The main advantages of third-party logistics are lower shipping rates from a 3PL's carrier volume, storage you pay for as you use it, built-in store and marketplace integrations, access to multiple carriers, returns handling, and the ability to grow order volume without adding warehouse space or staff.
What are the pros and cons of 3PL?
The pros of using a 3PL are lower shipping costs, flexible storage, faster fulfillment, and less operational overhead. The cons are less direct control over fulfillment, the work of integrating your systems, and dependence on the provider's performance, most of which come down to choosing a 3PL with transparent pricing and clear communication.
What does a 3PL do?
A 3PL receives and stores your inventory, picks and packs orders as they come in, ships them through its carrier network, and handles returns, so you don't run warehousing or fulfillment in-house.
Is a 3PL worth it for a small ecommerce brand?
For most growing ecommerce brands, a 3PL becomes worth it once packing and shipping orders starts eating time you'd rather spend on product and marketing. Simpl Fulfillment ships orders starting at $7/order, with picks, packaging, and postage included and a $750/month account minimum billed pay-the-difference. That lets brands shipping anywhere from 50 to 5,000+ orders a month outsource fulfillment without building their own warehouse.
A recent data exposure at a fulfillment vendor affected thousands of ecommerce customers' records. Four questions worth asking about data retention, access controls, breach notification, and subprocessors before you sign with a 3PL.
Apparel fulfillment is harder than standard ecommerce: size-and-color SKU matrices, high return rates, and poly-bag and hang-tag requirements. Here's what changes when you move clothing through a 3PL, what to ask before you sign, and how Simpl runs apparel programs, starting at $7/order.
What does order fulfillment actually cost? This guide breaks down every fee type, from pick-and-pack to receiving, storage, and setup, with real industry ranges and Simpl's flat-rate model as a case study.
