If a 3PL cannot clearly explain their receiving process — how they count, inspect, and document exceptions — that is a red flag. Vague receiving creates disputes about what arrived and what was done to it.
Watch for all-inclusive pricing that buries real costs. Quotes that are suspiciously low often hide receiving fees, storage fees, minimum charges, or per-carton fees that appear only on the first invoice.
Ask specifically about their experience with your channel. A warehouse that does general freight forwarding but claims to also do Amazon FBA prep often lacks the platform-specific knowledge to stay compliant.
If the 3PL is slow to respond during the sales process, they will be slow to respond when there is a problem with your inventory. Communication speed is a preview of operational speed.