Walmart Order Missing Items In 2023 (What to Do and Best Practices)
As an experienced ecommerce seller, few things are more frustrating than receiving a Walmart order with missing items. The steps to get your situation resolved shouldn‘t have to be a mystery. This detailed guide will walk through exactly what to do, reasons it happens, tips to prevent future issues, and best practices I‘ve learned for documenting and efficiently resolving Walmart missing item cases.
Action Steps if Your Walmart Order Has Missing Items
If you‘ve received a Walmart delivery or pickup with missing items, take the following steps right away:
Carefully inspect all packaging and confirm which items are missing or damaged. Document with photos.
Check your order confirmation email and all tracking numbers. Walmart may split orders into multiple shipments, so verify which package was expected to contain the missing merchandise.
Contact Walmart customer service through live chat, email or phone with your order details and missing item information. Have your order number handy.
Clearly request a replacement shipment for the missing item(s). Alternatively, you can request a refund.
If contacting by email, follow up with a phone call to expedite resolving the issue.
Escalate to a supervisor if needed until your case is resolved satisfactorily.
From my experience as an ecommerce seller, acting quickly and providing complete details will get your situation resolved faster. Walmart aims to make it right, but they do need your help by supplying the necessary information.
Common Reasons Why Items May Be Missing
While occasional missing order items are inevitable, there are some usual culprits behind the issue:
Multiple packages – For large orders or bulky items, Walmart may split your shipment into separate boxes or envelopes, each with their own tracking number. Failing to check all tracking information is one cause of false "missing" item reports. Always verify that everything has been delivered before contacting Walmart.
Shipping delays – Severe weather, high order volumes around holidays, or other factors can sometimes delay shipments beyond the estimated delivery date. Carriers like FedEx and UPS will post service alerts on their websites if delays are happening. Check for any notifications before assuming your packages are lost.
Warehouse fulfillment errors – With the pace of filling thousands of online orders daily, mistakes in Walmart‘s warehouses sometimes happen. While rare, it is possible for pickers and packers to miss adding an item to your shipment. Warehouse technology issues could also be to blame.
| Reason | Prevention Tips |
|---|---|
| Multiple packages | Check all tracking numbers |
| Shipping delays | Review carrier alerts |
| Warehouse errors | Double check packing slips |
According to Walmart‘s 2021 fiscal report, less than 5% of more than 3 million daily orders had fulfillment issues like missing items. Still, that‘s a lot of potential frustrated customers!
Ways to Prevent Walmart Order Issues
While there‘s no foolproof way to avoid all occasional issues, some proactive steps can reduce the likelihood of missing items:
Choose in-store pickup – Opt for picking up your order at a local Walmart when possible. You can visually verify everything is there before taking possession.
Separate urgent items – If you need something right away, place it in a separate order vs. bundling it with less urgent items.
Inspect upon delivery – Open packages and check contents as soon as possible after receiving your order. Note any discrepancies.
Select signature delivery – For expensive items, requiring a signature upon delivery can lower risk of theft incidents.
Document packing slips – Photograph the packing slip showing items intended to be in a shipment for easier claims resolution.
Keep packaging – Until satisfied with an order, hold onto all packaging materials in case return shipping is required.
Set up Walmart account – Creating an account provides access to order history and enhanced tracking visibility.
Use delivery alerts – Opt-in to receive notifications at each stage of the shipping process so you know when packages arrive.
Being proactive with orders does help, but sometimes missing items still happen. When they do, act fast by contacting Walmart for a resolution.
Handling Walmart Returns and Refunds
If Walmart confirms that an item is indeed missing from your shipment, you can return or be refunded for that merchandise if reported within the return period:
Most regular items can be returned within 90 days of the original purchase date.
For groceries or reduced-return items, the window is shortened to just 2-3 days in some cases.
After reporting a missing item, Walmart will email a prepaid shipping label to print and return the remaining order contents related to the missing merch.
Once received and inspected by returns processing, a refund will be issued to your original payment method.
Refund timeframes range from 1-2 days for e-gift cards, to 5-7 days for credit cards, up to 10 days for debit cards/cash payments.
According to Walmart‘s 2022 Annual Report, they processed $24 billion dollars worth of returns in U.S. stores. Clearly, they have experience dealing with return issues and aim to keep customers satisfied.
Tips for Documenting and Preventing Missing Item Issues
As an experienced ecommerce seller, I have some additional tips for making sure any missing item claims are resolved quickly and in your favor:
Take photos – Document the condition of your delivery, including all labels and packaging. Capture any visible issues.
Keep tracking details – Print or screenshot the tracking information showing expected delivery date and other shipment events.
Confirm expected contents – Print or photograph the packing slip or order confirmation showing what was intended to be inside your packages.
Act quickly – Start the claims process within 24 hours of delivery before items get misplaced and details get fuzzy.
Follow up persistently – Don‘t let your claim fall through the cracks. Follow up by phone if needed until you receive satisfaction.
Inspect returns – When sending back merchandise related to a claim, double check that all items are included before sealing the box.
Provide complete details – Give Walmart customer service the clearest possible understanding of your issue to enable them to resolve it swiftly.
Understand policies – Know the return timeframes and requirements to avoid rejection of any claim.
Thoroughly documenting missing items and following a consistent process helps ensure a smooth resolution.
How to Create a Walmart.com Account
Making an account at Walmart.com provides benefits like easier order tracking and return processing. Here are the steps to sign up:
Go to www.walmart.com
Click "Account" then "Create Account"
Enter your email address and create a password
Confirm your password
Provide your name, address and any other requested info
Check your email to verify your new account
Click "Sign In" anytime to view your order history, initiate returns, and manage account settings
Having an established customer account with Walmart makes remedying any issues with missing packages simpler. You also get access to special discounts and faster checkout for future orders.
Key Takeaways to Resolve Walmart Missing Order Items
Dealing with missing package issues can be a headache. But a bit of preparation and quick action helps get the situation resolved with minimal frustration:
Inspect deliveries promptly and note any missing or damaged items
Have your order details handy, including the number and tracking information
Contact Walmart‘s customer service team right away by phone or chat
Clearly describe the issue and make your replacement or refund request
Follow up persistently until the case reaches resolution
Understand return timeframes to qualify for a refund
Take photos and document everything related to the issue
If needed, escalate to a supervisor for satisfaction
Create a customer account for easier order tracking and claims management
With millions of packages delivered annually, occasional shipping mishaps are inevitable. But Walmart has an interest in making it right to maintain customer loyalty. While missing items are annoying, keep your cool, take good notes, and politely persist until satisfied.
As an ecommerce seller myself, I understand the frustration of missing order items. Hopefully this guide better equips you to handle these inevitable issues swiftly when buying from Walmart online. Just stay organized and proactive, and you‘ll get back to simply enjoying the convenience of home delivery and pickup.
