Choose fulfilment that fits your products
Parcel count alone does not describe the work. An order with several product lines, gift wrapping and an insert needs different handling from one standard item.
Describe the order profile
Separate monthly orders, distinct product lines and lines per order. Three different products create three lines; three units of one product might count as one line or several picks under a particular tariff. Ask what the billing unit means.
Show a normal month and a realistic peak period. Bulky, fragile or temperature-sensitive goods need different storage and packaging from small standard products.
Define the work and responsibilities
Services can include receiving, quantity checks, storage, picking, packing and carrier handover. Agree how shortages or damaged inbound goods are reported and who follows up with the supplier.
Specify packaging, inserts, kits and partial shipments. Stock, shipping status and tracking should feed back to your system. Customer service, payment processing and running the shop are not automatically included.
Compare the complete monthly cost
Setup, receiving, storage space, picks, packaging, dispatch handling, postage and returns may be charged separately. Integration fees and monthly minimums can apply. Compare the same sample order and monthly stockholding across quotes.
One published tariff charges CHF 1.50 for the first item picked and CHF 0.50 for each additional item, excluding VAT. Three chargeable picks therefore total CHF 2.50 net for picking alone. Storage, packaging, dispatch handling and postage are excluded.
Compare the whole month and the work remaining in your business. There is no universal order threshold at which outsourcing becomes worthwhile: the product range, automation and existing capacity change the calculation.
Set rules for returned stock
Decide when a return is fit to sell again. Opened, incomplete or damaged goods may need quarantining, photographs or separate storage. Receiving a parcel is not the same as carrying out a quality inspection.
Physical receipt, refunds and customer communication may belong to different teams. For international sales, agree return addresses and customs handling separately. An overseas warehouse does not remove every cross-border returns issue.
Test the integration and launch
Check cancellations, stock synchronisation, partial shipments and tracking as well as new orders. Credentials belong in a secure setup process, not an initial quote request. An agreed manual import can be enough at launch.
Test a normal order and an exception before going live. Reconcile opening stock and agree order cutoffs and promotional peak capacity. Batch tracking, expiry dates, batteries and chilled goods need an explicit suitability assessment.
Agree stock reconciliation, insurance and how goods and data would be handed back at the end of the contract. These arrangements make a later change of partner easier to plan.
Frequently asked questions
Can a new online shop use fulfilment?
Yes, if the scope, minimum fees and integrations fit its launch. Describe uncertain volumes as estimates to revisit.
Does the order price include postage?
Not always. Separate picking, packaging, dispatch handling and carriage to avoid missing or double-counting costs.
Does my shop need to be live already?
No. State the planned system and launch date, and agree an interim order transfer method if needed.
Can one warehouse serve Swiss and overseas customers?
Yes, with destination-specific planning for shipping, delivery terms, customs, taxes and returns.
