Walmart Hosts Chinese Seller Conferences – Tries to Woo Sellers

Walmart recently held a major conference aimed at Chinese ecommerce sellers and the overall theme was “we're cheaper than Amazon”.

For those who’ve dealt with the mounting costs of selling on Amazon, could this shift could potentially put some pressure on Amazon to relent on fees? 

In this article, we'll look at some of the incentives Walmart is offering new sellers.

Zero Peak Season Fees: Walmart’s Power Move

At the 2025 Global E-Commerce Summit in Shenzhen, Walmart announced that WFS will waive all peak season storage surcharges through January 31, 2026. Instead, sellers will pay only standard storage fees—no Q4 price hikes, no surprises.

In contrast, Amazon’s Q4 storage fees can more than double, with long-term storage and peak inventory costs eating into profits. For small to mid-size sellers, that difference alone can shift thousands of dollars to the bottom line.

Why This Matters Compared to Amazon

Here’s how Walmart’s new offer stacks up:

• Walmart: No peak surcharges + standard storage fees = predictable costs during Q4.
• Amazon: Peak season surcharges + increased monthly storage fees + inbound placement service fees = fee stack that can squeeze margins by 20% or more.

Amazon’s sheer volume and customer base make it hard to ignore—but when Q4 hits, sellers pay for that privilege. Walmart’s approach gives operators room to breathe, especially those selling oversized or slower-moving seasonal items.

Extra Incentives on Top of Waived Fees

Walmart isn’t stopping at free storage:

• New WFS sellers get 50% off standard storage and 25% off delivery fees through Jan 31, 2026.
• Up to $75,000 in combined discounts for new sellers.
• Logistics fee discounts (up to $2,000) and Walmart Connect ad credits (up to $1,000).

It’s a full-stack offer is clearly designed to win over frustrated Amazon sellers. Whether it will work, remains to be seen.

Overview of Walmart Fulfillment Services

Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) is Walmart’s in-house logistics program for Marketplace sellers—similar to Amazon FBA.

Key Features:

• Fast 2-day delivery on eligible items.
• Walmart handles storage, shipping, customer service, and returns.
• Access to Walmart’s national fulfillment network.
• Increased product visibility with “Fulfilled by Walmart” badges.

Seller Benefits:

• No Q4 storage surcharges (2025).
• Lower fees—about 15% below industry average.
• Simpler pricing with no inbound placement fees.

Conclusion

Walmart’s waived peak season fees are more than a temporary incentive—they’re a strategic move to attract sellers burned out by Amazon’s rising costs. The no-surcharge model is a breath of fresh air in a marketplace that typically tightens the screws in Q4.

Can Walmart's new incentives help to dent the armor of Amazon's near monopoly of the ecommerce world? Time will tell.