Choosing a 3PL Is One of the Biggest Decisions You'll Make
Your 3PL touches every single order your customers receive. They're the last mile between your brand promise and your customer's experience. Choose the wrong one, and you'll deal with late shipments, inventory errors, and frustrated customers. Choose the right one, and fulfillment becomes your competitive advantage.
Here's what to look for — and what to watch out for.
1. Transparent Pricing (No Hidden Fees)
The #1 complaint brands have about 3PLs is surprise charges. Before signing with any provider, make sure you understand exactly what you're paying for.
Ask about:
Pick and pack fees (per order + per additional item)
Storage costs (per pallet, per bin, or per cubic foot)
Receiving/inbound fees
Packaging material costs
Integration or onboarding fees
Minimum monthly charges
Account management fees
Red flag: If a 3PL can't give you a clear, itemized quote before you sign, walk away. At Asfar, we provide transparent flat-rate pricing so you know exactly what each order costs before committing.
2. Technology and Integrations
Your 3PL's tech stack is just as important as their warehouse. You need seamless integration with your sales channels and real-time visibility into what's happening with your inventory and orders.
Must-have technology:
Direct integrations with Shopify, Amazon, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, etc.
Real-time inventory visibility across all channels
Automated order routing
Tracking number push-back to your store
A client dashboard with reporting and analytics
If a 3PL is asking you to upload orders via CSV or manually check stock levels, that's a sign their technology isn't ready for modern ecommerce.
3. Location, Location, Location
Where your 3PL's warehouse is located directly impacts shipping speeds and costs. Ideally, your inventory should be positioned close to where your customers are.
Consider:
Where do most of your orders ship to? (Check your shipping analytics)
Can the 3PL offer 2-day ground coverage to your key markets?
Do they offer distributed fulfillment (multiple locations)?
Are they near major carrier hubs for faster transit times?
Asfar's Houston facility provides strategic access to the entire Southern US, with 2-day ground coverage reaching major markets including Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, New Orleans, and beyond.
4. Scalability
Your 3PL needs to handle your volume today AND your volume 12 months from now. If you're growing 3-5x year over year, can they keep up?
Questions to ask:
What's the maximum order volume you can handle per day?
How do you handle peak season (Black Friday, holiday, flash sales)?
Can you scale storage up and down flexibly?
What's the onboarding process for new SKUs?
A great 3PL should be excited about your growth, not stressed by it.
5. Accuracy and Quality Control
Order accuracy should be 99.5% or higher. Anything less means a significant number of your customers are getting wrong items, missing items, or damaged products.
Ask for:
Their current accuracy rate (with data to back it up)
Their quality control process (barcode verification, photo documentation, etc.)
How they handle errors when they do occur
Their process for handling fragile or high-value items
6. Communication and Support
When something goes wrong — and in logistics, things will occasionally go wrong — you need a 3PL that's responsive and proactive.
Look for:
A dedicated account manager (not a generic support queue)
Response time guarantees
Proactive communication about issues (inventory discrepancies, carrier delays, etc.)
Regular business reviews to optimize your fulfillment
7. Specialization and Value-Added Services
Some 3PLs are generalists. Others specialize in specific services or industries. Depending on your needs, specialization can be a huge advantage.
Value-added services to look for:
Custom kitting and subscription box assembly
FBA prep and Amazon compliance
Custom branded packaging
Returns processing
International shipping
B2B/wholesale distribution
At Asfar, we offer all of these under one roof — so you don't need to manage multiple vendors for different parts of your supply chain.
The Bottom Line
Don't just go with the cheapest quote. The right 3PL is an investment in your brand's customer experience and growth potential. Take the time to evaluate providers on technology, transparency, scalability, and cultural fit.
Ready to see if Asfar is the right fit? Request a quote and we'll build a custom fulfillment plan for your brand. Explore our order fulfillment, FBA prep, and warehousing services.