Economic Fit: Why Pricing Models Break First
When fulfillment relationships fail, pricing is usually the first thing blamed.
Rates were misleading.
Invoices didn’t match expectations.
Costs “crept up.”
But in most cases, pricing didn’t fail because a 3PL was dishonest or a brand negotiated poorly.
Pricing fails because economic fit was never established.
Pricing Is a Model, Not a Number
Fulfillment pricing is often discussed as if it’s static:
- Pick & pack rates
- Storage fees
- Minimums
But those are just inputs.
What actually matters is the pricing model and how costs change as your business changes.
And your business will change.
Promotions spike volume.
Seasonality stretches labor.
SKU mix shifts.
Order profiles evolve.
If your pricing model can’t flex with those realities, it will break, usually long before the contract term ends.
Why Pricing Models Break First
Operational misalignment might take months to surface.
Technology gaps might take quarters.
Economic misalignment shows up on the first unexpected invoice.
That’s because fulfillment economics are sensitive to:
- Variability
- Volume swings
- Labor intensity
- Exception handling
When those drivers aren’t understood on both sides, pricing becomes brittle.
The Hidden Risk of “Clean” Pricing
Some pricing models look great on paper:
- Simple
- Low rates
- Few line items
But simplicity can hide risk.
If a model assumes:
- Flat order volume
- Consistent order size
- Minimal promotions
- Stable SKU velocity
…then any deviation pushes cost somewhere else.
Usually into:
- Overage fees
- Labor surcharges
- Manual adjustments
- Renegotiations
A clean model without flexibility isn’t efficient, it’s fragile.
The Economic Fit Checkpoint
Before you send an RFP, you should be able to answer two critical questions:
☐ Pricing will flex with volume and promotions
This doesn’t mean you want unlimited variability.
It means the model accounts for:
- Peak vs. non-peak volume
- Promotional spikes
- Campaign-driven order mix changes
If a promotion doubles order volume for a week, you should understand:
- Where costs increase
- Which costs stay fixed
- Which costs scale inefficiently
If the answer is “we’ll see,” that’s a warning sign.
☐ We understand our cost drivers
Most fulfillment cost surprises aren’t random.
They’re driven by:
- Order lines per order
- Units per pick
- SKU velocity distribution
- Labor touchpoints
- Storage density
- Handling exceptions
You don’t need perfect precision, but you do need directional clarity.
If you can’t explain why one month costs more than another, you don’t control your fulfillment economics. Someone else does.
Why Economic Fit Matters More Than the Lowest Rate
Two pricing models can produce the same average monthly cost until something changes.
The better model isn’t the cheapest one.
It’s the one that:
- Absorbs variability predictably
- Aligns incentives between brand and 3PL
- Reduces renegotiation pressure
Economic fit is what keeps a relationship stable when reality deviates from the forecast.
Where Brands Get Stuck
Brands often focus on negotiating:
- Lower pick rates
- Reduced minimums
- Shorter commitments
But those optimizations don’t fix a misaligned model.
If your economics assume one version of your business, and your business behaves differently, the contract will constantly be under stress.
That’s not a pricing problem.
That’s a fit problem.
How This Connects to RFP Readiness
Economic fit sits alongside operational fit as a core input to a successful RFP.
Without it:
- Provider comparisons become misleading
- Pricing looks competitive but performs poorly
- Partnerships start defensive instead of aligned
With it:
- Providers price risk more accurately
- Variability is expected, not penalized
- Conversations shift from invoices to outcomes
Next Step: Stress-Test the Model, Not the Rate
Before sending an RFP, pressure-test your fulfillment economics:
- What actually drives cost up or down?
- Where does variability show up?
- How does pricing respond when volume spikes or drops?
If you can answer those questions, you’re not just negotiating prices.
You’re designing a partnership that can survive change.
That’s the difference between short-term savings and long-term fit.
