Receiving
Receiving is the warehouse process of unloading inbound shipments, checking them against the purchase order or ASN, and recording the inventory.
Why it matters for ecommerce brands
Receiving sets how fast your inventory becomes sellable and how accurate your counts are, so problems here ripple into stockouts and billing disputes. Poorly labeled, mixed, or unannounced shipments slow the process and often trigger extra 3PL fees billed per hour or per carton. For example, if a 3PL charges $45 per labor hour for nonstandard receiving and an unlabeled, floor-loaded container takes 10 extra hours, you pay $450 more and wait longer to sell. Send an ASN and follow the 3PL's carton labeling rules.
Common questions
- Why is my 3PL taking so long to receive inventory?
- Common causes are missing or inaccurate ASNs, unlabeled or mixed cartons, and peak season backlogs. Sending a clear ASN and following the 3PL's inbound labeling rules usually speeds up receiving.
- How do 3PLs charge for receiving?
- Common models are per pallet, per carton, per unit, or per labor hour, sometimes with a flat fee per container. Floor-loaded containers usually cost more to unload than palletized freight.
- What is an ASN and why does a 3PL need one?
- An advance ship notice tells the warehouse what is arriving, including SKUs, quantities, and carton details, before the truck shows up. It lets the 3PL plan labor and check counts against what was sent.