How to add tracking to a Walmart order

Before you start

• The order acknowledged, so its Status reads Acknowledged rather than New.
• A label from a carrier on Walmart's approved parcel carrier list, with tracking.
• The tracking number to hand, and the tracking URL if your carrier is not in the menu.
• Seller Center access to the Orders page.

In Seller Center

1. Open the Orders page in Seller Center

   In Seller Center, open the Orders page.

   You should see the Unshipped, Shipped, Canceled and All views.

2. Open the order by its purchase order number

   Find the order using the Order # drop-down menu or the Purchase order# column, then select the purchase order number link.

   You should see the order's details.

3. Select Ship items

   On the order, select Ship items.

4. Set the quantity going out

   In the drop-down menus, select Ship and the quantity in the box you are sending.

5. Enter the carrier and tracking number

   In the Shipping details section, select the carrier and enter the tracking number.

6. Select Mark as shipped

   Select Mark as shipped to send the update to Walmart.

   You should see the order status change to Shipped.

In the Walmart Seller app

1. Open Orders

   In the app, tap Orders.

2. Open the order details

   Locate the order on the Unshipped tab and tap to view Order details.

3. Choose the carrier

   In the Unshipped section, select the carrier from the dropdown menu.

4. Enter the tracking number

   Type the number, or tap the scan barcode icon to scan the shipping label with your phone.

   You should see the number filled in from the barcode.

5. Tap Mark as shipped

   Tap Mark as shipped to send the update.

   You should see the order status change to Shipped.

If it goes wrong

"the tracking number doesn't match the selected carrier or the required format"

Walmart's own wording: "If you received an error after adding a tracking number, this means the tracking number doesn't match the selected carrier or the required format." Check the carrier you picked first, then the number for stray spaces or dashes.

Your carrier is not in the menu

In the Seller app, "If your carrier isn't in the menu, select Others and enter the tracking number and URL in the designated field." A tracking URL is what makes an Others shipment traceable, and "Invalid tracking URL" is one of the drivers Walmart holds sellers accountable for.

You have less time than you think to fix it

"After marking the order status Shipped, you can edit the tracking number for up to 24 hours or until the carrier first touch scan is received in the Walmart system, whichever is earlier." A fast counter scan can close that in minutes.

What happens next

Walmart requires valid tracking information "for at least 99% of your shipments", and this order is now one of them. The edit window runs for 24 hours or until the first touch scan, whichever comes first.

Late Shipment Rate has to stay at 5% or below and On-Time Delivery Rate at 90% or above, both of which are read off carrier scans rather than the moment you marked the order shipped. If you relabel the parcel, "you must inform us of the new tracking number".