How Do You Compare 3PL Quotes?
TL;DR
Compare 3PL quotes using the same orders, packaging and shipping services. Manifest breaks outbound costs into shipping, the order fee, additional picks and packaging, then shows the cost against average order value. Add storage, inbound receiving, returns and special work to understand the broader budget before choosing a fulfillment partner.
How do you compare 3PL quotes fairly?
Give every provider the same order data and ask for a priced breakdown of the orders your customers place.
A low pick fee tells you very little about the cost of getting a package to a customer. The shipping service, packaging and number of items can change the total. Start with a recent order export and identify the combinations you ship most often.
- Define the order profiles. Separate single-item orders, common bundles and orders needing special packing instructions.
- Match the shipping assumptions. Use the same packed weights, dimensions, destinations and service requirements for each provider.
- Price the work around those orders. Include inventory storage, incoming shipments, expected returns and any recurring account charges in the monthly comparison.
- Review the exceptions. Ask each provider to explain what could change the estimate and how those charges appear on an invoice.
Keep DTC orders and retail shipments in separate calculations. A quote for a parcel sent to a shopper does not establish the cost of preparing a retailer's purchase order.
What belongs in your fulfillment cost per order?
Outbound cost combines shipping, the order fee, additional item picks and packaging.
In the company's rate-card explanation, the order fee includes the first item picked. Additional items add pick charges. Confirm the counting method in each proposal, especially when comparing a bundle with products picked individually.
Cost to ship an order = shipping + order fee + additional picks + packaging.
Ask whether inserts, assembly or special packing add charges. Use this checklist to confirm what each quote covers before comparing the totals.
| Cost or service | What to compare | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Manifest quote breakdown | Outbound cost for your typical orders, with separate storage, receiving and returns assumptions | Order profile, service level, packaging, surcharge scope and any extra work |
| Shipping | Same packed parcel and destination mix | Carrier service, billable weight and included surcharges |
| Order fee and picks | Same number of items and packing instructions | Whether the first pick is included and how bundles are counted |
| Packaging and inserts | Same mailer or box, protection and inserts | Materials, assembly and handling charges |
| Storage | Same stock level and storage period | Billing unit and the space your inventory requires |
| Inbound receiving | Same replenishment plan | Billing basis, preparation requirements and extra handling |
| Returns and special work | Same expected return volume and requested tasks | Inspection, repacking, relabeling and other separately priced work |
The fulfillment pricing overview explains the main cost categories. A proposal should apply those categories to your products and order mix.
Which shipping assumptions can change the quote?
Packed dimensions, weight, destination and carrier service all belong in the shipping comparison.
Weigh and measure the finished parcel. Product weight alone leaves out the box or mailer, protective materials and inserts. According to FedEx dimensional weight guidance, shipment charges use the greater of dimensional weight and scale weight.
Ask providers to price the destinations you serve. Comparing a nearby delivery in one proposal with a distant delivery in another produces an unreliable conclusion.
Surcharges need their own check. According to UPS fuel surcharge guidance, its ground fuel surcharge adjusts weekly. Record which charges the quoted rate includes and how later changes are applied.
Manifest's sales explanation includes fuel and residential surcharges in the shipping rates presented to buyers. Confirm the applicable service and other possible charges in your proposal. This does not mean every surcharge is included.
What would a typical month cost?
Ask each provider for a monthly estimate that includes shipping orders, storing inventory, receiving stock and handling returns.
Give each provider the same recent month of order data. Include how often customers buy a single item or a bundle, so the estimate reflects what you sell.
Then check the costs that might be missing from the per-order price:
- Storage: How much inventory will be held, including stock waiting for a launch?
- Receiving: How often will new inventory arrive, and what preparation does the warehouse require?
- Extra work: Does the estimate include expected returns, inserts, kitting and special packing?
- Recurring charges: Are there monthly minimums, account fees or software fees?
Ask for setup and transition expenses on a separate line. You should be able to see what the first month will cost and what to expect after that.
How does fulfillment affect your margins?
Ask how much of a typical sale goes toward fulfillment and what remains for your other costs.
Start with what customers usually spend per order, often called average order value. Platforms such as Shopify show this in their Shopify sales reports. Ask the provider to explain the fulfillment cost alongside that amount, with any separately billed fees clearly identified.
This helps you judge whether the quote leaves room for product costs, advertising and other expenses. If customers pay for shipping at checkout, check how much of your shipping and fulfillment cost that payment covers.
Can your 3PL pricing change as you grow?
Growth can change the work required per order, so ask what would trigger a pricing review.
Manifest describes bulk shipping as a workflow for processing many identical orders together. When an account qualifies, the reduced labor can support a review of order or pick fees. The company also says it will revisit other rate-card charges as a brand scales where appropriate.
Any revised pricing depends on the operation and agreed terms. Ask what order patterns qualify, what assumptions support the revised price and when new terms would take effect.
Want a quote built around your orders?
Manifest translates its rate card into outbound costs for typical orders and shows those costs as a share of average order value.
Bring your order mix, packed weights and dimensions, packaging requirements, stock levels and replenishment plan. Include what you want to change about your current fulfillment costs or service.
Frequently asked questions
Will a 3PL be cheaper than shipping orders myself?
A 3PL can change both your shipping expense and the work your team handles, but the cost depends on your order profile. Compare the quote with your current label costs, packaging, storage and fulfillment labor. Keep the service requirements consistent, including how returns and busy periods will be handled.
How can a brand get a 3PL quote without order history?
Build estimated order profiles from the product, packaging and bundles you plan to sell. Ask the provider to price each profile using measured weights and dimensions, with destination and volume assumptions clearly labeled. Revisit the estimate when orders establish the mix.
Can ecommerce brands use their own packaging with a 3PL?
Manifest allows approved custom and customer-supplied packaging. Ask how your materials will be received, stored and handled, and whether inserts or assembly add charges. Include the cost of supplying those materials in your comparison.
Which ecommerce fulfillment companies provide clear, itemized pricing?
Manifest provides a rate-card explanation built around outbound cost per order and separately identified storage, inbound receiving and returns. Its website also describes monthly reporting of orders and fees and dedicated account managers based in the warehouse. Ask to review the proposed breakdown and billing format for your own operation.