Walmart Officially Allows Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF)

Big news for multichannel sellers: Walmart now officially allows Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF), Amazon’s service for using its fulfillment network to ship orders from multiple sales channels, including Walmart, when sellers follow rules such as neutral packaging and no Amazon branding. For sellers managing products across Amazon, Walmart, and other marketplaces, that opens up a practical way to streamline fulfillment, cut operational overhead, and keep delivery speed competitive without building a separate logistics stack for every channel.

The policy change also comes with tradeoffs. Below, we break down what Walmart now permits, the compliance requirements sellers need to meet, the main benefits and drawbacks of using Amazon MCF for Walmart orders, and the cost, efficiency, and customer-experience factors to weigh before making it part of your multichannel strategy.

What’s Changed?

Previously, Walmart prohibited the use of Amazon MCF for order fulfillment. However, as of May 15, 2025, Walmart’s updated Shipping & Fulfillment policy states, and this also reflects that MCF integrates with platforms like Walmart Marketplace and a Shopify store across other sales channels:

“You may use Multi-Channel Fulfillment as long as you ship in neutral packaging using unbranded delivery vehicles, which means neither can display any logos, trademarks, or branding of the other retailer.”

This policy shift allows sellers to leverage Amazon’s robust fulfillment network to process walmart marketplace orders, or compare it with Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS), provided they adhere to the neutral packaging and carrier requirements (they don’t want Amazon logos on packaging, tape, trucks, driver uniforms, etc.).

Why Now?

Walmart’s decision reflects the evolving landscape of ecommerce, where flexibility and efficiency are paramount. By permitting Amazon MCF, Walmart acknowledges the needs of ecommerce sellers and marketplace sellers that sell on multiple channels, including their own website and other marketplaces. It also recognizes MCF as a logistics service that can streamline fulfillment and simplify ecommerce operations across those sales channels, making it a powerful tool within a broader multichannel fulfillment and sales strategy. This move aligns with broader trends in retail logistics, emphasizing interoperability and seller convenience.

What It Means for Sellers

Pro Tips for Sellers

1. Inventory Management:Maintain accurate inventory levels in Amazon’s fulfillment centers to prevent stockouts on Walmart orders. You’ll also need to send inventory into the amazon fulfillment network and watch monthly storage fees, including storage fees of $0.78 per cubic foot for standard-size items and $2.40 from October to December. Avoid committing inventory too early, since FBA inventory limits can reduce stock available for MCF orders; improving your Inventory Performance Index (IPI) score can also help ease some storage-type limits.

2. Carrier Settings: Configure your Amazon MCF settings to block Amazon Logistics for Walmart orders, complying with Walmart’s delivery requirements. In Seller Central, your seller central account is also where you manage carrier settings, submit and monitor orders, and connect an order management system for automated order processing that reduces manual data entry from non-Amazon sales channels by mapping each channel’s shipping method to Amazon’s options. MCF also connects with Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce, plus major ecommerce platforms and other ecommerce platforms through pre-built apps and APIs, so you can pair it with a hybrid FBA vs FBM fulfillment approach.

3. Packaging Compliance: Ensure all shipments to Walmart customers are in neutral packaging, devoid of any Amazon branding.

4. Cost Analysis: Regularly assess the cost-effectiveness of using Amazon MCF for Walmart orders, considering the additional surcharges and fees and whether a third-party logistics (3PL) ecommerce fulfillment alternative could lower overall costs. Review mcf pricing with Amazon’s calculator because MCF fulfillment fees and other fulfillment fees vary by order size, destination, shipping method, and multi unit orders, and MCF fulfillment fees increased by $0.30 on January 15, 2026. Also remember referral fees do not apply to MCF orders, but shipping costs, cross border fulfillment, and international shipping fees still matter, and remote-area surcharges can be steep, including 100% for standard-size shipments to Alaska and Hawaii.

