Most Amazon sellers end up running two operations: one that labels and boxes inventory for FBA, and one that packs the FBM orders by hand. Each one eats hours, and the stock counts drift apart. A 3PL for Amazon sellers puts both on one shelf: we prep what goes into FBA and ship what stays FBM.
Do I Need a 3PL If I Use FBA?
For most sellers, yes. FBA only handles stock once it reaches Amazon. A 3PL covers the rest: it stores inventory waiting to go in, preps inbound FBA shipments to Amazon's rules, and ships the FBM orders FBA does not cover. Since Amazon ended its own FBA prep service on January 1, 2026, prep falls to you or a 3PL.
FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) stores and ships the units already inside Amazon’s network. Everything before that is yours: receiving the supplier’s delivery, checking it, putting an FNSKU label on every unit, bagging what needs a bag and building the shipment. A 3PL for FBA does that work for you, and an Amazon 3PL warehouse also keeps the stock that is not ready to go in.
FBM (fulfilled by merchant) orders are the other half. Some products sell better shipped by you, and some never go into FBA at all. A 3PL ships those orders from its own shelves, so you can run FBA and FBM side by side from one pool of stock.
How Our Amazon 3PL Services Work
Your inventory arrives once. From there it either goes into FBA or waits on our shelf for FBM orders.
FBA prep: into Amazon
- 1Receive and check
Send the PO before the truck ships. We check the delivery against it and mark each item sellable or damaged.
- 2Prep to Amazon's rules
All-in prep covers receiving, QC, FNSKU label, poly bagging, repack and FBA shipment labels. Freight into Amazon is billed separately.
- 3Ship to Amazon
Typical turnaround is 2-3 business days from the dock, and the shipment syncs to your Ecom Circles dashboard.
FBM fulfillment: straight to the buyer
- 1Order routes to us
Your Amazon FBM orders route from your Ecom Circles dashboard to our warehouse.
- 2Pick and pack
We pull each item from its shelf location, box it and label it. Amazon and Walmart buy shipping is built in.
- 3Ship and sync
The carrier collects the parcel and tracking syncs back to the order.
The details of each lane: FBA prep and pick and pack. Customer returns come back to us too: returns management.
What Is the Best 3PL for Amazon Sellers?
The best 3PL for Amazon sellers does three things well: it preps FBA shipments to Amazon's rules, it ships your FBM orders from the same stock, and it keeps your Amazon inventory in step with what is on the shelf. Ecom Circles does all three from U.S. warehouses in the Chicago area and Atlanta.
FBA prep that passes Amazon's check-in
What to look for: Labels, poly bags and shipment labels done to Amazon's rules, so inbound shipments are not held or refused.
At Ecom Circles: Receiving, QC, FNSKU labels, poly bagging, repack and FBA shipment labels in one all-in per-unit price for prep clients, from $1.50 down to $0.85 per unit by monthly volume.
FBM orders shipped from the same stock
What to look for: Ask what time an order has to land to ship the same day, and whether one stock pool can fill both FBA and FBM.
At Ecom Circles: Your FBM orders ship from the stock on our shelf. 2-step dropshipping orders received by 2 PM ship the same day.
Inventory in step with Amazon
What to look for: Stock counts that update without an email chain, so your listings match what is on the shelf.
At Ecom Circles: When we check stock in, it syncs to your Ecom Circles software automatically, beside your Amazon (FBA and FBM) and Walmart inventory.
Billing you can read
What to look for: Every charge named, so you can tell what you paid for.
At Ecom Circles: Every service is deducted from your balance as it happens and itemized in your account.
How Much Does an Amazon 3PL Charge?
At Ecom Circles, FBA prep for prep clients runs from $1.50 down to $0.85 per unit by monthly volume, and FBM order fulfillment is $3 per order for 3PL and 2-step clients. No setup fee for prep, returns and 2-step clients; 3PL clients, where we store your inventory and ship your orders, pay a one-time $650 setup fee.
No monthly volume minimum: pay per unit; prep clients use the $97/mo Growth plan or higher. Every service is deducted from your balance as it happens and itemized in your account. The prep rate for each monthly volume band is on the FBA prep page; receiving, storage and every other 3PL line are on the 3PL pricing page.
Why Amazon Sellers Use Our Warehouse
Our warehouses run on the same Ecom Circles software you list and reprice with, so the stock, the orders and the bill live in one place.
Check-in you can act on
We check every delivery against your PO and mark each item sellable or damaged, so you can file supplier claims while the window is still open.
FBA, FBM and Walmart in one dashboard
Inventory, check-ins, condition, outbound orders and every charge, in the same Ecom Circles dashboard.
Sell from anywhere in the US
Warehouses in the Chicago area and Atlanta. Have your suppliers ship to us from wherever they are.