Fulfillment, shipping, returns
Our 3PL is falling apart and we need to move fast
The warehouse you trusted changed hands, or the service got worse and stayed worse. Orders are still going out. The move has to happen without a week of silence.
The lists for this job
These are the ones I'd pick first, which is why I partner with them. I may earn a referral fee.
DISCLOSURE
Listings and verdicts can't be bought. Sponsored slots and reviews are always labeled.
WHAT MATTERS
- They have taken a migration of your size before.
- You can run both buildings for a few weeks.
- Your systems, not only Shopify, connect.
- A person is accountable during the overlap.
Before you sign
- A written overlap plan: which SKUs move first, and who ships during the move.
- Receiving capacity on the weeks you will actually deliver inventory.
- Data you get out of the old building: inventory, lot, and returns.
- The new exit clause, so you do not sign the same trap twice.
NONE OF THESE
If the old building is still accurate and the only problem is price, renegotiate before you move. A migration costs more than a rate card suggests.
Questions
Can I switch during peak?
You can. You will feel it in late orders. Move the long-tail SKUs first if you cannot wait until January.
Should my freight forwarder and my 3PL be the same company?
Only if one contract is clearer than two. Otherwise keep them separate and make them share a calendar.
What do I pull from the old 3PL before I tell them?
An inventory snapshot, open orders, and the returns that are not booked. Do that first.