Why We Said No to 5,000 Orders (And Why You Should Say No Too)
In the world of e-commerce fulfilment, there is a dangerous game being played. It is called the "Race to the Bottom." You see it in your inbox every day: companies promising to pick, pack, and ship your life’s work for pennies.
At Easyadd, we don’t play that game. In fact, we’ve built our reputation on saying "No" to it.
A few years ago, we were approached by an eBay seller moving 5,000 orders every single month. For most 3PLs, that’s a "dream client." For us, it was a decision that defined who we are as a partner.
This is the story of why we turned down 60,000 orders a year, and why, if you value your brand, you should start turning down "cheap" options too.
The £0.85 eBay Seller: A Lesson in Value
A few years ago, an eBay seller with 5,000 orders per month approached us. He was growing fast, his products were flying off the virtual shelves, and he desperately needed a fulfilment partner to handle the scale.
We sat down, looked at the margins, calculated the labour, the insurance, the software integration, and the professional-grade packaging required to protect his reputation.
We quoted him £1.80 per order.
He laughed. He said: "I have offers for £0.85."
Our response was simple: "Then take them."
He did.
What Happened Next (The Reality of the Race to the Bottom)
We do not know exactly what happened to that specific seller, but we have seen the script play out dozens of times. We know what usually happens when you pay £0.85 per order in the UK.
At £0.85, you aren't paying for a service; you are paying for a seat on a sinking ship. Here is what that price point actually buys you:
- Late Dispatches: When margins are that thin, the warehouse cannot afford enough staff. Your orders sit on the floor while they "batch" them to save pennies.
- Incorrect Items: No barcode scanning, no double-checks, and no inventory inspection. You send a red widget; they pack a blue one.
- Lost Stock: Cheap warehouses are often chaotic. If they aren't charging for proper WMS (Warehouse Management System) tech, your inventory is being tracked on a dusty clipboard.
- Zero Communication: Try calling them when a customer complains. You’ll get a bot, an unanswered email, or a "we'll look into it" that never comes.
- The Amazon/eBay Death Spiral: Negative reviews, high refund rates, and eventually, the dreaded account suspension.
At £0.85, you are not paying for fulfilment. You are paying for problems.
The £5 Pallet Lady: Logistics vs. "A Man with a Van"
It isn't just about pick and pack. We see the same race to the bottom in warehousing and storage.
Recently, a lady from Poland contacted us about storing a 1-ton shipment of InPost parcel lockers. This is heavy, high-value, industrial-grade equipment. It requires a forklift, a clear loading bay, and experienced hands.
We quoted £35 to offload and £25 to load.
She said: "I have a quote for £5."
Again, our answer remained the same: "Then take it."
She did.
The Hidden Cost of "Cheap" Handling
At £5 for a 1-ton pallet movement, you aren't hiring a logistics company. You are hiring a man with a van who likely doesn't have a forklift, let alone goods-in-transit insurance.
When you pay £5 for a 1-ton move, you get:
- No Insurance: If that locker drops or gets "lost," you are on your own.
- Damaged Goods: Heavy items require specific handling. Scratches, dents, and structural damage are the standard at bargain prices.
- No Accountability: There is no "Goods-In" report. There is no photo evidence of arrival.
- No-Shows: If a better-paying gig comes along, your "£5 partner" simply won't turn up.
At £5, you are not paying for logistics. You are paying for stress.
Why We Say "No"
We have learned the hard way that not all business is good business. We explicitly say "No" to:
- £0.85 per order quotes
- £5 pallet handling requests
- Clients who treat fulfilment as a "commodity" to be haggled over
- Clients who do not value the safety of their stock
Why? Because cheap clients are almost always the most expensive to serve. In our experience, bargain-hunters are:
- Chaotic: They often have poor data and messy inventory.
- Demanding: They expect 5-star service on a 1-star budget.
- Unprofessional: They ignore dispatch metrics until their account is suspended, then expect us to perform miracles.
- Slow to Pay: If they are squeezing us on pennies, they are likely struggling with their own cash flow.
They drain your energy, your time, and your profit. We would rather keep our warehouse space for brands that are serious about growth.
What We Say "Yes" To
We say "Yes" to clients who understand a fundamental truth: Cheap fulfilment is the most expensive thing you can buy.
We partner with established D2C Shopify brands and Amazon FBA sellers who handle 500+ orders monthly and value:
- Accuracy: Getting it right the first time, every time. ✅
- Speed: Meeting the dispatch metrics that keep your Buy Box protected. ✅
- Communication: Speaking directly to the person handling your stock, no bots, no theatre. ✅
- Visibility: Real-time inventory data so you never oversell. ✅
The Real Cost of Cheap Fulfilment
If you are currently looking at a "too good to be true" quote, use this table to calculate the actual price you will pay:
| Cheap fulfilment costs you | What it really costs your business |
|---|---|
| £0.85 per order | Lost customers, 1-star reviews, and Amazon account suspensions. |
| £5 pallet handling | Damaged goods, zero insurance coverage, and wasted hours chasing updates. |
| Late dispatches | Refund requests, customer service nightmares, and a ruined brand reputation. |
| Incorrect FBA prep | Amazon fines (chargebacks), shipment rejections, and "stranded" inventory. |
The cheapest option is almost never the cheapest in the long run.
Our Transparent Pricing
We don't hide our fees. We are built by sellers who are still in the game, like you, and who hated "hidden handling fees." When you work with Easyadd, you know exactly what your margin math looks like.
| Service Type | Rate |
|---|---|
| Pick & Pack (Standard Order) | £4.50 |
| Multi-SKU / Bundle Order | £5.50 |
| Emergency FBA Labelling | £1.50 per unit |
| Standard FNSKU Labelling | £0.80 per unit |
| Pallet Storage | £35 per month |
| Goods-In (Receiving) | £35 per delivery |
We are not the cheapest. We do not try to be. We are the reliable option. The accurate option. The option that actually answers the phone.
Who We Serve (And Who We Don't)
To maintain our high service standards, we are selective about who we bring into our warehouse.
We serve businesses that:
- Do 200+ (ideally 500+) orders per month.
- Value brand reputation over a £0.50 saving.
- Are ready to scale professionally.
- Understand that logistics is the backbone of their revenue.
We do NOT serve businesses that:
- Compare us to £0.85 "sweatshop" operations.
- Ask for discounts on our standard rates.
- Treat their inventory like an afterthought.
- Are not ready to invest in professional-grade operations.
Why We Are Sharing This
We are sharing this because we are tired of seeing good brands die because they chose a bad 3PL.
- There is no £0.85 fulfilment that is reliable.
- There is no £5 pallet handling that is professional.
- There is no "cheap" option that delivers quality.
If you find a partner who promises high quality for bottom-barrel prices, take it. But don't be surprised when your Amazon account health turns red.
If you are tired of the "theatre" of corporate 3PLs, the late dispatches, the missing stock, and the indifferent support, you know where to find us. We aren't the cheapest, but we are the partner who actually delivers.
Your Next Step
Are you a growing brand ready to stop firefighting and start scaling?
If you value reliability and want to protect your dispatch metrics, email us today. We respond to all serious enquiries within 24 hours.
Email us with:
- Your business name
- Your monthly order volume
- Your product type
- Your biggest current fulfilment challenge
Click here to contact the Easyadd team
Please note: We reserve the right to decline clients who do not fit our model. This ensures we can continue to provide 100% accuracy and excellence for our existing partners.