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3PL Pricing Explained — Transparent, Scalable, No Surprises

If you are comparing UK 3PL pricing quotes, you are probably trying to answer one question: what will landed fulfilment actually cost per order once storage, picks, materials and labels are included? This page breaks down how we price pick and pack, pallet or bin storage, courier services and optional work (kitting, FBA prep, returns) so you can model margins for Amazon, Shopify or marketplace mixes without hidden line items. Use it as a checklist when you ask other providers the same questions — then request a tailored quote from us when you are ready to move stock into a UK warehouse.

  • Clear, itemised invoices
  • No hidden fees or forced bundles
  • Volume efficiencies where it matters
  • Monthly reporting on cost drivers and savings

How Pick & Pack Pricing Works

Pick & pack covers the operational work to locate inventory, scan, verify, pack and prepare your order for dispatch.

  • First item (base pick): Fixed cost to open and verify the order (scanner‑based accuracy).
  • Additional items: Reduced fee per extra SKU/quantity in the same order.
  • Verification: Barcode checks included to minimise shipping errors.
  • Packing materials: Unbranded mailers/boxes, tape, labels at transparent, itemised rates.

Typical structure (illustrative): first item £0.99–£1.25; each additional £0.25–£0.45; standard mailer/box £0.15–£0.40; branded inserts/custom packaging quoted to spec.

Rates are influenced by lines per order, SKU complexity, dimensions/weights, fragility, kitting/bundles, and daily order volume/seasonality.

Storage Pricing (Pay Only for the Space You Use)

You’re charged for the physical footprint your inventory occupies and for how long—no arbitrary tiers.

  • Bin/shelf storage (small items): £0.40–£1.20 per bin/week
  • Standard pallet: £6–£9 per pallet/week
  • Oversize pallet/long goods: priced by cubic volume
  • Short‑term intake overflow: available at agreed weekly rates

Optimisations include right‑size slotting by demand, regular dead‑stock/slow‑mover reports and seasonal flexibility without long‑term commitments.

Courier Pricing (Pass‑Through or Agreed Rate Card)

Labels are priced by weight, dimensions, service level and destination. We route each parcel to the best‑value service that still meets your delivery promise.

  • UK: Royal Mail Tracked 24/48 (Large Letter/Parcel), DPD Next Day, DHL/Evri/UPS options
  • International: Economy tracked and Express; DDP (duties paid) routes available
  • Pricing models: Pass‑through (pay exactly what we pay) or agreed rate card (fixed bands)

No Hidden Fees — Our Positioning

You will never see surprise “admin fees”, undisclosed “peak surcharges”, packaged mark‑ups buried in line items, or forced add‑ons to access better courier prices.

You will always see an itemised invoice (pick & pack, materials, storage, labels), clear change notes if volumes or tariffs shift and proactive cost‑reduction recommendations.

Example Pricing Scenarios (Illustrative)

1) Single‑SKU DTC, light parcels (UK)

  • Profile: 1–2 lines/order, 100–250g, letterbox‑friendly
  • Pick & pack: £0.99 (first) + £0.25 (second)
  • Packaging: £0.20 (mailer)
  • Label: Royal Mail Tracked 48 up to 750g — £2.30–£2.80
  • Storage: 2 pallets/month @ £7/week ≈ £56/month
  • Estimated per‑order (1 item): ~£3.49–£3.99

2) Apparel brand, mixed sizes, next‑day promise

  • Profile: 1–3 items/order, 300g–1.2kg, branded insert
  • Pick & pack: £1.10 (first) + £0.35 (each additional)
  • Packaging: £0.35 (branded box + tissue) + £0.05 insert
  • Label: DPD Next Day 0–1kg — £4.20–£4.80
  • Storage: 6 pallets/month ≈ £168/month
  • Estimated per‑order (2 items): ~£6.05–£6.80

3) Beauty/fragile items, Shopify + TikTok Shop

  • Profile: 1–3 items/order, protective wrap, spike‑ready
  • Pick & pack: £1.15 (first) + £0.35 (additional)
  • Packaging: £0.40 (box + void fill)
  • Label: Royal Mail Tracked 24 up to 1kg — £3.20–£3.80
  • Storage: 3 pallets/month ≈ £84/month
  • Estimated per‑order (1 item): ~£4.75–£5.30

4) International add‑on (US/EU)

  • Same pick & pack/packaging as above
  • Label: UPS/DHL economy 0–1kg — £7.00–£10.50 (lane‑dependent)
  • DDP optional (duties/taxes handled upfront)
  • Estimated uplift vs domestic: +£3.50–£6.50 per order

Note: These are not quotes. Final pricing depends on exact SKU sizes/weights, service levels, order mix and seasonality.

How We Lower Your Total Landed Cost

  • Service matching: the cheapest label that still meets your SLA
  • Packaging optimisation: right‑size to drop weight/size bands
  • Slotting by velocity: faster picks, fewer touches
  • Exception win‑backs: targeted re‑ships where it’s cheaper than churn
  • Returns analytics: fix drivers of preventable returns

What We Need to Quote Accurately

  • Average orders/day (by month if seasonal)
  • Lines per order and SKU variety
  • Product dimensions/weights (typical and max)
  • Fragility/packaging rules
  • Delivery promises (24/48‑hour, next day, international)
  • Current courier mix and pain points

We’ll respond with an itemised tariff and a one‑page “unit economics” view so you can compare vendors like‑for‑like.