Running an eCommerce brand is exciting… until you’re buried under packing tape, order spreadsheets, and customer emails asking, “Where’s my order?” Growth is a good problem to have, but if fulfillment is slowing you down, it might be time to bring in a third-party logistics (3PL) partner.

But here’s the thing: not all 3PLs are created equal. Some promise the world, then drown you in hidden fees or leave you in the dark when an order goes sideways. Choosing the right partner is about more than just who can stick a label on a box. It’s about finding a team that feels like an extension of your business, one that helps you scale, not stress.

So how do you know which 3PL is “the one”? We’ve got you covered. Here are five practical tips for choosing the best 3PL for your eCommerce business.

1. Prioritize Same-Day and Fast Fulfillment

Amazon set the bar high. Today’s shoppers expect their orders to arrive in the mail stream almost immediately, and if you can’t keep up, they’ll switch to a competitor.

That’s why speed is the first thing to look at in a 3PL. Ask about their average fulfillment time. Do they pick, pack, and ship same-day? What’s their order cutoff? And equally as important, how reliable is their process when order volume spikes during a sale or the holiday rush?

A good 3PL should ship most orders same-day and have systems in place to handle seasonal surges without breaking a sweat.

When you outsource to a 3PL with multiple warehouses and discounted carrier rates, you’re not just keeping pace, but you begin competing toe-to-toe with big-box giants.

2. Look for Transparent Pricing (No Hidden Fees)

Here’s a scenario: you find a fulfillment partner with what looks like a great rate… until the invoice arrives, and you’re staring at line items you’ve never heard of. Receiving fees, “special handling” charges, returns processing, tape fees (yes, really)—those costs add up fast.

One of the biggest frustrations we hear from eCommerce founders is how difficult it can be to compare 3PL pricing. That’s why transparency is key. You deserve to know exactly what you’re paying for, without the fine print making you sweat.

Here are questions to ask when vetting 3PL partners:

• What’s included in your standard pick and pack fee?
• How do you charge for returns?
• Do you bill storage by the pallet, bin, or cubic foot?
• Are there seasonal surcharges?
• What surcharges are not included within provided shipping rates?
  
  

If you can’t get a straight answer, that’s a red flag. A partner with clear, easy-to-understand pricing gives you confidence to forecast costs and scale without surprise charges eating away at your margins.

3. Evaluate Technology and Integrations

Gone are the days of manually updating tracking numbers or juggling spreadsheets between Shopify, Amazon, and WooCommerce. If a 3PL doesn’t have the tech to integrate directly with your store, keep looking.

Your fulfillment partner should offer:

• Real-time store integrations (Shopify, Amazon, BigCommerce, TikTok, WooCommerce, Etsy—wherever you sell)
• A central dashboard so you can view orders, track shipments, and monitor inventory levels without logging into 10 different places
• Automated notifications for order holds so you can quickly resolve these issues preventing orders from shipping
  
  

A common question we hear is what integrations should a 3PL offer for eCommerce? At minimum, they should connect with your sales channels, your ERP system, and ideally any 3rd party returns software you already use. If their system feels outdated or clunky, imagine the headaches once you’re processing hundreds of orders a day.

Bottom line: tech-enabled fulfillment should both save you time and keep your business running smoothly, allowing you to focus on marketing and growth.

4. Choose a Partner with Dedicated Support

Here’s where a lot of eCommerce brands get burned. You sign on with a 3PL, and for the first week, things look fine. Then an issue pops up—an address validation error, a mislabeled SKU, a customer shipment that needs rerouting—and suddenly you’re stuck in a generic support ticket queue, waiting days for a response.

Fulfillment moves fast. You need a partner who moves with you. That means:

• A dedicated account manager who knows your business inside and out
• Clear communication channels (Slack, phone, email—not just a portal that feels like shouting into the void)
• Proactive updates when issues come up
  
  

What type of customer support should eCommerce businesses expect from a 3PL? Quick, personalized, and human. You shouldn’t feel like a number.

A good 3PL becomes part of your team. They should care about your customers as much as you do.

5. Align with a Scalable Partner That Grows With You

The goal isn’t just to fix today’s fulfillment headaches. It’s to build a system that will still work when your business doubles or triples in size.

A scalable 3PL should be able to handle:

• Seasonal spikes (holiday shopping, sales campaigns, Kickstarter launches)
• Multiple sales channels (Shopify and Amazon, not one or the other)
• Expanding into new regions with additional warehouse locations
• International shipping if growth takes you global
  
  

How can I make sure my 3PL can scale as my eCommerce business grows? Ask about their current client roster. Do they handle brands bigger than yours? Do they have the capacity to take on spikes in volume? If their biggest client ships 50 orders a day, they may not be ready to handle your 5000-order Black Friday blowout.

When your 3PL can flex with you, you’re not forced to switch providers every time you hit a growth milestone. That stability lets you focus on building the brand your customers love.

Additional Questions to Help You Find the Best 3PL Fulfillment Partner

Before you sign on the dotted line, run through this checklist:

• What’s your average order processing time?
• How do you handle returns and exchanges?
• Do you have experience with products like mine?
• What’s included in your pricing—and what’s extra?
• What integrations do you support?
• How do you communicate with clients?
  
  

These questions will help you quickly weed out partners who don’t fit and find the one who does.

Finding Your Perfect Fulfillment Partner

Choosing a 3PL doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Yes, there are a lot of options out there. But when you know what to look for—fast shipping, transparent pricing, solid tech, reliable support, and scalability—it becomes a lot easier to spot the right fit.

At ShipDaddy, that’s exactly what we’re here to do. With same-day fulfillment, easy-to-understand pricing, and a team that’s always just a Slack message away, we’re your partner in growth.

Ready to take fulfillment off your plate? Let’s chat and see how ShipDaddy can help you scale with ease.

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