Returning to Walmart Without The Box in 2022: A Seller’s Guide
As an ecommerce seller, Walmart’s return policy permitting returns without the original packaging seems concerning. However, there are effective strategies sellers can use to minimize losses when managing returns to Walmart without the box.
In this 3,000 word guide, I’ll use my experience as an Amazon seller to provide an in-depth look at Walmart’s policies from the seller perspective. You’ll learn how their processes work, where sellers lose the most, and tips to protect profitability. Let’s dive in!
Overview of Walmart’s Return Policy on Boxless and Opened Items
As a seller, here are the key facts you need to know:
Walmart accepts returns on most new items without the original packaging for 90 days. Used or open-box items have a shorter 15-30 day window.
Customers need the original receipt or order number to get approved.
Products must have Walmart UPC or serial numbers to verify the item is sold there.
High-fraud categories like electronics must be unopened. Apparel and home goods can be opened.
Once approved, refunds take 3-5 days to process. Refund method matches original payment.
Customers can return in-store, by mail using provided labels, or request pickups.
This policy is quite generous compared to Amazon’s standards. But it allows more fraud and severely impacts profit margins for sellers. Let’s look at why sellers take a hit.
Why Boxless Returns Hurt Sellers
Lenient return policies like Walmart’s cost retailers billions in lost revenue each year. Ultimately, it‘s 3rd party sellers who take the brunt of the losses. Here‘s why sellers suffer most:
1. Opens the Door for Fraud
Without original packaging, it becomes easy for fraudsters to return stolen merchandise or swap counterfeit/used items for refunds. Even with Walmart‘s checks, associates can miss signs of tampering.
2. Leads to Reselling of Used Goods
Many returned items end up back on shelves as open-box products. This diverts revenues away from sales of new inventory – directly hitting seller profits.
3. Prevents Accurate Condition Grading
Without original packaging, it is difficult to properly inspect and grade the condition of returned items. Poor grading leads to improper markdowns/devaluations.
4. Impossible to Verify Completeness
No original box means no way to check if all accessories, parts, and components are intact. Sellers take a loss on incomplete returns marked as complete.
5. Removes Ability to Re-sell as New
Once opened, items can no longer be sold as new-in-box. This leads to losses as restocking fees and liquidation prices are lower than profits on new sales.
6. Increased Shipping Damages
Items returned without original packaging are at higher risk of shipping damage. Reimbursements rarely cover full cost of goods.
7. Higher Restocking Fees
Walmart charges sellers a 15% restocking fee on all returned items. Boxless returns often get further deductions for any defects or damage during the return.
The impact of allowing these unboxed returns results in an estimated $30+ billion in losses and added costs for US retailers annually based on retail loss data.
For sellers, that translates to 7-15% lower margins on Walmart sales from factors like restocking, fraud, and liquidation losses. But sellers are not completely helpless against bad returns…
How Sellers Can Combat Abuse of Walmart‘s Return Policy
Despite the open return policy, sellers have some options to protect themselves:
Carefully Select What to Sell
Avoid high-fraud categories like electronics, jewelry, designer goods. Focus on less risky segments like private label products, household basics, consumables, and apparel.
Build Return Abuse Monitoring
Dig into return data to spot signs of abuse – excessive rates, serial returners, frequently returned products. Ban abusive customers.
Perform Test Buys
Secretly purchase your own products to check policies. Document flaws in process and condition of returned goods.
Improve Packaging
Invest in durable, tamper-proof packaging that is hard to replicate. Add tracking stickers and serial numbers.
Charge Restocking Fees
For products with low margins, incorporate a 10-15% restocking fee into pricing to account for return costs. However, this reduces sales.
Strengthen Supply Agreements
Include clauses holding suppliers liable for fraud, counterfeits, or inadequate packaging. Improves ability to recoup losses.
Leverage Size for Seller Protections
Large sellers have more negotiating power. Push for higher return standards, better return fraud detection, and financial reimbursement terms.
It requires constant effort, but implementing a combination of these tactics can help offset losses from Walmart‘s generous return policies.
Next let‘s examine exactly how the returns process works and where sellers are most vulnerable…
Step-by-Step Guide: How Returns Work at Walmart
Understanding Walmart‘s return workflows is crucial for identifying vulnerabilities. Here is an inside look at the key steps:
1. Customer Initiates Return Request
Returns start with the customer bringing or shipping the item to Walmart and providing the original receipt/order number.
