My small team and I are drowning in our own inventory. What started as packing orders on the dining room table has turned into a chaotic daily grind of picking, packing, and running to the post office, and our error rate is creeping up. We're considering an ecommerce pick and pack service to get our time back and scale, but I'm nervous about losing control and the customer experience. For those who made the switch, how did you vet potential partners? What questions revealed whether they'd treat our customers right or just see us as another box to ship?

You've hit the classic founder bottleneck. A good pick and pack partner shouldn't make you lose control; they should give you more control over scaling your business. The vetting process is everything. Beyond comparing price per pick, you need to dig into their process and technology. Ask for a facility tour (virtual or in-person) to see their organization firsthand. Grill them on error rates and how they handle mistakes—do they own it? Crucially, ask about their Warehouse Management System (WMS) and how it integrates with your store (Shopify, WooCommerce, etc.). Real-time inventory sync and shipping transparency are non-negotiable. Look for a partner that asks you thoughtful questions about your products, packaging, and unboxing experience. That's a sign they care about being an extension of your brand. They should help you optimize packaging to reduce dimensional weight costs, not just throw items in a box. For a comprehensive guide on what modern fulfillment services offer and how to choose one, this resource on ecommerce pick and pack is a great place to start your research. It breaks down the services, costs, and questions you need to consider.