Walmart wholesale: what it means for resellers

Walmart doesn't sell wholesale to the public. There's no Walmart wholesale account that gets you case pricing on Walmart.com items. When people search for Walmart wholesale, they usually mean one of four things: Sam's Club, Walmart's own warehouse club; Walmart liquidation pallets; selling wholesale to Walmart as a supplier; or buying wholesale from brands and distributors to resell on Walmart Marketplace. Here's what each one is and when it makes sense.

Does Walmart do wholesale?

Not in the way a distributor does. Walmart is a retailer. These are the closest options:

Can you buy wholesale from Walmart?

Not at true wholesale prices. Sam's Club bulk packs and Walmart Business accounts are built for businesses buying things they use. Bulk retail pricing is usually too close to the Walmart.com selling price to leave room for fees and profit.

Buying Walmart's retail or clearance stock to resell is arbitrage, not wholesale. It can work on clearance markdowns (see how to resell Walmart clearance), but you're buying one item at a time at retail-level prices.

Walmart wholesale pallets and liquidation

Walmart wholesale pallets almost always means liquidation. Walmart sells excess inventory, store returns and refurbished goods through Walmart Liquidation Auctions, part of the B-Stock Sourcing Network. Lots range from single pallets to truckloads and are usually well below retail. Buying is limited to approved B-Stock buyers.

Before you bid, know what you're getting:

• Condition varies. Returns can be used, damaged or missing parts. Budget for testing, cleaning and items you can't sell.
• Freight is extra. Pallet shipping can eat a big share of a cheap lot.
• Walmart Marketplace condition rules apply. Used or open-box goods can't be listed as new. Check what conditions your account and category allow before you plan to sell there.
• Mixed lots need product research. Check what each item actually sells for before you value the pallet.

Be careful with resellers advertising "Walmart pallets" outside the official auction site. Ask where the goods came from and what condition they're in.

How to become a Walmart supplier vs a Marketplace seller

If you make or own a brand, you can apply to sell wholesale to Walmart as a supplier. Walmart buys your product and sells it in stores or online. U.S. businesses apply through Walmart's supplier application, starting with its supplier checklist. Registering doesn't guarantee an agreement, and the process is slower and stricter than Marketplace. Suppliers manage the relationship in Walmart's supplier tools, such as Retail Link.

A Walmart Marketplace seller keeps ownership of the inventory and sells straight to Walmart.com shoppers, setting their own price. You apply at marketplace.walmart.com. Walmart reviews each application, and you pay referral fees when you sell, plus WFS fees if Walmart ships for you. For resellers, this is the path that matters. See how to sell on Walmart.

Finding wholesale suppliers for Walmart Marketplace

Real wholesale for a Walmart reseller means buying cases from a brand or an authorized distributor and selling them on Walmart Marketplace. It gives you repeatable stock instead of one-off finds.

1. Pick products first. Use Walmart product research to find items that sell steadily and don't have Walmart on the listing.
2. Find who distributes the brand. Check the brand's website for a wholesale or retailer page, or contact the brand directly.
3. Apply as a business. Most suppliers want an EIN, a resale certificate and sometimes a website or store link.
4. Ask for invoices. Brand-name items on Walmart can need proof of authenticity. Keep the paperwork.
5. Start with one case. Test sell-through before you place larger orders.

Steer clear of "Walmart wholesale suppliers" lists that promise Walmart-approved sources. Walmart doesn't certify wholesale suppliers for resellers.

Checking wholesale profit before you order

Wholesale margins are thinner than clearance arbitrage, so the math has to be exact. For each item, you need the Walmart.com sell price, the referral fee for the category, WFS fulfillment and storage if you use it, inbound shipping and prep, and your case cost divided by units.

The Walmart UPC lookup in Margenos lets you enter a UPC and your unit cost to see profit, ROI, breakeven and the max you can pay, including quantity, prep cost and WFS storage months. On any Walmart.com page, the extension also shows every competing seller with stock counts and a sales estimate, so you can tell whether a full case will sell before storage fees build up. Margenos shows the numbers; the buying decision is yours.

Sources: Wikipedia: Sam's Club · CPA Practice Advisor: Walmart Business launch · Walmart Liquidation Auctions · Walmart: Apply to be a supplier · SPS Commerce: Walmart seller vs supplier. Walmart changes its rules; confirm in Seller Center.