Want to Sell on Walmart—but Stuck in the Approval Stage?
You’ve created your Walmart Seller Center account, added your products, and hit submit… but they’re stuck in “pending”, flagged with errors, or haven’t gone live in days.
Welcome to the most frustrating part of Walmart Marketplace onboarding: product approvals.
Unlike Amazon, Walmart requires strict compliance in product listings before anything goes live. But with the right preparation, you can avoid delays and get your listings approved quickly.
🚀 Step 1: Get Your Product Data in Shape
Walmart’s system is picky. Every listing needs the correct structure, formatting, and required fields.
✅ Key Required Attributes:
- Product Name (title)
- Description (at least 150+ words)
- Product ID (UPC/EAN)
- Brand
- Category (accurate taxonomy)
- Images (minimum 1, ideally 3–5)
- Price
- Shipping weight and dimensions
Pro Tip: Use Walmart’s category-specific attribute sheets (XLS/XSD) for bulk uploads. They tell you exactly what’s required per product type.
🛑 Step 2: Follow Walmart’s Listing Rules
A lot of product rejections are due to formatting violations. Here’s what to avoid:
- Using ALL CAPS or promotional language in titles
- Keyword stuffing or repeating the brand name
- Using placeholder images (like “coming soon”)
- Missing attributes like color or size for apparel
- Product IDs that don’t match your brand or category
Fix these errors before submission to reduce back-and-forth or auto-rejections.
🏷️ Step 3: Prepare Your GTIN/UPC Codes
Walmart requires globally unique product identifiers like UPC, EAN, or GTIN. If your products don’t have these, apply for them via GS1.org or request a UPC exemption if eligible.
Note: Walmart checks UPC validity. Invalid or reused codes will trigger listing errors.
🖼️ Step 4: Optimize Your Images and Rich Media
Images must be high quality and follow Walmart’s rules:
- 1000x1000 px minimum
- White background
- No watermarks or text overlays
- Multiple angles if possible
- Lifestyle and infographic images boost approval odds
Including rich media like videos or 360° views also improves listing quality score.
⚙️ Step 5: Submit via the Right Method
Walmart offers three ways to upload products:
- Single Item Setup (manual)
- Bulk Upload via Spreadsheet
- API Integration or Listing Tool (e.g., GeekSeller, CedCommerce)
If you’re managing more than 10–20 SKUs, a feed file or API saves time—and allows better error tracking.
✅ Step 6: Monitor Listing Status and Fix Errors Fast
After submission, check the “Feed Status” or “Items” tab in Seller Center.
Look for:
- Items in "Published" = Success
- Items in “Stage” = Missing key fields
- “Unpublished” = Rejected for quality or compliance
- Errors like “Missing Product ID” or “Category Mapping Failed”
Correct the issue and resubmit the item rather than creating a new one.
⭐ Bonus Tip: Improve Your Listing Quality Score
Walmart ranks listings with a Content Quality Score (CQS). Higher scores = faster approval + better visibility.
To improve CQS:
- Add all optional attributes (color, size, material, etc.)
- Write unique, descriptive copy
- Use multiple high-quality images
- Include relevant keywords naturally
- Avoid duplication and errors
❌ Common Reasons for Delays or Rejections
- Invalid UPCs or brand mismatch
- Missing required fields (especially for apparel, electronics, or beauty)
- Poor image quality
- Product already exists in Walmart’s system (duplicate conflict)
- Category misclassification
- Unapproved or restricted product types
✅ Final Thoughts
Walmart approvals can be strict—but they’re manageable. The more thorough and compliant your listings are from the start, the faster your products go live. And once they’re live, you can start optimizing for traffic and conversions.
🤝 Need Help Getting Approved on Walmart?
At eData4You, we help sellers:
- Format compliant product feeds
- Troubleshoot rejection issues
- Map categories and attributes correctly
- Get products live faster—without the stress
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