WFS Prep Services: What Walmart Sellers Need to Know About Prepping for Fulfillment Success

For Walmart Marketplace sellers looking to streamline their operations, Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) is a powerful way to grow sales and offer customers a trusted delivery experience. But to truly succeed with WFS, one crucial step often gets overlooked: prepping your inventory for WFS inbound shipments. That’s where WFS Prep Services come in.

In this article, we’ll walk you through how WFS Prep Services work, when to use them, what they cost, and the alternatives sellers can consider. Whether you’re just getting started on the Walmart Marketplace or looking to scale efficient

ly, this post will help you avoid delays, reduce costs, and stay compliant with Walmart’s fulfillment standards.

What Are WFS Prep Services?

WFS Prep Services are optional, paid services offered by Walmart to help sellers prepare their inventory to meet the strict requirements of its fulfillment centers. When you send inventory to a WFS facility, it must comply with Walmart’s packaging, labeling, and shipment preparation guidelines.

If your inventory arrives non-compliant, it can result in:

• Delayed receiving times
• Extra handling fees
• Inventory rejections
• Negative impacts on your listing availability

Walmart’s prep services take the burden off your team by handling:

• Barcode labeling
• Poly bagging and shrink wrapping
• Bubble wrapping
• Kitting and bundling
• Other compliance-related packaging tasks

By letting WFS handle prep, you minimize risk and ensure your shipments are ready for fast, efficient fulfillment.

What Types of Prep Services Does Walmart Offer?

The Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) Prep Services program enables sellers to outsource inventory preparation tasks to Walmart for a nominal fee. This service is particularly beneficial for sellers who may lack the time, infrastructure, or labor to consistently prepare items according to WFS standards. Here’s a breakdown of the main prep services Walmart offers through WFS:

• Labeling: Applies GTIN/UPC barcodes to each sellable unit.
• Poly bagging: Adds a clear, resealable poly bag to protect loose or small items. Items like apparel, plush toys, small electronics, liquids in plastic bottles, powders, and pellets benefit from poly bagging for added protection. The maximum size for poly bags is 18" x 24". Items exceeding this size may require boxing, which does not incur additional charges.
• Bubble wrapping: Protects fragile items with protective wrap.
• Shrink wrapping: Wraps items for tamper evidence and protection.
• Kitting/bundling: Groups multiple items into a single sellable unit.
• Boxing: Adds corrugated packaging to loose, unboxed items.

These services are applied per unit and are optional, but highly recommended for non-compliant inventory.

How WFS Prep Services Work

Here’s a step-by-step look at how to use WFS Services to prep your items:

1. Create an Inbound Order in Seller Center

Once you’ve enrolled a product in WFS, you’ll need to create an inbound order to send inventory to a fulfillment center. During this step, you’ll have the option to request prep services for eligible SKUs.

2. Select Prep Services for Specific Items

Not all SKUs will need prep help. Some may already be compliant if they’re properly labeled, bagged, or boxed. For others, you can indicate whether you’d like Walmart to perform prep services, and which types of services are needed (e.g., bubble wrap, labeling).

3. Ship the Inventory

You’ll then ship your inventory as instructed by WFS. Once your shipment arrives at the designated fulfillment center, Walmart’s team will complete the requested prep steps before the items are stored and made available for customer orders.

4. Fees

The fees for WFS Prep Services are automatically deducted from your account and will appear in your transaction and settlement reports, with reason codes indicating the specific service (e.g., "Bag," "Label," "Unplanned Bag," "Unplanned Label").

WFS Prep Services Fees: What to Expect

Walmart charges per-unit fees based on the type of service provided. While exact pricing may vary depending on item size and weight, the standard fees include $0.45 per unit for labeling and $0.60 per unit for poly bagging. Here is a general breakdown of each service and the estimated fee per unit:

• Labeling: $0.30 – $0.50
• Poly bagging: $0.40 – $0.70
• Bubble wrapping: $0.60 – $1.00
• Shrink wrapping: $0.70 – $1.20
• Kitting/bundling: $0.80 – $1.50
• Boxing: $1.00 – $1.75

These fees are subject to change and may vary depending on the complexity of the prep and the item’s physical characteristics. Sellers can review their prep fee totals in Walmart Seller Center under the Payments and Inventory tabs.

Fees & Unplanned Prep

If items arrive without the necessary preparation and no prior request for prep services was made, an unplanned prep fee is applied: $0.65 per unit for labeling and $0.80 per unit for poly bagging. Unplanned prep can delay processing by up to 10 business days.

