Question:

I’m in the process of onboarding a 3PL for my business and would love to get some insight from those of you who have already gone through this.

What are some key things you wish you knew before working with a 3PL? Any red flags to watch for during the onboarding process or in the contract? Are there any must-have clauses, tools, or expectations I should set from the beginning?

Fulfilpacker Answers:

Things to Look for When Choosing a 3PL:

• Transparent pricing: You should get a full rate card up front — pick/pack fees, storage, receiving, returns, custom projects, etc. No vague “we’ll bill you later” nonsense.
• Dedicated account manager: One point of contact. If you’re passed around or stuck in support queues, that’s a nightmare.
• SLA guarantees: They should clearly define how fast they ship orders, receive inventory, handle returns, etc. And ideally have penalties if they fail (though few actually do this).
• WMS access: You should be able to log in and see live inventory, order status, shipment history, etc. Real-time visibility is non-negotiable.
• Ecomm platform integration: Native Shopify/Amazon/etc. integration is key — avoid setups that require duct tape or Zapier for critical ops.

🚩 Red Flags (RUN AWAY IF YOU SEE THESE):

• They won’t let you tour the warehouse (either in-person or via video call). This almost always means they’re hiding capacity issues or disorganization.
• No clear SLA or vague onboarding process. If onboarding is already chaotic, fulfillment will be worse.
• Long-term lock-in contracts with high termination fees. Try to stick to month-to-month or short terms while you’re still vetting them.
• Nickel-and-dime fees you find out about after the fact (like “label print fee,” “bin move fee,” “holiday surcharge,” etc.). Ask for a full fee schedule.
• They can’t scale. Ask how many orders/day they currently handle and how they’d handle spikes (like BFCM or a viral TikTok). You don’t want to be their guinea pig.