How to choose a 3PL for Amazon FBA

Match the 3PL to the job

A DTC fulfillment network and an FBA prep center are different animals. If your job is getting inventory prepped and forwarded to Amazon, you want a prep-first partner, not a two-day-DTC delivery network you will overpay for.

The checklist

Score any 3PL against these:

• Per-unit prep pricing, published, with no surprise fees
• No monthly minimums, so low and seasonal volume is not penalized
• A committed turnaround SLA in writing
• Owned facility vs broker: who is actually accountable
• Returns inspection and resale, not just storage
• Inventory insurance and real-time visibility
• Compliance support: sales tax and IRS filings if you need them

Red flags

Walk away if you see:

• Vague pricing that depends on a sales call
• High minimums that punish small sellers
• No SLA, or "typical" times instead of a commitment
• A broker with no owned facility behind the promise

Why Think14 fits FBA sellers

Think14 is an owned Texas prep center: $0.75/unit, no minimums, 48-hour SLA, returns resale, inventory insured, and in-house US tax and compliance. Everything on the checklist, under one roof.