Free Interactive Tool

3PL Buyer's Checklist

47 questions to ask every fulfillment provider before you sign anything. Compare up to 3 providers side-by-side and get an instant scorecard.

πŸ“‹ 47 Questions βš–οΈ Side-by-Side Comparison 🚩 Contract Red Flags πŸ“§ RFQ Email Template
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Your 3PL Comparison Results
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Top-Scoring Provider

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Based on your answers across all 6 categories.

Overall Score
Score by Category
⚠️ Contract Clauses to Watch
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"All fees subject to change with 30 days notice" β€” Negotiate a 12-month rate lock. If they refuse, walk away.
❌
Auto-renewal with 60+ days cancellation notice β€” Push for 30 days. 60+ days is an unnecessary lock-in.
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No SLA or "best efforts" language β€” Demand specific response times with financial penalties for breach (typically 5–10% of monthly fee).
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Liability cap below your inventory value β€” If your inventory is worth Β£50k and their liability cap is Β£10k, you're underinsured.
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No exit clause in the first 90 days β€” Always negotiate a 90-day trial with exit rights. Any quality provider will agree to this.
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Fuel surcharge with no cap β€” Cap the surcharge at 8–10% of shipping fees. Uncapped surcharges can double your shipping costs.
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No minimum pick accuracy guarantee β€” Industry standard is 99.5%. Anything below 99% in the contract is a red flag.
πŸ“§ RFQ Email Template
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This checklist is for evaluation purposes only. Always seek legal advice before signing a commercial fulfillment contract.
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