Pick and pack fulfillment services for eCommerce brands in the USA and Canada
Pick and pack is the warehouse work between a customer's order and the carrier's pickup: finding each item, checking it, and packing it for the trip. It sets your accuracy, your damage rate, and how soon an order leaves the building. This page explains how the process works, which picking method suits which order profile, what AMZ Prep charges, and what to verify before you sign with any provider.
Key Takeaways
What to know before you outsource pick and pack
Five points that hold whichever provider you choose.
- Pick and pack covers locating each item, verifying it, packing it, and labeling the carton for the carrier. Receiving, storage, and returns sit on either side of it.
- The picking method (piece, batch, zone, or wave) should follow your order profile: items per order, SKU count, and daily volume.
- AMZ Prep's published starting rates are $0.40 per item for FBA prep, $1.00 per order for DTC fulfillment, and $1.50 per box for case forwarding.
- The minimum is 300 orders a month, and you can combine FBA prep, DTC fulfillment, and shipping to reach it.
- Ask any provider for accuracy measurement, cut-off times, mis-pick handling, and peak-season capacity in writing before you move inventory.
What It Is
What pick and pack fulfillment includes
The name covers two steps, but the service around them decides whether orders ship right. This is the full sequence and what to check at each point.
| Step | What happens | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Receiving and putaway | Inbound cartons are counted, matched to your shipping notice, and shelved by SKU | Count accuracy, and how soon stock becomes sellable |
| 2. Picking | The warehouse system directs a picker to each item for an order | Picking method, and whether each item is scanned |
| 3. Packing | The item is checked and packed with a suitable carton and fill | Carton choice, damage rate, and branded packaging options |
| 4. Labeling and handoff | A shipping label is applied and the carton is scanned to the carrier | Carrier options and the daily cut-off time |
| 5. Returns | Returned units are inspected, then restocked or set aside | Grading rules and how fast units return to stock |
Picking Methods
Four picking methods and when each one fits
No single method wins. The right one depends on your order profile, and a provider should be able to say which one your orders would use.
| Method | How it works | Fits best | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piece picking | One order is picked at a time, start to finish | Lower volumes, or orders with many different items | Slower per order as volume grows |
| Batch picking | Several orders are picked in one pass, then sorted | Many small orders, especially single-item ones | Needs a sorting step after the pick |
| Zone picking | Each picker covers one area, and orders pass between zones | Large warehouses with many SKUs | Handoffs between zones need coordination |
| Wave picking | Orders are released in scheduled groups | High volume timed to carrier cut-offs | Needs planning, and late orders wait for the next wave |
By Channel
Pick and pack services for Amazon, DTC, and retail orders
The pick and pack steps are the same everywhere, but each channel adds its own preparation rules. AMZ Prep runs these from one network.
| Channel | What pick and pack covers | More detail |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon FBA | Pick and pack, FNSKU labeling, poly bagging, kitting, bundling, and shipping plan creation, with a 1 to 3 day turnaround | FBA prep services |
| DTC and marketplaces | Orders from Shopify, WooCommerce, TikTok Shop, Etsy, eBay, and Walmart, picked, packed, and shipped, from $1.00 per order | DTC order fulfillment |
| Retail and wholesale | Case and pallet orders for retailers, including EDI | B2B retail fulfillment |
| Subscription boxes | Recurring boxes assembled and packed on a schedule | Subscription fulfillment |
AMZ Prep connects to Shopify, Amazon, Walmart, TikTok Shop, WooCommerce, Magento, BigCommerce, eBay, Etsy, and 50+ platforms in total. It tracks stock and routes orders in Navigate.
Pricing
What pick and pack costs at AMZ Prep
Most 3PLs hide their pick and pack rates until a sales call. AMZ Prep publishes starting rates, and the pricing page lists current figures.
| Service | Starting rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FBA prep | From $0.40 per item | Per item prepped for Amazon |
| DTC fulfillment | From $1.00 per order | Starting rate, final rate depends on your order profile |
| Case forwarding | From $1.50 per box | Boxes forwarded to Amazon or another destination |
| FBA placement fees | $0 | On FBA shipments sent through Middle Mile |
| Minimum | 300 orders per month | FBA prep, DTC, and shipping can be combined |
Items per order, SKU count, packaging materials, product size, and order volume move your final quote. See the pricing page for current rates.
What to Ask
Questions to ask any pick and pack company
Put these to every provider on your shortlist, AMZ Prep included, and ask for the answers in writing.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| How is accuracy measured, and what is the current rate? | Providers define accuracy differently. AMZ Prep reports 99.8% order accuracy. |
| What is the order cut-off at the facility that would hold my stock? | Cut-offs differ by facility, and they decide whether an order leaves today or tomorrow. |
| What happens after a mis-pick or damaged order, and who pays? | The answer shows how the provider treats errors. |
| Which picking method would my orders use? | A provider that cannot answer is working from habit. |
| How is capacity added in the fourth quarter? | Accuracy tends to slip when volume spikes without extra labor. |
| Are rates published, and what is excluded? | Hidden fees show up on the second invoice. |
| What are the minimum and the contract term? | AMZ Prep's minimum is 300 orders a month, and service is month-to-month. |
Locations
Where your orders are picked and packed
AMZ Prep runs 50+ fulfillment centers in 6 countries. Your account team assigns the facility that fits your customers and inbound routes.
