FBA vs. 3PL: Should You Fulfill Amazon Orders Yourself?
FBA only fulfills Amazon orders; a 3PL fulfills every channel you sell on. Here's how Shopify and Amazon sellers should split fulfillment between the two.
The Honeybee Blog
Fulfillment, unboxing & DTC ops —
Fulfillment, unboxing & DTC ops —
minus the fluff.
Practical, no-nonsense guides for growing Shopify brands: how to choose a 3PL, when to stop self-fulfilling, building an unboxing worth posting, and getting orders out the door accurately and on time.
2-Day Shipping Without Amazon: How Brands Compete
Independent Shopify brands can match Amazon-level 2-day shipping without Amazon's network using the right order cutoff, warehouse location, and pick accuracy.
ShipBob Alternatives: Best 3PLs to Switch to in 2026
Looking for a ShipBob alternative in 2026? Compare Honeybee Fulfillment and other 3PLs on pricing, warehouse network, and who each one actually suits.
3PL vs 4PL vs Dropshipping: What's the Real Difference?
A 3PL stores and ships your inventory, a 4PL manages your supply chain, and dropshipping never touches inventory at all. Here's how the three compare.
What Is a 3PL? Third-Party Logistics for Ecommerce Brands
A 3PL (third-party logistics provider) stores your inventory and picks, packs, and ships orders for you. What it does, what it costs, and when to use one.
Best 3PLs for Shopify Stores in 2026: Top 10 Ranked
The 10 best 3PLs for Shopify stores in 2026, ranked for growing DTC brands shipping 300+ orders a month — pricing model, network, and who each one suits.
How to Choose a Shopify 3PL: Criteria & Red Flags
The selection criteria, questions to ask before signing, and red flags that separate a Shopify 3PL that delivers from one that drops your orders.
Shopify 3PL Pricing Compared (2026): Fees & Ship Speed
See how Shopify 3PL pricing, ship speed, and integration depth compare in 2026 — real fee structures, cutoff times, and what a flat per-order rate includes.
Why Your Shopify 3PL Should Also Handle FBA Prep
Multichannel sellers do best with one 3PL for Shopify fulfillment and Amazon FBA prep. Here's what splitting the two across vendors actually costs you.
How a Prep Center Saves Amazon FBA Sellers Money
A prep center cuts Amazon FBA costs three ways: no in-house labor or space, fewer inbound defect fees, and shipments that qualify for Amazon's no-fee split.
Amazon FBA Placement Fee: How to Avoid or Lower It
Amazon waives its FBA inbound placement fee for Amazon-optimized shipping splits — here's what triggers the fee and how sellers consistently avoid it.
Why Do Big Brands Outsource Fulfillment to a 3PL?
Big, well-funded ecommerce brands still outsource fulfillment instead of building a warehouse. Here's the real economics behind it, and when in-house wins.
Why Daily Shipping Updates From Your 3PL Actually Matter
Daily shipping updates from your 3PL catch problems before customers do. What a real daily update includes, and how to demand it from any fulfillment partner.
Why 3PL Location Matters: The Case for a Texas Warehouse
A 3PL's warehouse location drives shipping speed and cost. Here's why Texas — especially Dallas-Fort Worth — puts most of the US within 2-day ground reach.
Amazon FBA Prep Ended in 2026: What Sellers Do Now
Amazon ended FBA prep and labeling services for US sellers on January 1, 2026. Here's what changed, why shipments get rejected, and who preps inventory now.
Returns Management for Shopify DTC Brands: A Playbook
How growing Shopify DTC brands should handle returns and reverse logistics — inspection, restocking, and keeping return costs from quietly eating your margin.
Custom Packaging for Shopify Brands: Boost Repeat Sales
Custom packaging and branded unboxing for Shopify DTC brands: what to include, what it typically costs, and how a 3PL applies it on every order at volume.
Self-Fulfillment vs. a 3PL: When Should a Shopify Brand Make the Switch?
The honest checklist for Shopify DTC founders deciding whether to keep packing orders yourself or move to a 3PL — the real costs, the signs, and how to switch without dropping orders.