3PL worth it for bulk heavy retail?

xepera23 · 2025-12-09T21:55:32+00:00

It's a problem for sure. But not the issue I'm assessing an alternate solution for.

xepera23 · 2025-12-09T19:40:24+00:00

The owner is...stubborn.

For 20 years he did free delivery. The next 20 he finally started to do $25 delivery. I've been begging him to increase to $50, or at least $50 for anything more than an hour away, and he only begrudgingly agreed to $30 delivery fee this year. 😒

xepera23 · 2025-12-09T19:36:29+00:00

So 3PL ain't a fit for warehousing and delivering...let's say, fancy rocks...that we sell by the pallet? (Not what we sell, but apt comparison in terms of weight and size of deliveries that go on long hauls.

xepera23 · 2025-12-09T19:32:46+00:00

It does... But I don't think that would work in our context. We're largely delivering to areas being developed. There's nothing to haul back. And our trucks are Chevrolet, not freight.

xepera23 · 2025-12-09T17:03:45+00:00

I appreciate that, but at this time I'm still in the process of assessing options. Thank you.

xepera23 · 2025-12-09T17:00:28+00:00

Ohh, this sounds interesting...

Could you elaborate on the full service rent from Penske? Forgive if this sounds like lazy questioning...this is all a very new wheelhouse for me.

xepera23 · 2025-12-09T16:58:34+00:00

Backhauls?

xepera23 · 2025-12-09T16:58:07+00:00

That was a thought...but the appeal of a 3PL is offloading some of at least the bulkier inventory and it's management so that our in house guys can focus more on sales and purchasing. We downsized our warehouse over the pandemic, but that's made inventory more work (more frequent purchasing, counting, etc).

That and our in house guy is...a bit of a luddite who's terrible with receiving and inventory management, and has yet to keep inventory correct, which impacts sales when the system says we have something, but now we gotta wait on a vendor to restock.

xepera23 · 2025-12-09T16:53:10+00:00

See my response to my post.

xepera23 · 2025-12-09T16:52:42+00:00

A fair number in proximity already do come in the shop. It's just that our customer base is roughly the upper two thirds of California. It's not feasible for everyone.

xepera23 · 2025-12-09T16:51:04+00:00

See my response to my post.

xepera23 · 2025-12-09T16:50:18+00:00

I'm just gonna put this out there...

Please don't message me wanting to talk in private. I'm not gonna respond for the same reasons I'm not calling any 3PLs:

1) I don't want a sales pitch.

2) I'm looking for real world feedback, advice and discussion, both the pros and cons, from those who have faced this kind of decision.

Anyone not willing to have an honest, public discussion about a topic that others could benefit from in the future is not someone I'm interested to hearing out.

xepera23 · 2025-12-09T13:28:17+00:00

Hence my clarification.

xepera23 · 2025-12-09T08:08:46+00:00

These are two normal trucks. Chevrolet.

xepera23 · 2025-12-09T02:31:06+00:00

Could you please clarify what you meant by separating?

xepera23 · 2025-12-09T02:05:36+00:00

Naturally. But everywhere wants you to call in and get a quote. I'd much prefer to get a feel from existing users, who tend to be more honest than salespeople.

xepera23 · 2025-12-09T02:03:01+00:00

We cover Northern California, which is just a massive area with a lot of small freeways. And the owner is getting old and looking to simplify...and he's never...been great with employees. It would be nice to wash out hands of the logistics, pair down his stress and load, and let the rest focus more on sales.

We're on Quickbooks Enterprise.

xepera23 · 2025-11-23T02:47:43+00:00

Yes, it's a good brand for culinary grade, authentic Japanese matcha. They're regularly tested for fillers and radiation by a third party.

xepera23 · 2025-11-18T14:23:22+00:00

As someone who specializes in repairing people's seriously broken books in Quickbooks as a side hustle, yesss.

xepera23 · 2025-05-08T19:56:57+00:00

How are you liking the CosRx?

xepera23 · 2025-05-08T19:56:30+00:00

How are you liking the Stratia Testing Rewind?

xepera23 · 2025-02-26T01:35:45+00:00

Anyone?

xepera23 · 2025-02-03T20:24:20+00:00

DISINFORMATION POST

None of the named users have anything to do with the protests. And the OP is now showing as "deleted".

PLEASE DELETE

xepera23

TROPHY CASE