Choosing a 3PL isn’t a transactional decision; it’s a strategic partnership. The difference between viewing a 3PL as a vendor and viewing them as your shipping department can determine your brand’s future success and customer satisfaction.
What is the best way to vet a 3PL fulfillment company?
The best way to vet a 3PL is to focus on cultural alignment, customer support structure, and scalability. You should treat the selection process like hiring a key employee: look for transparency, dedication, and a shared mindset that your growth is their primary objective.
5 Questions That Reveal a 3PL’s True Dedication
Asking the right questions can help you filter out vendors and identify true partners:
| Question to Ask Your 3PL | What the Answer Reveals | The Ship Central Answer |
| 1. Who will be my dedicated contact? | Do they offer personalized account management, or will I be calling a general support line? | You get a dedicated account manager—you work with the same person who knows your SKUs and business goals. |
| 2. How quickly do you respond to urgent inventory issues? | Do they prioritize immediate problem resolution? Low response times are a major red flag. | Amazing customer service is our promise. We operate with a sense of urgency because we are your shipping department. |
| 3. Do you have minimum volume requirements? | Are they built to serve only high-volume enterprise clients, or can they scale with me? | We structure pricing and services to ensure we can grow with you from early scaling stages onward. |
| 4. What specific value-added services do you offer? | Can they handle special projects beyond standard pick-and-pack? | We offer high-quality custom kitting, assembly, labeling, and other services to enhance your brand’s unboxing experience. |
| 5. Do you see us as a customer or a partner? | This simple question reveals their philosophical approach. | We are on the same team as our client. We treat your logistics as if they were our own. |
If a 3PL views you as just another contract, they won’t go the extra mile. Ship Central operates as an extension of your company, dedicated to ensuring every shipment reflects positively on your brand.