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Guide
Lag time exemption policy
Last updated on May 2, 2025
Reading time: 3 min
Overview

Lag time is the time it takes for you to ship an order after it's been placed by a customer. Walmart Marketplace requires sellers to ship orders within two operational days after receiving an order. In this guide, you’ll learn how to request an exemption to exceed that timeframe if needed.  

What is the policy?

For custom, print-on-demand items made in your facility, the lag time exemption request must not exceed five operational days. For all other items, including items shipped by freight or less than truckload (LTL), the lag time exemption request must not exceed 10 operational days.

Notes

Operational days are the active days specified in your fulfillment center settings, defaulting to Monday through Friday while allowing for adjustments.

Walmart may reject your request if the information is incomplete or misrepresents your business or the assortment offered on Walmart Marketplace. Lag time requests are rejected for any of the reasons below:  

  • The item is sourced from third-party vendors after a customer places an order (you don't contractually control the third-party vendor's inventory levels and processing times). 

  • The item can’t ship same or next day due to inefficiencies in your fulfillment process.  

  • The item is on preorder or backorder. 

Notes

Lag time exemption limits are subject to change at the discretion of Walmart. Walmart reserves the right to update the seller’s lag time limits as well as individual item lag time settings.

Additional guidelines

To submit your request, select the Help button in the Seller Center menu bar to contact Support. Choose Contact Support and enter the phrase: submit lag time exemption request. Then, choose the Get in touch with us link and provide your answers to the prompts. 

Pro tip

You can select more than one category at a time for multiple lag time exemptions requests. You must submit an example of an item in your catalog or each category you request an exemption for.   

Notes

Lag time exemptions are discretionary and granted on a case-by-case basis. Walmart reserves the right to change or alter your lag time exemption at its sole discretion.  

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