Walmart Shortage Codes Explained

Learn what Walmart shortage codes mean and how RetailPath helps brands recover them automatically

The Most Common Walmart Shortage Codes and What They Mean for Suppliers

For any brand shipping into Walmart, shortage deductions can feel like a constant battle. Even when your shipments are complete, data mismatches, timing issues, or warehouse handling errors can result in deductions that drain your margins.

Understanding what each Walmart shortage code means is the first step to identifying which deductions are valid—and which are recoverable.

Below are the five most common codes that every supplier should know.

Code 21 — Concealed Shortages

What it means:
Walmart discovers fewer units inside cartons or pallets after the initial delivery—essentially, shortages that weren’t visible when the freight was received.

Common causes:

Pack size discrepancies between your invoice and PO.
Poor labeling that causes misidentification of product.
Co-mingled POs or pallet confusion during unloading.
True shortages or product substitutions not communicated ahead of time.

These deductions can be especially tricky because the freight bill is usually signed “in full,” making it harder to prove the discrepancy originated at the DC.

Code 22 — Goods Billed Not Shipped

What it means:
The quantities on your invoice don’t match what Walmart says they received.

Common causes:

Fulfilling fewer units than ordered but invoicing for the full amount.
Substituting one SKU for another.
Splitting orders into multiple deliveries that check in at different times.
Delays in data transmission between your EDI and Walmart’s system.

Code 24 — Carton Shortage / Freight Bill Signed Short

What it means:
The driver or receiving clerk signed the Bill of Lading as short, indicating that fewer cartons arrived than expected.

Common causes:

Case counts not verified at pickup.
Cartons left behind during loading or miscounted on arrival.
Labeling or scanning errors at the dock.

Code 25 — No Merchandise Received for Invoice

What it means:
Walmart claims none of the product tied to a given invoice ever arrived, resulting in a deduction for the full invoice amount.

Common causes:

Invoicing before the shipment is delivered or before Walmart’s system records receipt.
EDI timing mismatches between shipment confirmation and invoice transmission.

These are often invalid and among the easiest to reverse with proper documentation.

Code 28 — Carton Damaged / Freight Bill Signed Damaged

What it means:
The receiving facility marked the freight bill as damaged at delivery. Even if the damage is limited to a single carton, it can trigger a deduction across the entire load.

Common causes:

Packaging not strong enough to handle transit conditions.
Poor palletization or loose loads.
Mishandling by the carrier during shipment.

Whether or not the deduction is valid depends largely on who arranged freight (prepaid vs. collect) and when the damage occurred.

How RetailPath Helps

Walmart deductions are complicated—but disputing them doesn’t have to be.

RetailPath automates the end-to-end process of detecting, documenting, and disputing invalid shortage and damage deductions. Our platform connects directly to your EDI, 3PL, and Retail Link to match invoices, shipments, and delivery confirmations—building airtight dispute packets automatically.

Instead of spending hours digging through Retail Link or searching for missing BOLs, your team can focus on growth while RetailPath ensures every dollar earned is collected.

✅ Automated dispute creation
✅ Integrated carrier and EDI data
✅ Centralized deduction tracking
✅ Success-based pricing — you only pay when you win