Receiving
Inbound cost depends on whether inventory arrives by pallet, case, container, or mixed-SKU load and what counting, labeling, or inspection is required.
A transparent quote framework
3PL pricing makes more sense when every cost driver is visible.
Tideway builds fulfillment quotes from your actual inventory and order profile. That produces a more useful comparison than a headline pick fee that leaves storage, packaging, shipping, returns, or special work unexplained.
- Quote based on your operating profile
- Receiving through returns considered
- No one-size-fits-all headline rate
99.96%order accuracy
99.5%on-time shipping
22%average savings
1 PMsame-day cutoff for qualifying orders
The short answer
How is 3PL fulfillment pricing calculated?
Most 3PL invoices combine several types of activity: receiving inventory, storing it, picking and packing orders, providing packaging materials, purchasing postage, processing returns, and completing any kitting or special projects. Product size, weight, SKU count, items per order, customer destinations, seasonality, and handling rules change the work behind each line.
Tideway uses those inputs to build a custom quote. When comparing providers, give each 3PL the same operating data and confirm exactly what is included, what is passed through, what has a minimum, and what can trigger an additional fee.
The main quote components
Six cost categories to compare across every 3PL proposal.
Ask providers to separate these categories. A low fee in one area can be offset by a markup, minimum, or exception charge somewhere else.
Storage
Storage can be based on pallets, bins, shelves, or cubic volume and changes with inventory quantity, product size, and seasonality.
Pick and pack
Order fees reflect the first item, additional items, SKU variety, packing steps, verification, and the complexity of the order profile.
Packaging
Boxes, mailers, dunnage, tape, branded materials, inserts, and custom packing steps should be identified separately in the quote.
Postage and freight
Carrier cost changes with package dimensions, weight, service, destination, residential delivery, surcharges, and any rate markup.
Returns and special work
Return inspection, restocking, kitting, relabeling, bundling, B2B preparation, and projects can add labor or per-unit charges.
From connection to first shipment
Build a quote that can survive contact with the real operation.
- 1
Export order history
Provide monthly orders, items per order, package weights and dimensions, destinations, shipping services, and seasonal peaks.
- 2
Document inventory
Share SKU count, units on hand, product dimensions, inbound pattern, storage needs, and any lot or handling requirements.
- 3
Define the experience
List packaging, inserts, bundles, returns, support, same-day cutoff, retail or B2B orders, and exception workflows.
- 4
Compare the total
Model a representative month across every provider, including minimums, account fees, materials, postage assumptions, and exceptions.
Information to bring
Better inputs create a more reliable fulfillment quote.
A useful proposal does not need perfect data, but it should reflect enough of the operation to avoid pricing a fictional one-item, one-SKU order.
- Average and peak monthly order volume
- SKU count, units on hand, and product dimensions and weights
- Average items and unique SKUs per order
- Top customer destinations and current shipping services
- Packaging, inserts, bundles, kitting, returns, and B2B requirements
- Sales channels, integrations, cutoff times, and reporting needs
Buyer questions, answered
3PL fulfillment pricing FAQs
Why does Tideway provide custom fulfillment pricing?
Two brands with the same monthly order count can require very different storage space, picks, packaging, carrier services, return work, and exception handling. A custom quote accounts for the actual work instead of relying on a misleading headline rate.
What is included in pick and pack?
The definition varies by provider. Confirm whether the fee includes the first item, additional items, packaging labor, standard materials, order verification, inserts, and label application. Tideway documents the applicable workflow in the quote.
Is postage included in a 3PL fulfillment fee?
Usually postage is a separate cost because it varies by package dimensions, weight, service, destination, surcharges, and carrier. Confirm the carrier rate source and whether any markup or adjustment handling applies.
What hidden 3PL fees should I ask about?
Ask about account minimums, setup and integration, receiving, storage tiers, packaging materials, additional picks, long-term storage, projects, returns, address corrections, carrier adjustments, peak fees, and account management.
How can I compare two fulfillment quotes?
Use the same representative month and the same operational inputs for each quote. Calculate receiving, storage, pick and pack, materials, postage, returns, projects, minimums, and account fees, then compare service levels and contract terms alongside total cost.
What should I send Tideway for a quote?
Send recent monthly order volume, SKU and inventory data, product and shipment dimensions and weights, order composition, customer destinations, sales channels, packaging, returns, special handling, and seasonal peak information.
A clearer fulfillment decision
Turn your order history into a fulfillment quote you can evaluate.
Start with the data you already have. Tideway can help identify the remaining details needed to price receiving, storage, fulfillment, shipping, and returns.
Request your fulfillment quote