How to Actually Find a 3PL That Won't Suck
Finding a 3PL shouldn’t be rocket science, but somehow it feels like it. Here’s how to actually do it without wasting months.
Three Main Approaches
1. Direct Outreach (The Old School Way)
Google “3PL + [your location]” or “fulfillment center + [your product type]” and start reaching out directly.
Pros: You control the conversation, can negotiate directly, no middleman fees.
Cons: Time-consuming as hell. You’ll spend weeks sending RFPs, comparing apples to oranges, and sitting through sales pitches.
Best for: If you have specific requirements and time to burn, or if you already know which 3PLs operate in your space.
2. Use a Marketplace (The Efficient Way)
Several platforms have popped up to match brands with 3PLs. Here’s what’s actually different about each:
- Free for merchants (3PLs pay them)
- They actually vet their 3PLs for financial stability and performance
- Takes 3-5 days to get matches
- Good if you want someone else to do the initial screening
- Acts more like a broker - they’ll send RFPs on your behalf
- Claims to save up to 30% on costs (your mileage may vary)
- More hands-on support throughout the process
- Good if you want someone to negotiate for you
- AI-powered matching (take that with a grain of salt)
- Instant top 10 matches based on your criteria
- Completely free, very quick
- Good for getting a fast overview of options
3. Ask Other Brands (The Smart Way)
Join communities like r/ecommerce or ecommerce Slack groups and ask who people actually use. Real experiences beat marketing materials every time.
What to Actually Look For
Forget the sales pitches. Here’s what matters:
Location
- Are they near your customers? Shipping zones matter for costs and speed.
- Do they have multiple locations if you need geographic coverage?
Technology
- Can their systems talk to yours? If they can’t integrate with your store or ERP, run.
- Do they provide real-time inventory visibility? (Spoiler: many don’t)
Minimums and Fees
- Monthly minimums can kill you during slow seasons
- Setup fees, receiving fees, storage fees - get ALL the fees upfront
- Ask about peak season surcharges
References
- Talk to current clients with similar volume and product types
- Ask specifically about communication during problems (because there will be problems)
Red Flags to Avoid
- Won’t give you references
- Vague about pricing (“it depends” for everything)
- No technology or still using Excel for inventory
- Too good to be true pricing (they’ll make it up in fees)
- Can’t provide SLA metrics or performance data
The Reality Check
No 3PL is perfect. They’re all dealing with labor shortages, system limitations, and margin pressure. Your job is to find one whose problems you can live with.
Start with the marketplaces if you want to move fast. They’re free and will give you a sense of what’s out there. If you have specific needs or want more control, go direct. Either way, talk to other brands using them before you sign anything.
And once you pick one? That’s when you need to start monitoring their performance. Because what they promise during sales and what they deliver in operations are often two different things.
That’s where tools like 3PL Pulse come in - but that’s a conversation for after you’ve picked your 3PL.
Know a great 3PL marketplace or resource we missed? Drop us a note at hello [at] 3plpulse.com and we’ll check it out.