- United States and Canada. Headquarters is in Brampton, Ontario. For pick and pack in Canada, see the pages for Toronto, Vancouver, and Alberta.
- United Kingdom. Five facilities: Southampton, Peterborough, Northampton, Heathrow, and Wallasey.
- Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Arab Emirates. See the European fulfillment network for details.
Credentials & Scale
The network behind every order
AMZ Prep is an independently owned 3PL that has never taken outside capital. These credentials apply across the network.
- 50+ fulfillment centers across 6 countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, and United Arab Emirates.
- FBA prep, DTC fulfillment, and freight run on one account and one login.
- Runs on Navigate, AMZ Prep's proprietary WMS, for shipping plans, inventory visibility, and order routing.
- 99.8% order accuracy across services.
Independent Reviews
What sellers say, on platforms AMZ Prep does not control
These scores come from Clutch, G2, and Trustpilot, not from AMZ Prep marketing copy.
FAQ
Pick and pack questions, answered
What is pick and pack fulfillment?
Pick and pack fulfillment is the warehouse process that turns an order into a shipment. A picker locates each item, the item is verified, it is packed in a carton with the right protection, and a shipping label is applied before the carrier collects it. Receiving, storage, and returns sit before and after those steps.
How does the pick and pack process work?
Stock is received and shelved by SKU. When an order arrives from your store or marketplace, the warehouse system tells a picker where each item sits. The item is scanned, packed with a suitable carton and fill, labeled, and handed to the carrier. AMZ Prep runs this on Navigate, its proprietary warehouse management system, which handles inventory visibility and order routing.
What are the main pick and pack methods?
The four common methods are piece picking, batch picking, zone picking, and wave picking. Piece picking pulls one order at a time, batch picking collects several orders in one pass, zone picking assigns each picker an area of the warehouse, and wave picking releases orders in scheduled groups. AMZ Prep uses all four and matches the method to your order profile.
How much does pick and pack cost with AMZ Prep?
AMZ Prep publishes starting rates. FBA prep starts at $0.40 per item, DTC fulfillment starts at $1.00 per order, and case forwarding starts at $1.50 per box. FBA shipments sent through Middle Mile carry $0 placement fees. Your final rate depends on items per order, packaging, SKU count, and volume, and the pricing page lists the current figures.
What is the minimum volume for pick and pack?
AMZ Prep's minimum is 300 orders per month. You can combine FBA prep, DTC fulfillment, and shipping to reach it. Service is month-to-month.
How fast does AMZ Prep process orders?
FBA prep takes 1 to 3 days. For DTC orders, cut-off times and processing speed depend on the facility that holds your stock and are set in your onboarding plan, so ask for the cut-off for your facility in writing before you commit.
Does AMZ Prep pick and pack for Amazon FBA?
Yes. FBA prep covers pick and pack, FNSKU labeling, poly bagging, kitting and assembly, bundling, and shipping plan creation. Prepped inventory can leave on Middle Mile trucks and check in at Amazon in 2 to 4 days, compared with a 7 to 10 day industry average.
Which sales channels and platforms does AMZ Prep support?
AMZ Prep fulfills orders from Shopify, Amazon, Walmart, TikTok Shop, WooCommerce, Magento, BigCommerce, eBay, Etsy, and retail and wholesale accounts, including EDI. Integrations cover 50+ platforms.
How is a pick and pack warehouse different from storage-only warehousing?
A storage-only warehouse holds pallets and releases them in bulk. Pick and pack handles individual items: it picks single units or small quantities against each order, packs them for the customer or the marketplace, and ships them, which needs scanning, packing rules, and carrier integrations.
Where are AMZ Prep's pick and pack centers?
AMZ Prep operates 50+ fulfillment centers in 6 countries: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Arab Emirates. Headquarters is in Brampton, Ontario. Your account team assigns the facility that fits your customers and inbound routes.
How long does onboarding take?
Standard onboarding takes 2 to 4 weeks. Qualifying brands can use the free 3PL transition program, which covers transition and transportation costs when moving from another provider.
What should I ask before choosing a pick and pack company?
Ask how accuracy is measured and what the rate is, what the order cut-off is at the facility that would hold your stock, how mis-picks and damage are handled, which picking method your orders would use, how peak-season capacity is added, and whether rates are published. Get each answer in writing.
Ready to get a pick and pack quote?
Share your monthly orders, items per order, and sales channels. AMZ Prep builds a fulfillment plan and a quote from your real numbers. Onboarding takes 2 to 4 weeks.
