Pricing and Costs
What is your per-unit prep fee? What additional charges apply (poly bagging, bubble wrap, bundling)? Are there receiving fees per delivery? What are your storage charges and when do they start? Are there minimum monthly charges or setup fees? Get everything in writing before committing.
Turnaround and Capacity
What is your standard turnaround time from receiving to dispatch? Can you handle rush orders and what is the additional cost? How does turnaround change during peak season (Q4)? What is your maximum weekly throughput? Will you guarantee processing within a specific timeframe?
Processes and Quality
How do you handle inspection of incoming goods? What happens if you find damaged items in a delivery? How do you ensure correct FNSKU labels are applied? What quality checks do you perform before dispatch? What is your process for flagging issues to clients? What is your error rate?
Communication and Technology
How do I track the status of my stock? Is there a client portal or app? How quickly do you respond to queries? Who is my primary point of contact? How do you notify me when deliveries arrive and when shipments are dispatched? What reporting do you provide?
Policies and Flexibility
What are your terms of service? What is the notice period if I want to leave? How do you handle liability for errors? Do you have insurance covering my stock? Can you handle hazmat products? What shipping carriers do you use? Can I have stock shipped to you from international suppliers?
Any prep centre worth using will answer these questions openly and thoroughly. Evasive or vague responses to straightforward operational questions suggest a provider you should avoid. At Precision, we welcome these questions because we are proud of our answers.