Choosing a 3PL is a big decision, because your customers' experience depends on it. A few good questions will tell you most of what you need to know.
Start with your needs
Before you talk to anyone, write down what you sell, how many orders you ship, which platforms you use and anything special about your products or packaging, such as kitting, subscription boxes or fragile items.
Questions to ask
- Do you store my type of product?
- Which platforms do you work with, and how do my orders reach you?
- How do you check orders before they ship?
- What does your quote include, and what does it leave out?
- How will I see my stock, orders and tracking?
- How do you handle returns?
- Who do I talk to when something goes wrong?
- What happens in a busy season?
Red flags
- Vague pricing, or fees that only show up later.
- No clear answer on how orders are checked.
- No way for you to see your own inventory.
- Pressure to commit before you have seen an itemized quote.
Think about location
A warehouse closer to your customers can mean shorter transit. If you import, one near the ports can also save a trip. Sonic Fulfillment is in Southern California, close to Los Angeles, Orange County and the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.
How we answer these
We store most products, and we work with any platform. Every order is checked before it is sealed, and our engineering team designs the quality control process. Your quote lists every fee, and your dashboard shows stock, orders and tracking. Ask for a quote and see for yourself.