Why do I need to distribute inventory? 

Shipping to multiple locations may feel like extra work, but distribution is one of the most powerful ways to grow your business. By sending your inventory to assigned fulfillment centers, you can improve delivery to customers, including next-day and weekend coverage. This can mean happier customers, more sales and better visibility across the marketplace.  

If you prefer to send just a single shipment, you may be eligible for Inventory Transfer Service (ITS). We’ll take care of splitting the inventory for you and making it available nationwide. 

Guidelines 

If you distribute inventory yourself, you’ll need to manage multiple shipments, with each going to a separate location. Follow the same process you usually do, but pack, label and track each shipment separately. 

Send all shipments within 30 days 

You must send all shipments within 30 days of the first shipment. For example, let’s say you have 3 shipments. If you send shipment 1 on June 17, then you must send both shipments 2 and 3 by July 17. 

To check which fulfillment center each shipment goes to, go to the Shipping Plans page and select View plan. Each shipment will have an address listed next to Ship to. 

Review item packing 

When you create a shipping plan, we’ll tell you which items are assigned to which shipment. You must ship items to their assigned fulfillment centers. If you haven't submitted a shipping plan yet, you can check how items are split in the Shipping step. Select View items in each shipment tab to open a list of items. 

If you’ve already submitted the shipping plan, you can still view items. On the Shipping Plans page, select View plan and select Review item packing for each shipment. 

Print receiving labels 

Stick receiving labels to each master case, so the fulfillment center can scan and confirm what’s in the shipment. If you’re sending pallets, you’ll need both case and pallet receiving labels. To print receiving labels, go to the Shipping Plans page and select View plan. For each shipment, download the case and pallet labels. 

Print carrier labels 

If you’re using a Walmart preferred carrier, download a carrier label for each shipment. If you’re using your own carrier, make sure to get labels from them and add the tracking numbers to Seller Center. 

Pack and palletize each shipment 

Prepare each shipment, following the WFS Routing and Packaging Guide. Shipments that do not follow these guidelines may be rejected or shipped back to you at your expense.  

To make receiving more efficient, we recommend these limits for each master case: 

• Maximum length of 31.5 inches 

• Maximum width of 23.25 inches 

• Maximum height of 16 inches 

• Maximum weight of 50 lb 

How to choose distribution  

If your plan has sortable inventory,* you may see different options when you create a shipping plan.

Distribute inventory yourself vs. Inventory Transfer Service

• If you choose to distribute inventory yourself, you’ll send sortable inventory to your assigned fulfillment centers. This may mean splitting your inventory and packing multiple shipments.  

• If Inventory Transfer Service is available, you’ll send inventory as a single shipment to a transfer station.   

Some shipping plans may not have ITS because your items aren’t sortable or eligible.

Limited distribution vs. nationwide distribution

• If you choose limited distribution, you’ll only be assigned one location for sortable items. This may impact delivery speed since inventory will be limited to one region.
• If you choose nationwide distribution, you’ll send sortable inventory to up to 3 fulfillment centers. This means your items will be more widely available across the country and can reach customers faster.

Manage shipping 

When you create a shipping plan, you'll see a tab for each shipment in the Shipping step based on the location. Make sure to fill in the details for each tab before moving on. We’ll also tell you which items should go in which shipment, so select View items to check how your inventory is split.