Understand what drives a 3PL estimate before you compare totals
A practical explanation of receiving, storage, pick-and-pack, packaging, shipping, returns, and project costs.
What to know before you decide
OmniCore creates account-specific pricing because fulfillment cost depends on how inventory arrives, how much space it uses, how orders are assembled, what packaging is required, and where parcels ship.
Core cost categories
Most proposals separate receiving, storage, pick-and-pack work, packaging materials, shipping, returns, and special projects so brands can see what changes the total.
- Receiving and inbound work
- Storage footprint
- Order and item picks
- Packaging and inserts
- Postage and carrier services
- Returns and project labor
What improves estimate quality
Recent order exports, SKU dimensions, package weights, destination mix, channel requirements, return rate, and examples of the intended unboxing experience produce a more useful estimate.
Compare the operating model too
A low line item can be expensive if it creates errors, delayed communication, or inflexible minimums. Compare account attention, exception handling, onboarding, and reporting alongside price.
Questions to settle before you decide.
01Why does OmniCore use account-specific pricing?+
Cost changes with receiving work, storage footprint, order mix, item count, packaging, destination mix, returns, minimums, and special projects, so one public flat rate would hide important assumptions.
02Which cost categories should appear in a fulfillment estimate?+
A useful estimate identifies receiving, storage, order and item picks, packaging, carrier charges, returns, minimums, and special project work that applies to the account.
03How can a brand compare two 3PL quotes fairly?+
Model both quotes with the same normal-month and peak-month assumptions, including SKU count, order mix, package weights, destinations, returns, projects, minimums, and annual changes.