What Services Should a Good China 3PL Provide? Full Guide for US, EU & UK Sellers
Choosing the right 3PL in China is rarely about finding the cheapest warehouse or the fastest shipper. For most brands in the US, EU, UK, Canada, and Australia, it is about gaining a reliable operating base inside the world’s largest manufacturing ecosystem—one that can reduce friction, eliminate delays, and ensure every order moves smoothly from supplier to customer.
A capable China 3PL becomes an extension of your business: coordinating suppliers, preparing inventory to market standards, protecting margins through smart consolidation, and handling the final mile from China to your global buyers. The challenge is not simply locating a 3PL, but identifying one that actually supports your business model and growth stage.
A professional China 3PL should have a structured receiving workflow—not just simply “count cartons”.
What this service includes:
Purchase order (PO) verification
Carton count & SKU matching
Visual QC on arrival
Random sampling inspections
Identifying damaged items
Reporting shortages, defects, and vendor issues
Photographing batches for records
Why this matters:
Sourcing from multiple Chinese suppliers means inconsistency risk. Without strong QC at the warehouse, problems are only discovered once products arrive overseas—too late, too expensive, and too damaging to your brand.
For sellers moving products into:
The EU/UK → strict compliance and returns
The US → high customer expectations
Canada/Australia → expensive international reverse logistics
Good 3PL QC = reduced returns + fewer chargebacks + higher listing ratings.
A China 3PL isn’t just “storage”—it must be a technology-driven inventory hub.
A strong 3PL must provide:
Properly organized SKU system
Batch/lot/expiry management (important for beauty, supplements, food tools)
Temperature-appropriate storage conditions
Repackaging, relabeling, inserts
High-accuracy inventory syncing with Shopify/WooCommerce/Amazon/eBay
Safety stock reminders
Multi-supplier consolidation under one roof
Why this matters:
Brands want visibility and control, even if their warehouse is 10,000 km away.
Real-time syncing prevents:
Oversells
Out-of-stock penalties on platforms
Lost sales during promotions
For EU/UK sellers handling Pan-EU fulfillment, proper inventory allocation is essential before goods leave China.
The best China 3PLs understand the specific packaging requirements of major platforms.
Critical prep services include:
Amazon FBA labeling (FNSKU)
Poly bagging, bubble wrapping
Fragile product reinforcement
Bundling and kitting
Temperature/light-protective packaging
Removal orders & refurbishing
Why this matters:
Incorrect prep leads to FBA rejections, delays, and additional fees. A good 3PL ensures every shipment is platform-compliant before it moves out of China.
This is especially important for:
US Amazon sellers shipping to multiple FCs
UK/EU sellers coordinating with Pan-EU logistics
Australian sellers where rework costs are extremely high
Many international sellers today rely on a hybrid approach:
Amazon + Shopify + TikTok + Wholesale.
A good China 3PL must therefore support all fulfillment models:
Services should include:
Pick & pack for DTC orders
Worldwide parcel shipping
Marketplace fulfillment (Amazon FBM, eBay, Etsy, OnBuy, Cdiscount)
Bulk B2B shipments (retailers, distributors)
Automated channel syncing
Return handling (local China returns for damaged goods)
Why this matters:
Whether customers are in the US, UK, Germany, France, Canada, or Australia, speed and accuracy are everything.
A strong China 3PL gives you:
Faster global delivery
Lower cost per parcel
Localized return solutions
Higher conversion rates (because the shipping estimate improves)
Different products need different shipping modes.
A good China 3PL must offer multiple options, each optimized for cost, speed, and customs clearance.
Services to expect:
Express shipping (DHL/UPS/FedEx)
Economy air shipping
Sea freight LCL & FCL
Rail freight to EU
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) customs solutions
Line-haul services for marketplace fulfillment
Amazon FBA direct injection routes
Why this matters:
Shipping from China to:
US/Canada → competitive air & sea DDP routes
EU/UK → VAT-compliant entry points and local clearance
Australia → strict customs requirements
Good 3PL shipping = lower landed cost + stable timelines + fewer customs issues.
