Are you on the hunt for an efficient shipping solution to streamline your eCommerce business operations? The shipping setup you choose can greatly impact your business's success, dictating everything from shipping costs to delivery times. Simpl Fulfillment, a 3PL that stores, packs and ships your orders, and Pirate Ship, a tool for buying shipping labels, are two common options. This guide breaks down the strengths and weaknesses of both to help you make an informed decision.
Simpl Fulfillment vs. Pirate Ship: The Key Differences
At the core, Simpl Fulfillment and Pirate Ship serve as pivotal assets in the eCommerce logistics sector, but their approach and services vary significantly. Simpl Fulfillment operates as a 3PL partner, storing your inventory in its Austin, TX warehouse and picking, packing and shipping orders from Shopify, Amazon, Walmart and your other sales channels. Pirate Ship, on the other hand, specializes in providing discounted shipping rates through USPS, simplifying the shipping process primarily for small to medium-sized businesses.
If you'd rather hand off storage, packing and shipping entirely, Simpl Fulfillment is built for that: it's outsourced fulfillment, not software you run in your own warehouse. Meanwhile, Pirate Ship emerges as a cost-effective option for businesses looking to save on shipping costs with USPS.
Fulfillment Services
- Simpl Fulfillment: Yes
- Pirate Ship: No
Warehouse Management System (WMS)
- Simpl Fulfillment: Not sold as software for your own warehouse. Simpl's warehouse runs on the ShipHero WMS, and clients get free access to order tracking, inventory management with real-time inventory visibility, reporting, automation rules and a branded returns portal.
- Pirate Ship: No
Label Creation
- Simpl Fulfillment: Simpl buys and prints the shipping label for every order it ships, so you never create labels yourself.
- Pirate Ship: Allows users to effortlessly create shipping labels at discounted rates, saving time and money.
Multi-Carrier Access
- Simpl Fulfillment: Ships UPS, USPS and FedEx from a single warehouse in Austin, TX, to all 50 states and internationally to 200+ countries. Postage is included in the flat per-order rate; carrier surcharges, when they apply, are billed per Simpl's terms.
- Pirate Ship: Primarily focuses on providing discounted USPS shipping rates, offering savings for domestic shipping.
Package Tracking
- Simpl Fulfillment: Every shipment gets a UPS, USPS or FedEx tracking number that updates in real time and syncs back to the order on your store platform. Any shipping email your customer receives comes from your store's own notification settings.
- Pirate Ship: Features tracking capabilities, keeping customers informed about their package’s location and estimated delivery time.
Pros & Cons of Using Simpl Fulfillment
As a 3PL partner, Simpl Fulfillment presents an array of pros and cons for eCommerce businesses:
Simpl Fulfillment: The Pros
- Nationwide and International Reach: Ships from a single warehouse in Austin, TX, to customers across the US and to 200+ countries.
- Technology Integration: Connects with Shopify, Amazon, WooCommerce, Walmart, eBay, Etsy and TikTok Shop, with real-time inventory visibility across your channels.
- Customization: Offers kitting and assembly, gift messages, handwritten notes and gift wrapping.
Simpl Fulfillment: The Cons
- Cost: Pricing starts at $7/order, but standard ecommerce fulfillment accounts have a $750 monthly minimum, billed pay-the-difference: if a month's order billing comes in under $750, Simpl bills the shortfall so order billing reaches $750. That's roughly 90–100 orders a month for light packages on standard shipping, and fewer for heavier, larger or faster shipments.
- Not Built for Very Low Volume: If you ship well under that many orders, packing them yourself with a label tool like Pirate Ship is often the cheaper choice for now.
- Contract Term: Accounts sign a 3-month auto-renewing term with 60-day exit notice.
Pros & Cons of Using Pirate Ship
Pirate Ship, with its focus on offering discounted USPS shipping rates, also brings its own set of pros and cons:
Pirate Ship: The Pros
- Cost-Efficiency: Allows businesses to access deeply discounted USPS rates, making shipping more affordable.
- User-Friendly: Known for its simple, user-friendly interface that facilitates easy label creation and shipment tracking.
- Integration: Integrates smoothly with popular eCommerce platforms and marketplaces for streamlined operations.
Pirate Ship: The Cons
- Limited Carrier Options: Primarily focused on USPS, which might limit options for businesses looking for a multi-carrier shipping solution.
- No Fulfillment Services: Lacks comprehensive fulfillment services, focusing mainly on the shipping aspect.
Conclusion
Simpl Fulfillment is a strong option for brands that want to stop packing orders themselves and hand storage, packing and shipping to one partner. Its sales-channel integrations and flat per-order pricing make that switch straightforward.
On the other hand, Pirate Ship shines as a straightforward, cost-effective solution for businesses, especially smaller ones, aiming to save on shipping costs through discounted USPS rates.
In essence, the choice between Simpl Fulfillment and Pirate Ship boils down to your business's specific needs, growth trajectory, and budget considerations. Choose wisely to optimize your eCommerce logistics and steer your business towards sustained success.
