In today’s business world, working with a third-party fulfillment company is becoming increasingly necessary. There are many benefits to using a fulfillment company, including cost savings, improved efficiencies, and greater flexibility. However, for this to be true you need to choose the right fulfillment company for your business. When it comes to choosing a third-party fulfillment company, there are a lot of factors to consider. However, one of the most important factors is customer satisfaction. After all, if your customers are unhappy with the fulfillment process, it will reflect poorly on your business. Take a look at the interview below with Dog Mamma’s about their experienced and the lessons learned in choosing the right 3PL for their business.
Interviewer: Had you worked with other 3PL’s previously? If so, what was your experience?
Dog Mammas: Yes, I had been with another fulfillment company, my first experience with 3PL. While they were a wonderful group of people, I experienced a lot of fulfillment issues, which became very costly (too costly!) for me to continue with the. It was a combination of things.
- They were very inconsistent in getting my orders out. Orders would sit for days before they would ship – on average 3-5 days before an order from my Shopify store would ship.
- Inventory was EXTREMELY inaccurate. Huge discrepancies between what was shipped, the inventory report they had in their system, and what they actually had on the floor. Hundreds of units off – which for a small business like me, this was devastating.
- Significant packing issues. Consistently packing my product in boxes that were too large so the result was that my treats banged and rattled around in shipping inside their too large box, and were a damaged mess by the time they got to the customer. Sky high numbers of orders I had to resend due to damages, primarily just poor packing; and it also resulted in several D2C long time customers and several B2B customers not ordering from me again. A huge loss of business.
- They also had a very high monthly fee and did not provide clear billing – so it was very difficult to tell how much it was costing me to ship a particular package. The result was the billing was so confusing I was never really sure what my cost per package was. Therefore, I wasn’t adequately able to set my shipping rates to customers.
Interviewer: What made you choose to work/partner with Badger Fulfillment Group?
Dog Mammas: I had a great call with them upfront. I felt they really took the time to understand my business and what was important to me. While I am a small company, I have never been made to feel that way or that my business is any less important. After our exploratory call he provided in writing a proposal that detailed all the costs, fees, shipping times and what was included and what wasn’t – basically all the information that I need a business owner to make an educated decision, set my shipping costs and be able to set my expectations with my customers.
In today’s competitive marketplace, businesses need to be mindful of every aspect of their operations in order to succeed. This is especially true when it comes to logistics and transportation. An efficient and reliable supply chain is essential for keeping costs down and ensuring that goods reach their destination on time. As a result, choosing the right 3PL (third-party logistics provider) is a crucial decision that should not be taken lightly. There are many factors to consider, including service level agreements, packaging capabilities, shipping guarantees, and pricing structures. By taking the time to ask hard questions up front, businesses can ensure that they select a 3PL that will meets their needs and help them achieve their desired level of success.
Want to learn more about Badger Fulfillment Group? Tell us about your company and product through our quote request form and let’s discuss how we can help.
Interviewer: Can you speak to a specific experience in working with Badger that made a difference for you or your end customer?
Dog Mammas: It has been like night and day since moving to Badger. Their customer portal provides all the detailed information that I need to conduct business daily. It is just an extremely high level of service that is present through every step of the process. From the software system, to the responsiveness of their team, to their ability to do what they say they will do, to the care with which they pack and ship each of my orders. Since moving to Badger Fulfillment Group – I have gone from unprecedented high levels of customer issues due to damages and late product to almost nothing… my complaints/issues are now just those once in a while things that happen that are beyond everyone’s control when you are shipping. I can take a look at my billing and see exactly how much shipping is costing – which enables me to make the right decisions for my business as it relates to how much I charge my customers for shipping. It is affordable and reasonable. They have systems in place that work! All of my orders go out in the right size box, packed correctly and ON TIME! We had stayed away from moving on to additional channels/marketplaces because I felt like we couldn’t deliver on the shipping commitments required to do business on those platforms – with my previous 3PL I couldn’t commit to an order shipping either the same day if placed before noon, or the next business day. With Badger Fulfillment Group I can make that commitment and expand my business onto those platforms – which we are in the process of doing! I also never feel like I am the last one to get helped because I am a small business. I am sure they treat all their customers the same – they value your business, and it shows in how they provide their services. It has been a game changer for me to move to BadgerFG. I feel like I have a fulfillment partner that values my business, takes the time to understand what is important to me, and most importantly is really, really good at providing best in class fulfillment services for businesses of all sizes.
In today’s competitive marketplace, businesses need to be mindful of every aspect of their operations in order to succeed. This is especially true when it comes to logistics and transportation. An efficient and reliable supply chain is essential for keeping costs down and ensuring that goods reach their destination on time. As a result, choosing the right 3PL (third-party logistics provider) is a crucial decision that should not be taken lightly. There are many factors to consider, including service level agreements, packaging capabilities, shipping guarantees, and pricing structures. By taking the time to ask hard questions up front, businesses can ensure that they select a 3PL that will meets their needs and help them achieve their desired level of success.
Other Helpful Resources
Choosing the right 3PL partner is a critical decision that can shape the future success of your business. To help you navigate this process, we’ve compiled a list of helpful resources that cover everything from identifying when your current 3PL isn’t meeting your needs to making a smooth transition to a new partner. With Badger Fulfillment Group’s expertise and guidance, you’ll have all the tools you need to optimize your fulfillment strategy.
- Is Your 3PL Not Cutting It?-This resource helps identify the signs that your current 3PL might be falling short, with actionable tips on what to look for and how to address common issues.
- The Ultimate Guide to Effortlessly Switching Your 3PL Partner
Switching 3PL providers can seem daunting, but this guide provides a step-by-step process to make the transition smooth and stress-free. - Order Fulfillment Services-Learn about Badger Fulfillment Group’s comprehensive order fulfillment services, including pick, pack, and ship, as well as warehousing solutions.
- About Us-Introduces Badger Fulfillment Group’s dedication to providing top-notch, tailored logistics and fulfillment services.
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce: 6Things to Look for When Choosing A 3PL Partner-A helpful guide from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that 6 important things to consider when choosing your 3PL provider for your specific business needs.
- Selecting The Right Third Party Logistics Partner-Forbes offers tips on choosing a 3PL partner by focusing on factors like technology, customer service, and scalability for supply chain success.
These resources will equip you with the insights and strategies needed to make informed decisions when selecting or switching your 3PL partner.
Want to learn more about Badger Fulfillment Group? Tell us about your company and product through our quote request form and let’s discuss how we can help.
