ShipBob

What is ShipBob

ShipBob is a technology-enabled third-party logistics (3PL) provider that offers order fulfillment services to direct-to-consumer brands. Founded in 2014 by Dhruv Saxena and Divey Gulati, with headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, ShipBob's core purpose is to help ecommerce businesses automate their shipping and logistics. The company manages the entire fulfillment process, including receiving and storing inventory, picking and packing orders, and shipping them to customers. By using a global network of fulfillment centers, ShipBob enables businesses to offer faster and more affordable shipping options to their customers, allowing them to compete with larger retailers.

ShipBob Features

• Distributed Inventory: Store your products across ShipBob's network of over 60 global fulfillment centers. This places your inventory closer to your customers, which reduces shipping costs and delivery times.
• Order Management Software: Access a centralized dashboard to manage orders, track inventory levels in real-time, and monitor fulfillment performance across all locations.
• 2-Day Express Shipping: Offer fast shipping options to your customers. ShipBob's network and carrier relationships make it possible to provide 2-day shipping in many regions.
• Ecommerce & Marketplace Integrations: Connect your online store and marketplaces with a few clicks. ShipBob integrates with platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Amazon, and Walmart.
• Custom Branded Unboxing: Use your own custom boxes, mailers, and inserts to create a unique and branded experience for your customers upon delivery.
• Returns Management: Process customer returns efficiently. ShipBob can receive returned items, inspect them, and restock them or dispose of them based on your instructions.
• B2B & Wholesale Fulfillment: ShipBob handles business-to-business orders in addition to direct-to-consumer fulfillment. This includes managing wholesale orders and ensuring they meet retail partner requirements.
• Advanced Reporting & Analytics: Gain insights into your fulfillment operations, shipping costs, inventory turnover, and customer order locations to make better business decisions.

ShipBob Pricing Plans

ShipBob uses a custom pricing model tailored to the specific needs of each business. There are no standard pricing tiers listed publicly. Instead, pricing is calculated based on several factors, including order volume, storage needs, special handling requirements, and the number of SKUs. The pricing structure typically includes four main costs:

• Receiving: A one-time fee for receiving and storing new inventory.
• Storage: A monthly fee for storing products in their fulfillment centers.
• Pick and Pack: A fee charged for each order that is picked from the shelves and packed for shipping.
• Shipping: The cost of postage, which varies based on the package weight, dimensions, and destination.

Businesses must request a custom quote to get detailed pricing information.

ShipBob Free Plan

ShipBob does not offer a free plan, as it is a service-based logistics provider. There is also no standard free trial. To get started, businesses must contact the ShipBob sales team to discuss their needs and receive a custom quote for fulfillment services. This process allows them to understand the potential costs before committing to the service.

How to use ShipBob

Getting started with ShipBob involves a straightforward process designed to offload your logistics operations:

1. Connect Your Sales Channels: First, integrate your ecommerce store (e.g., Shopify, WooCommerce) or marketplace accounts with the ShipBob platform. This allows orders to sync automatically.
2. Send Your Inventory: Ship your products to one or more of ShipBob's designated fulfillment centers. Their team will guide you on how to best distribute your inventory across their network for optimal shipping times and costs.
3. Orders Are Automatically Fulfilled: When a customer places an order on your website, the information is sent directly to ShipBob's system. No manual action is needed from you.
4. Picking, Packing, and Shipping: The ShipBob team at the nearest fulfillment center picks the items, packs them according to your specifications (including any custom branding), and ships the order to the customer.
5. Track and Manage: You can monitor the entire process from the ShipBob dashboard. Track order status, view inventory levels, and analyze shipping performance.

Pros and Cons of ShipBob

Pros:

• Extensive Fulfillment Network: With over 60 centers globally, businesses can offer fast and affordable shipping to a wide customer base.
• Powerful Technology: The software provides excellent tools for inventory management, order tracking, and analytics.
• Scalability: ShipBob can support businesses as they grow, from small startups to large enterprises with high order volumes.
• Wide Range of Integrations: Seamlessly connects with major ecommerce platforms and tools.
• 2-Day Shipping Capability: Helps smaller brands compete with major retailers by offering fast delivery.

Cons:

• Cost for Small Businesses: The pricing model can be expensive for businesses with very low order volumes.
• Lack of Transparent Pricing: The need to request a custom quote can make it difficult to quickly estimate costs.
• Potential for Errors: As with any 3PL, there can be occasional errors in picking or packing, which can affect customer experience.
• Limited Customization on Standard Plans: Deep customization may require higher service levels.

ShipBob Integrations

ShipBob offers a wide range of integrations to connect your entire ecommerce ecosystem. These integrations allow for the automatic syncing of products, orders, and inventory levels.

• Ecommerce Platforms: Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Squarespace, Wix, and Adobe Commerce (Magento).
• Marketplaces: Amazon, Walmart Marketplace, eBay, and Etsy.
• Shipping Solutions: ShipStation.
• Marketing & Customer Service: Klaviyo, Gorgias.
• Inventory Management: Cin7, Skubana, Linnworks.

Integrations are typically set up within the ShipBob dashboard by authorizing the connection to the desired platform.

ShipBob Alternatives

• Flexport (formerly Deliverr): A strong competitor known for its asset-light model and focus on enabling fast shipping badges (e.g., '2-day delivery') across various marketplaces like Walmart and eBay.
• ShipMonk: Often favored by subscription box companies and crowdfunding campaigns. They are known for their user-friendly software and focus on creating a positive customer experience.
• Red Stag Fulfillment: Specializes in fulfilling orders for heavy, bulky, and high-value products. They offer industry-leading guarantees on order accuracy and speed.
• Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon): An ideal choice for businesses that sell primarily on Amazon. It provides access to Amazon's vast logistics network and Prime shipping eligibility, but can be more complex and costly for multi-channel sellers.
• Saltbox: Offers a unique model that combines warehousing and co-working spaces, giving small businesses a physical space to work while also providing fulfillment services.

ShipBob API

Yes, ShipBob provides a developer-friendly REST API that allows for custom integrations and automation. The API enables developers to programmatically manage products, orders, inventory, and shipments. This is useful for businesses with custom-built ecommerce platforms or those needing to connect ShipBob with their existing ERP or other internal systems.

To get an API key, you must be a ShipBob customer. Access is typically granted through the ShipBob developer portal or by contacting their support team after onboarding. The API documentation provides detailed information on all available endpoints.

Example API Request (Conceptual - using cURL):

curl -X GET 'https://api.shipbob.com/1.0/order' \
-H 'Authorization: Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN' \
-H 'Content-Type: application/json'

This example shows a basic request to retrieve a list of orders. You would replace YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN with your personal API key.

ShipBob Affiliate Program

ShipBob runs a Partner Program rather than a traditional affiliate program. This program is designed for agencies, technology companies, investors, and consultants who work with ecommerce brands. Partners can refer their clients to ShipBob and receive benefits, which may include referral fees or commissions. The commission rates and payment details are not publicly listed and are typically discussed during the partner application process. To join, you can visit the 'Partners' section on the ShipBob website and fill out an application form. A member of their partnership team will then contact you to discuss the details of the program.