Vulnerabilities
- Fake or edited receipts
- Fraudulent online order numbers
- Failure to verify customer identity
2. Walmart Associates Inspect Item
Associates attempt to verify the product meets return requirements by checking for:
- Walmart UPC & serial numbers
- Return deadline within 90 days
- Reasonable condition without damage
Vulnerabilities
- Rushed inspections miss signs of tampering
- Fake or obscured identifiers
- Damage overlooked when packaging is missing
3. Return Mode Dictates Refund Method
- In-store returns get immediate refund or store credit
- Mailed returns must go through central processing then refund initiated within 5 days.
Vulnerabilities
- Immediate in-store refunds given without thorough verification
- Longer mail verification still prone to errors
- Gift cards enable return scamming without receipts
4. Opened Items Get Special Handling
If packaging shows item was opened, further inspection occurs:
- Electronics tested for functionality
- Parts counted for completeness
- Evaluated for condition defects
Vulnerabilities
- Rapid tests can miss flaws or damage
- No original packaging prevents accurate grading
- Accessories/parts often not thoroughly verified
5. Walmart Issues Refund
Final step is the refund being credited back to customer‘s original payment method.
Vulnerabilities
- Refund abuse not tracked since original receipt is not retained
- Bans on return abusers requires manual enforcement
While Walmart does make some effort to combat fraud and abuse, the reliance on quick visual inspections and lack of data analytics makes their process vulnerable, putting sellers at risk.
Walmart Return Policy Costs: Quantifying Losses for Sellers
To demonstrate the hard costs sellers face from Walmart‘s return practices, let‘s walk through a realistic example:
Scenario: Customer Returns a $500 TV Without Original Box
- Customer purchases a 65-inch TV for $499.99 plus taxes from a 3rd party seller on Walmart.com
- After 20 days, customer returns the TV in-store without the original packaging
- Associate inspects TV quickly, doesn‘t notice scratch on screen, and approves return
- Customer gets full $499.99 refund credited back
Financial Impact on Seller:
- $499.99 : Lost sale and profit
- -$74.99 : 15% restocking fee charged to seller
- -$30.00 : Fee charged for return shipping back to seller warehouse
- -$100.00 : TV gets marked down for resale due to scratch during return
- -$85.00 : Lost profit margin on liquidated open box TV
- Total Loss = $789.98 on one return!
For a product retailing at $500, the seller lost 160% of the original sale price from a single boxless return. This example illustrates how seemingly small policy issues end up having huge financial implications.
Sellers pay the price for generous return policies like Walmart‘s. But strategically minimizing the risks allows profitable selling even within loose return frameworks.
Final Tips for Managing Walmart Returns Without Packaging
Here are my top tips for sellers to minimize losses when customers return items without original packaging:
Collect return data – Track detailed analytics on return rates, reasons, and fraud detection. Identify problem products and customers.
Photograph packaging – Take photos during fulfillment to document box condition in case of damage claims during return shipment.
Improve packaging – Use durable, high-quality boxes with tamper seals, tracking stickers, and security taping.
Do test buys – Secretly buy your own inventory to check return inspection efficacy. File claims for missed issues.
Compare recall lists – Regularly check CPSC recalls to identify any of your products deemed defective eligible for full refunds.
Drive lower return rates – Optimize listing quality with detailed descriptions, sizing guides, and hi-res imagery to set expectations.
Check return status often – Frequently monitor return portals for any deductions and disputes. Escalate discrepancies quickly.
Leverage large volumes – Negotiate better return fraud monitoring and seller protections if you drive sizable revenue.
Avoid risky products – Be cautious selling electronics, luxury goods, and apparel which have high fraudulent return rates.
With meticulous policies, preventative steps, and data-driven analysis, the risks of Walmart‘s open return practices can be minimized for sellers. Just follow best practices for maximizing margins.
The Bottom Line – Returns Without Packaging
In closing, here are the key takeaways on managing Walmart returns without the original packaging:
Walmart generously allows returns of most new unopened items within 90 days without the original packaging or box.
This flexible policy comes at a steep cost for sellers – from fraud to liquidation losses and restocking fees.
Sellers can mitigate losses by carefully selecting products, optimizing packaging, collecting data, and negotiating improved protection with Walmart.
With the right strategies, sellers can still profit on Walmart despite challenges like boxless returns.
I hope this comprehensive guide better equipped you to minimize risks and losses when selling items that customers can return opened or without the original packaging. Please reach out if you need any other Walmart selling advice!
