Stop outsourcing your brand’s control—how Saltbox Access Plans outclass 3PLs

Growth is exciting—but let’s not pretend it’s not also stressful. As product-based brands level up, many look to third-party logistics (3PL) providers as the silver bullet for fulfillment. The promise? Convenience. The reality? A logistical black box that strips control, stunts flexibility, and dilutes the customer experience.

That tension was front and center in our recent Freedom to Flow webinar, where I spoke with Matthew Hertz, CEO and Founder of Third Person. He unpacked some of the biggest misconceptions brands have when outsourcing fulfillment—and why 3PLs so often fall short.

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▶️ Watch the full webinar on-demand

For growing ecommerce brands, a traditional 3PL might seem like the answer—until it’s not. Read on to learn why traditional 3PLs often fall short—and what to consider instead.

You’re not just a SKU—so stop being treated like one

Traditional 3PLs are built for scale, not nuance. If you're not shipping thousands of orders a day, you're not their priority.

• You don’t get visibility into your inventory in real-time.
• You don’t get flexibility in how orders are packed or handled.
• You don’t get personalization or brand integrity.

Just ask Saltbox member Shawnique Alexander, founder of Ripl Efek:

"The biggest issue for me at a 3PL was the lack of flexibility with shipping—I felt like I was stuck on their schedule rather than having the control I needed. The attention to detail in packaging was missing."

Growth demands agility—3PLs demand predictability

Ecommerce isn’t static. One week it’s steady; the next it’s chaos. You need fulfillment that can flex, not lock you into contracts, SLAs, or volume minimums.

3PLs thrive on predictability. That doesn’t work when your business is in build mode. Saltbox Access Plans flip the script:

• Month-to-month flexibility
• No penalties for growing (or right-sizing)
• Space and services that scale with your demand

You evolve. So should your logistics.

The illusion of savings (and the real cost of compromise)

Sure, 3PLs might tease you with bulk shipping discounts or the illusion of a cheaper rate. But the fine print hits hard:

• Fees for branded packaging, inserts, kitting, or peak season storage
• Delays from third-party mishandling
• No way to verify what’s happening with your orders

Angela Hawkins, founder of Bamblu, experienced this firsthand. With Saltbox and the Parsel app, her team fulfills orders with speed and accuracy, using their own packaging and inserts without added fees. "It’s saved us both money and headaches," she says.

Access Plans: your brand’s new fulfillment power move

Miko Evans, who’s built his brand Meak Productions with Saltbox, put it best during our Freedom to Flow webinar:

“What I love about Saltbox is the fact that… if your business grows and matures… you’re at a space where you can grow—and you have that support to grow. It’s not just about the space, it’s the one-on-one attention and the services that grow with you.”

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▶️ Watch the full webinar on-demand

Access Plans offer a better way to grow:

• Full visibility: walk in, check your inbound inventory, pack your way at our dedicated shipping stations
• Flexibility to flow: set up your operation exactly how you want (and need)
• Real-time support: no ticket queues, just people ready to help

Co-warehousing meets control. It’s fulfillment that feels like yours—because it is.

The bottom line: 3PLs aren’t broken—they’re just not built for you

If your brand is growing, don’t settle for logistics that hold you back. It’s time to stop feeling like a number and start building with a partner who flexes with your future.

Forget 3PLs—Saltbox Access Plans are built for growing brands who still want control. Want proof? See how Saltbox compares to a 3PL.