How to know if you can trust a fulfillment company with your customer and products

How to know if you can trust a fulfillment company with your customer and products

There are thousands of fulfillment companies out there and they are all seeking your business. Some will offer dirt cheap rates, others will offer discounts for higher volumes of products, and others will just plain lie to get your money. So how do you know that a fulfillment company is safe and reliable? Basically, this responsibility is in your hands--you need to do the research, ask the right questions, and get the information you need before making a decision.

Three questions to ask your potential fulfillment company

When you decide it is time to outsource your services to a fulfillment company here are three initial questions to ask your potential provider:

1. How will you and your employees treat my products?

Since these types of companies can basically make or break your consumer ratings, it is important to know how they will deal with unique issues dealing with customers and products. As far as products go, your fulfillment company should ensure a safe, regulated warehousing environment with trained employees handling your products. If your products arrive at a customer’s home broken or damaged, you can almost guarantee you have lost a customer. Ask to take a tour of the fulfillment company warehouse so that you can feel good about your decision to have your products stored there.

2. Is your company validated, certified, and compliant?

First, make sure that the fulfillment company you choose is a PCI DSS validated service provider. They also need to be ISO certified to ensure that their quality management system is based on quality standards. Keep in mind that the quality of the company’s operations will ultimately be reflected through your company--make sure it is a good one! If you are shipping food, vitamins, etc., the company should adhere to FDA rules and regulations to make sure the area is clean and at the right temperature. And, like any other company, fulfillment companies need to be in good standing with OSHA. Check for all of these things before signing a contract.

3. Do you have an organized system of operations in placee?

A “one size fits all” system is simply not acceptable in terms of ecommerce services. With so much diversity in technology and systems, a fulfillment company simply has to be diverse, flexible, organized, and efficient. This evidence will manifest itself quickly through their services. Pay attention! Make sure what the company SAYS and what they actually DO are in alignment.

SEO Services Provided by Phoenix SEO