Part 2: The “Don’ts” of Selecting an Order Fulfillment Company

You may have read our other blog posting, “The Do’s of Selecting an Order Fulfillment Company,” and wondered what not to do in this scenario. It is absolutely essential that you understand the process of selecting this form of outsourcing if your company is going to grow and flourish.

If you are in the business of selecting an order fulfillment company, here are some things not to do.

Fulfillment Company Don’ts

1. Do not select a fulfillment company that does not have a well-defined process of accountability. Consider Albert Einstein’s famous quotation, “If you cannot explain it simply, you do not know it well enough.” This is true in any case, even in fulfillment services. If the manager cannot tell you how the internal operations of his company works, it is obviously not running on a set system of efficiency. Ask questions about specific scenarios such as: What would you do when inventory is lost? What if you shipped something in error? What if my products were damaged in your warehouse? Never do business with a fulfillment company that cannot explain its policies and operations to you in detail.

2. Do not sign a service contract until the provider’s reputation has been checked. Ask around, look online, do some research...if the company is legitimate and reliable, that information will surface quickly. Until you find out about their history of delivering quality service, their financial stability, and their operational strategy, do not sign a contract! If they have a poor reputation of service, do not expect different results in your situation. That is simply not how the business world works.

3. Lastly, never be afraid to ask detailed questions. Again, give the provider specific scenarios and expect detailed answers. As an investor in their service and company, you absolutely have a right to know what kinds of service your customers will be receiving. Don’t be afraid to shop around and compare your options. Most importantly, look at what the company actually DOES--not just what they say they do. Their service and client satisfaction speaks volumes. Don’t be fooled or pressured into a situation you don’t want to be in.