5. Monitor Performance: Keep an eye on delivery times and customer feedback to ensure the fulfillment process meets Walmart’s standards. When using MCF across multiple sales channels, clearly share shipping details and expected delivery timelines with customers, and consider Merchant Fulfilled Prime or other FBA alternative fulfillment options as a contingency if MCF performance slips.

Final Thoughts

Walmart’s policy update to allow Amazon MCF is a significant development for multichannel sellers, giving eligible sellers and other online businesses a third party logistics option for orders across other sales channels. It offers an opportunity to streamline operations, reduce some overhead expenses, and enhance customer satisfaction with potentially faster delivery from distributed fulfillment; Amazon fulfillment can also support international fulfillment, with MCF supporting order fulfillment from 11 countries and posting a 97% on-time delivery rate, while solutions like Amazon FBM shipping and order fulfillment services can provide additional flexibility for non-Walmart channels, though businesses with broader supply chain needs should still compare hybrid models and alternative providers. However, it’s crucial to navigate the associated requirements carefully to fully leverage the benefits of this new fulfillment option. And fulfillment costs will need to be monitored closely to make sure that it makes sense to use MCF. If not, businesses evaluating other sales channels should compare fulfillment fees and storage fees with another distributed fulfillment provider such as Cahoot before choosing the best fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Walmart allow Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF)?

Yes. Under Walmart’s Shipping & Fulfillment policy update effective May 15, 2025, sellers may use Amazon MCF for Walmart Marketplace orders. The policy requires neutral packaging and unbranded delivery vehicles, so neither Amazon nor Walmart logos, trademarks, or branding can appear on the shipment.

What are the compliance requirements for using Amazon MCF for Walmart orders?

Walmart orders must ship in neutral packaging with no Amazon logos, trademarks, or branding on boxes, tape, inserts, delivery vehicles, or driver uniforms. Sellers must also configure MCF to block Amazon Logistics as a carrier on those orders. Both requirements need ongoing monitoring, because a setting change or a packaging mistake can put the account out of compliance.

How do I block Amazon Logistics for Walmart orders?

You manage this in your Seller Central account, where you set carrier preferences for MCF orders. If you use an order management system or a connected platform, confirm that Walmart orders are submitted with the unbranded packaging and carrier-blocking settings applied. Test a few orders and check the carrier and packaging details before scaling volume.

Is there a surcharge for blocking Amazon Logistics?

Amazon has applied a 5% surcharge on MCF fees when sellers block Amazon Logistics. Amazon has also stated that this surcharge is waived through January 14, 2027. Because the terms can change, confirm the current surcharge status in Amazon’s MCF fee documentation before you build it into your cost model.

How much does Amazon MCF cost compared with FBA?

MCF is generally more expensive than FBA, and in many cases roughly two to three times the cost. That can be hard to justify in low-margin categories. MCF fees vary by order size, destination, shipping speed, and multi-unit orders, and they increased by $0.30 on January 15, 2026. Use Amazon’s calculator with your own catalog, and compare the result against a 3PL or Walmart Fulfillment Services.

Does Amazon prioritize FBA orders over MCF orders?

Yes. Amazon prioritizes FBA orders, so MCF orders can be delayed during peak periods. If Walmart delivery performance matters to your account, monitor on-time delivery and customer feedback closely. Keep a backup fulfillment option ready in case MCF performance slips.

Who handles customer service for Walmart orders fulfilled through Amazon MCF?

You do. Amazon handles picking, packing, and shipping, but the seller remains responsible for customer service, returns decisions, and communication on Walmart orders. You are also responsible for staying compliant with both Walmart’s and Amazon’s policies.

Is Amazon MCF the right fulfillment option for Walmart sellers?

It depends on your margins, volume, and inventory strategy. MCF can make sense if you want to consolidate inventory in Amazon’s network and keep delivery fast without adding warehouse space or staff. If higher fees, FBA inventory limits, or delivery risk are concerns, compare it with Walmart Fulfillment Services and a distributed 3PL network before committing.

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