Many Amazon sellers begin by prepping products themselves — labeling, polybagging, bubble wrapping, bundling, and packaging right from home.
At first, it seems “free” or at least cheaper than paying a 3PL.
But as volume grows, self-prep can become overwhelming, time-consuming, and surprisingly expensive.
This is where outsourcing to a 3PL makes a massive difference — helping sellers save money, reduce errors, and scale faster.
The Hidden Costs of Doing Prep Yourself
Most sellers underestimate the real costs of DIY prep.
They often deal with:
Long hours spent packing instead of growing the business
Constantly buying supplies like tape, bags, labels, boxes
Limited space at home or office
Errors that lead to Amazon fees or product rejections
Slow restock times, causing stockouts and lost ranking
Hiring part-time help just to keep up
When you factor in materials, time, labor, and mistakes, doing everything yourself becomes expensive — financially and mentally.
What Happens When You Outsource Prep to a 3PL
A professional 3PL handles your entire prep workflow:
Speed & Accuracy:
Trained warehouse teams process products quickly and correctly.
Lower Material Costs:
3PLs buy supplies in bulk, which means lower cost per unit.
More Space:
No more cluttered rooms or limited prep areas.
Better Compliance:
3PLs follow Amazon’s strict prep guidelines to avoid delays and fees.
Faster Restocks:
Restock shipments reach Amazon faster, keeping your listings active.
Scalable Operations:
Whether you send 50 units or 5,000, a 3PL can handle it.
Prep Cost Comparison: Self-Prep vs. 3PL
Doing Prep Yourself Includes:
Labor hours (your time or hired help)
Cost of supplies
Storage space
Amazon penalties for incorrect prep
Slower restocks
Burnout and inefficiency
Outsourcing to a 3PL Includes:
Flat-rate, predictable pricing
Professional-quality prep
Lower overall supply costs
No need to hire staff
Faster, Amazon-compliant shipments
The ability to scale without more work
For most sellers, outsourcing becomes cheaper — and far more efficient — as soon as they start growing.
Benefits of Outsourcing Prep to a 3PL
Saves hours per week
Reduces shipping mistakes and Amazon rejections
Keeps inventory flowing smoothly
Frees up your home or office
Lets you focus on sourcing and scaling
Predictable, manageable prep costs
Better product presentation, fewer returns
Why Southeast Fulfillment Is the Best Prep Partner
At Southeast Fulfillment, Amazon and Walmart prep is our specialty.
We offer:
Fast receiving
Accurate labeling and packaging
Affordable storage
Fragile and glass prep
Bundling and kitting
Real-time inventory updates
Amazon-compliant workflow
We help sellers eliminate the stress of prep and operate like a scalable, professional business.
Doing Amazon prep yourself may work in the beginning — but it becomes costly and inefficient over time.
Outsourcing to a trusted 3PL can lower operational costs, speed up shipping, and free up your time so you can focus on growth instead of packing boxes.
Want to save time, money, and stress on Amazon prep?
👉 Let Southeast Fulfillment take over your prep so you can scale faster and work smarter.