3PL Comparison Checklist

When to compare 3PLs

Consider a 3PL review if your fulfilment cost per order has increased more than 15% year-on-year, if error rates are above 1%, if you are growing into a new geographic market, or if your current 3PL contract is approaching renewal.

Key cost fields to request from each 3PL

• Receiving fee per pallet or per SKUhigh
• Pick and pack fee per orderhigh
• Additional units fee (per item beyond first in order)high
• Monthly storage fee per pallet or binhigh
• Account/platform monthly feemedium
• Returns handling fee per returnmedium
• Carrier rate access — do they pass on discounted rates?medium
• Minimum monthly order commitmentmedium
• Setup and onboarding feeslow

Operational questions to ask

• 1What is your average order accuracy rate (percentage of orders picked correctly)?
• 2What is your average same-day fulfilment cutoff time?
• 3How do you handle inventory discrepancies?
• 4What is your approach to damaged or lost items?
• 5Do you offer a Shopify or WMS integration, and how does it work?
• 6What reporting do you provide, and how often?
• 7What happens to my inventory if I choose to leave?
• 8What is your BFCM peak capacity plan?

Red flags

• No transparent published rate card — pricing requires lengthy negotiationhigh
• Long-term lock-in contracts with high exit feeshigh
• No real-time inventory visibility or integration with your platformhigh
• No stated SLA for order accuracy or fulfilment speedhigh
• References unavailable or difficult to obtainmedium
• No clear escalation path for issuesmedium