Benefits of Using Walmart Fulfillment Services for Prep Work

While the fees may seem like an added cost, many sellers find the investment is well worth it. The benefits of WFS Prep Services often far outweigh the expense for the following reasons:

Time Savings

Instead of spending time labeling, poly bagging, or bundling units yourself (or hiring staff to do it), you let Walmart handle it at the fulfillment center.

Fewer Errors

Walmart’s team is trained to ensure compliance with their own fulfillment standards, reducing the risk of improperly prepped inventory.

Priority Processing

Items with scheduled prep through WFS Services are prioritized over those requiring unplanned prep, which may incur additional fees and processing time.

Faster Receiving

Properly prepped inventory is processed and made available for sale more quickly, reducing out-of-stock time.

Scalability

As your business grows, prepping inventory in-house becomes harder to scale. WFS Prep Services offer a hands-off alternative.

How to Get Started with WFS Prep Services

Enroll in WFS: If you haven’t already, you’ll need to enroll eligible products into Walmart Fulfillment Services. This is done through Walmart Seller Center under the “WFS” tab.

Create an Inbound Shipment: Use the “Ship to WFS” workflow to create your inbound order.

Select Prep Services During Setup: For each item, Walmart will ask if you want them to perform prep services. You can choose the specific services you need.

Ship Your Items: Follow Walmart’s shipping guidelines to ensure your boxes and pallets are labeled correctly and meet carrier requirements.

Track Your Shipment: Once received, you’ll be able to track the prep progress and see when your inventory becomes available.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Do I have to use WFS Services for Prep?

No. You can choose to prep your inventory yourself or with the help of a third-party logistics (3PL) provider, as long as it meets Walmart’s standards.

Q: Can I use WFS Services to only prep some of my items?

Yes, you can select which SKUs you’d like Walmart to prep and which you’ll handle yourself.

Q: What happens if I don’t prep correctly and don’t opt into the service?

Walmart may charge non-compliance fees or reject the inventory altogether. In some cases, your items may be delayed or unavailable for sale.

Q: How do I know which items need prep?

Walmart provides prep guidance during the inbound shipment process. You’ll see warnings or requirements for certain item types, especially those that are fragile, sharp, liquid, or sold as kits.

Q: Can I edit prep service choices after the shipment is created?

No. You’ll need to delete and recreate the shipment if you need to make prep service changes.

Alternative Options to WFS Prep Services

While WFS Prep Services are convenient, they may not always be the best fit for every seller. Here are some alternative options to consider:

1. Prep In-House

If you have the time, space, and staff, prepping inventory yourself may be the most cost-effective option, especially for smaller volumes. Just be sure to follow Walmart’s strict prep and labeling guidelines.

2. Use a 3PL Prep Provider

Third-party logistics (3PL) companies specialize in preparing and shipping inventory for marketplace sellers. Some even specialize in Walmart prep and can offer labeling, bagging and wrapping, bundling/kitting, and direct-to-WFS shipping.

Popular 3PL Prep Providers for Walmart Sellers Include:

• MyFBAPrep: Offers nationwide warehouse network and supports WFS shipments.
• ShipBob: Provides Walmart integration and fulfillment services.
• Deliverr (acquired by Flexport): Known for speed and marketplace integrations.

3. Hybrid Approach

Some sellers use a mix of in-house and third-party services, prepping what they can internally and outsourcing the rest. This can be a great way to balance cost and scale.

Is WFS Prep Right for You?

Choosing to use WFS services for your prep work depends on a few key factors:

• Your volume of shipments
• Your team’s capacity
• The complexity of your product prep
• Your margin sensitivity

If you're running lean or scaling quickly, the time savings and reduced error rate can easily justify the per-unit fees. But if you're confident in your in-house workflow and want to save money, prepping yourself or working with a 3PL may be a better fit.

Conclusion: Make Prep Work for You, Not Against You

Prepping your inventory for Walmart Fulfillment Services is a non-negotiable part of succeeding on the platform, but it doesn’t have to slow you down or eat into your profits. With WFS Prep Services, Walmart gives sellers an efficient, reliable option to get inventory ready for fulfillment with minimal hassle.

Whether you choose Walmart’s in-house prep solution, work with a trusted 3PL, or manage the process yourself, the key is to follow Walmart’s guidelines, avoid compliance errors, and streamline your workflow to keep your business running smoothly.

Ready to scale your Walmart fulfillment the smart way? Start exploring WFS Prep Services today, or evaluate your options with a prep partner that fits your business needs.