A professional China 3PL should guide you through compliance—even if it’s your first time importing.
Services may include:
Commercial invoices & packing lists
HS code classification
Guidance on VAT/EORI requirements for EU/UK
FDA/GCC/CE/RoHS documentation support
Country-specific packaging/labeling compliance
Assistance with customs pre-inspection
Why this matters:
Regulations vary widely across the US, EU, UK, CA, and AU.
Mistakes mean:
Cargo holds
Fines
Confiscated goods
Delays at borders
Amazon listing suspension
Compliance support is especially important for:
Electronics
Toys
Beauty & skincare
Supplements
Anything with batteries
Most global sellers source from multiple Chinese manufacturers, which means goods need to be gathered, checked, combined, and shipped as one.
A strong 3PL must handle:
Multi-supplier receiving
Consolidated pallets or cartons
Cross-checking SKUs and quantities
Communication with each factory
Reducing international shipping cost through consolidation
Why this matters:
This avoids paying multiple international shipping fees—and ensures full control before goods enter overseas customs.
Returns are unavoidable in Western markets.
A good China 3PL should offer China-based return solutions, helping you lower costs dramatically.
Should include:
Receiving returned parcels
QC on return
Fixing, repackaging, refurbishing
Reshipping via FBM or FBA
Scrapping defective goods (with photo/video proof)
Why this matters:
Returning items overseas (US → China or EU → China) is expensive.
A strong 3PL absorbs this complexity and helps you recover inventory instead of losing it.
This is where many low-end 3PLs fall behind.
A modern China 3PL must provide:
Direct integration with Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, eBay, TikTok Shop
Inventory dashboards
Real-time pick/pack status
Shipment tracking dashboards
Automated order routing
Automated low-stock notifications
SKU-level reporting
Why this matters:
Without proper technology:
Orders are delayed
Data is inconsistent
Manual mistakes happen
Scaling becomes impossible
For sellers across Western markets, transparency is non-negotiable.
A good 3PL supports you at every stage—not just when you’re big.
Should be scalable for:
New Shopify brands
Amazon FBA sellers fast-scaling to 7–8 figures
Multi-country expansion (Pan-EU, UK, US East/West coast)
Retail/wholesale distribution
Peak season and holiday spikes
Why this matters:
If your China 3PL cannot scale fast, your brand is capped at their capacity.
A reliable 3PL avoids hidden fees.
Should provide:
Transparent storage fees
Clear pick/pack rates
Shipping quotes by weight/volume
No unexpected admin charges
Defined handling & processing timelines
Why this matters:
Predictability keeps your margins healthy, especially when selling into:
The US (high competition)
EU/UK (higher VAT and logistics cost)
Australia (high delivery cost)
A good 3PL becomes a financial partner—not a cost trap.
Communication is one of the biggest weaknesses in low-cost China 3PLs.
A strong 3PL provides:
English-speaking account managers
Fast issue resolution
Supplier coordination assistance
Proactive inventory and shipping advice
Real-time updates during peak seasons
This is critical for sellers in different time zones (US, EU, UK, CA, AU).
A reliable China 3PL should do more than store boxes and ship parcels. For most importers, the real value comes from a partner who understands how Chinese supply chains operate and how Western marketplaces expect orders to be fulfilled. Supplier coordination, storage, prep work, labeling, consolidation, and export handling all need to function smoothly without adding extra layers of complexity or delays.
DIDADI Logistics focuses on this exact operational stability. As a China-based logistics partner for US, EU, UK, Canadian, and Australian sellers, the company emphasizes practical, execution-driven support instead of overselling services that businesses do not need.
Our approach is straightforward: offer clear processes, transparent communication, and consistent fulfillment from China so brands can grow without worrying about bottlenecks behind the scenes.
Recommended Reading
