuffs through to auto parts.
Amazon's efficient fulfillment and customer-friendly policies have contributed to its massive popularity and access to its huge customer base is open to businesses of every size.
The Amazon marketplace offers sellers a range of fulfillment options. First off there's Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). This full-service fulfillment program allows brands to send their inventory to Amazon where its staff will pick package and ship out orders on your behalf.
Returns refunds and customer support are taken care of too which is hugely beneficial for small sellers. However this can prove restrictive for bigger brands that may prefer to control their own service and returns policies.
On the other hand FBA sellers can display the Amazon Prime badge and enjoy better visibility in Amazon's search results.
Sellers who prefer to fulfill their own orders can do this with Amazon Fulfilled by Merchant. Alternatively they can sign up to Seller-Fulfilled Prime which offers access to the Amazon Prime badge without being an FBA seller. However brands need to have an impeccable track record of on-time deliveries and exceptional customer satisfaction to access this option.
It's also worth noting that brands can supply wholesale stock directly to Amazon but this option isn't available to everyone. You need to be invited by Amazon.
The costs associated with Amazon depends on the type of products you sell and the fulfillment option you choose.
All sellers have to pay:
Sellers that sign up to FBA services also have to pay:
With the Amazon marketplace brands gain access to a huge audience. This opens up valuable sales opportunities and with 38% of shoppers starting their product searches on Amazon it can even boost your D2C and in-store sales.
However competition on the platform is extremely stiff. Sellers need to compete with big brands small businesses and drop shippers. Although it's worth noting that brands now have access to exclusive marketing tools to help them stand apart from other sellers. These include Amazon Analytics A+ Content and Storefronts.
Most brands will also need to invest in Amazon advertising to succeed because the visibility of organic search results is consistently decreasing. Another drawback is that sellers can find it difficult to get support.
For first-party vendors working with Amazon can also be difficult. Its price-matching policy means that if your products appear on another site for less Amazon will automatically lower your pricing.
Walmart has been around since the 1960s but it didn't begin its online operations until 2009. Since then Walmart's sales have surpassed eBay's and in 2021 it was growing five times faster than Amazon.
Brands selling on Walmart can take advantage of fulfillment services similar to Amazon's FBA. The only difference is that Walmart Fulfillment Services only accept shipments to its centres from within the US.
Its maximum package weights and sizes are also much smaller than Amazon's which won't work for sellers of bulky items. Walmart for example allows packages up to 30 pounds while Amazon maxes out at 150.
However the Walmart marketplace also has a unique fulfillment option that allows sellers to store and ship their own inventory while Walmart's team handles listings pricing and content. Amazon doesn't have a similar service.
Selling on Walmart doesn't involve any monthly subscription fees or return processing fees. After signing up sellers simply pay a referral fee whenever a product is sold.
Sellers that sign up to Walmart Fulfillment Services will also have to pay:
For international brands and sellers of bulky items Amazon and its FBA services beat out Walmart. Signing up to the Walmart marketplace is also more complex and it's not unusual for applicants to be turned away. Dropshippers won't be accepted for example.
However once you get set up Walmart Seller Central is simple to use and you'll receive excellent same-day support. When selling on Walmart you'll also have less competition to deal with.
Walmart's lower fees are definitely a big positive. This can cushion the negative impacts of its pricing rules. To keep prices low and please customers Walmart automatically unpublishes listings that it believes are unfairly priced.
Walmart Seller Central is also working hard to catch up with Amazon in other areas. Walmart Advertising and Walmart Connect offer high quality advertising options to sellers while its Walmart+ programme now has 32 million subscribers - compared to Amazon's 126 million.
With marketplaces sucking up 40% of all online sales it's essential for brands to have a presence on at least some of these third-party platforms. Here are three tips to help you manage your marketplace presence.
Implementing Where to Buy technology can help brands facilitate and track the omnichannel experiences of their visitors. It streamlines the path to purchase by directing shoppers to their favourite marketplaces to convert. Not only will this increase conversions but it will also allow you to track consumer journeys across multiple channels and gather valuable basket-level data.
Multichannel management can be tricky. However with the help of a Digital Shelf Platform you can view all of your marketplace search placements rating and reviews inventory levels and content in one simple dashboard.
Repricers use smart technology to adjust your marketplace pricing in a way that maximises both sales and profit margins. On Amazon this will help you win the elusive Buy Box and boost visibility. While selling on Walmart it will help you adhere to the platform's pricing rules.
When it comes to selling on Walmart vs. Amazon the best choice depends on your products business model and warehouse locations. But it's a good idea to be present on both the biggest online marketplace and the fastest growing one.
