The Maze: On November 5, GeekSeller, a software company that connects online stores with marketplaces, added Walmart shipping to its Shopify–Walmart app. If a merchant already keeps its own stock with Walmart Fulfillment Services, the service that stores and ships sellers’ goods, it can now send eligible Shopify orders there through GeekSeller’s $19-a-month Plus plan. Walmart’s multichannel program delivers to the 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico.
Source: GeekSeller. GeekSeller’s launch graphic highlights the addition of Walmart Multichannel Solutions to its Shopify integration.
The Details:
Shopify takes the order. Walmart ships it. A merchant connects its Walmart account to GeekSeller and uses the app’s Plus plan to send eligible Shopify orders to Walmart Multichannel Solutions. That’s Walmart’s program for shipping orders placed outside Walmart.com. Walmart picks the product from stock the merchant has already sent to its warehouse network, packs it in plain packaging and ships it to the customer. The seller needs a billing method on file and products that meet Walmart’s rules. Items that ship in multiple boxes or that Walmart classifies as big and bulky are excluded.
Both stores draw from the same stock. Walmart fills orders as they arrive and doesn’t hold units aside for each sales channel. If one unit is left at Walmart and a Shopify order claims it first, that unit can’t also fill a Walmart.com order. This lets a seller use stock it has already sent to Walmart’s warehouses, instead of keeping a separate pile for Shopify. It also makes accurate stock counts more consequential when inventory runs low.
The subscription covers the app. Walmart bills for shipping and storage. GeekSeller’s $9 Basic plan syncs product listings, stock counts and orders between Shopify and Walmart. The $19 Plus plan adds the ability to send Shopify orders to Walmart to be shipped. Walmart’s separate fees depend on factors such as shipment weight, shipping speed and how long the goods sit in storage. Walmart doesn’t charge its marketplace commission on those Shopify orders, but the warehouse and shipping costs still count toward the margin on each sale.
MarketMaze Take: The useful comparison is between two ways to connect Shopify to the same warehouses. Walmart announced its own Shopify app on October 21 and lists it as free to install, with service fees billed separately. GeekSeller’s case is stronger for a merchant that also needs to manage Walmart marketplace listings and sync orders in the same app. If all the merchant needs is to send Shopify orders to Walmart, the direct app is the first comparison to make.
Before moving a large share of orders, try a few products that sell on both channels. Check whether each Shopify listing points to the right item in Walmart’s stock, then watch what happens to both listings after a sale leaves only one or two units. Compare the cost of shipping those orders with the current setup. Both apps can reach the same warehouse network; the choice turns on which one saves enough work and keeps stock counts dependable at the prices the merchant actually pays.
