This episode guides Amazon sellers through the critical process of selecting a Third-Party Logistics (3PL) provider for Amazon fulfillment. It highlights the downsides of relying solely on FBA, like inflated Q4 storage fees and limited multi-channel fulfillment, and offers a strategic approach to finding a 3PL that can scale with your business and optimize your supply chain beyond Amazon.
Key takeaways
Diversify fulfillment channels beyond Amazon FBA to mitigate risks like Q4 storage fee hikes and account suspensions, enabling multi-channel selling (e.g., Walmart).
Prioritize 3PLs that offer return processing services to save on shipping costs and labor, as self-managing returns becomes unsustainable with business growth.
Seek 3PLs with multiple warehouse locations to ensure efficient, cost-effective two-day shipping capabilities across the US, a key factor for maintaining Seller Fulfilled Prime eligibility.
Leverage community recommendations (Facebook groups, masterminds) over blind Google searches to build a list of vetted 3PL prospects and gather authentic user experiences.
When interviewing 3PLs, inquire about order processing automation (manual vs. integrated), warehouse network size, and their ability to consistently meet two-day shipping requirements for Seller Fulfilled Prime.
Episode 38 In today’s episode, we will be sharing our story with the audience on how Ken and I found a third-party logistics company to fulfill our Amazon orders (or expand into other marketplaces like Walmart). The background of this episode comes from a conversation that Ken and I had a few weeks ago where we both admitted that finding a 3PL for our Amazon businesses had been on both of our to-do lists for a few months. We decided that we would hold each other accountable for ac...
What does this episode say about amazon & marketplaces?
Diversify fulfillment channels beyond Amazon FBA to mitigate risks like Q4 storage fee hikes and account suspensions, enabling multi-channel selling (e.g., Walmart).
What does this episode say about supply chain & operations?
Prioritize 3PLs that offer return processing services to save on shipping costs and labor, as self-managing returns becomes unsustainable with business growth.
What does this episode say about founder & leadership?
Seek 3PLs with multiple warehouse locations to ensure efficient, cost-effective two-day shipping capabilities across the US, a key factor for maintaining Seller Fulfilled Prime eligibility.
What does this episode say about amazon & marketplaces?
Leverage community recommendations (Facebook groups, masterminds) over blind Google searches to build a list of vetted 3PL prospects and gather authentic user experiences.
What does this episode say about amazon & marketplaces?
When interviewing 3PLs, inquire about order processing automation (manual vs. integrated), warehouse network size, and their ability to consistently meet two-day shipping requirements for Seller Fulfilled Prime.
