How to Make Sure your Goods are Handled Well
By
Source One Fulfillment
Does your company need fulfillment and distribution services? How are you going to choose what services are right for your business? It is important to know a little about the industry before choosing a service in the industry.
Source One Fulfillment and Distribution knows about the business. Products need to be received, fulfilled, and distributed at a rapid and efficient pace. To stay ahead of the competition, your business' services need to stand out. You need to select a fulfillment house to meet your needs. Let us tell you how.
Meeting your needs Evaluate each fulfillment house to assess if the business is large enough and has the experience to do a stellar job. The business needs to meet your standards and expectations to optimally complete their assignment. Meet the people who will work on your account like the supervisors and data entry personnel. Contact other companies that have done business with them to get a practical portrayal what working with them is like. Ask about their responsiveness, experience, and capabilities.
Un-cashed checks An issue that is not discussed as much as it occurs is "float" or un-cashed checks. They refer to the aggregate value of rebate checks not cashed by the consumer. These funds should be returned to the manufacturer. They can equal one to three percent of the promotional budget and can add up (especially on programs with a high non-delivery rate). Allowing the fulfillment business to keep these funds result in higher order entry miscalculations and will increase the number of un-cashed checks.
Test mailing Some products (more than others) can attract mailing problems. Weight errors, broken items, and returned merchandise are a few conundrums that can occur. For instance, if the production prototype weighed less than the production models, the mailing costs may rise to the next level. It an item has an irregular or odd shape; this may incur more handling costs.
Be wary of what type of products you are shipping. For instance, delicate products will have a higher occurrence rate of broken and damaged shipments. Do a test mailing to see how the fulfillment company resolves issues such as these before you fully launch your promotions.
Turnaround time In regards to the occurrence of a rebate, it usually takes about six to eight weeks for the customers to receive their check. The fulfillment house needs to conduct their services quickly to ensure prompt turnaround times.
Dealing with consumers and press There could be issues that arise such as recalls. A mishandled call from the press or a customer can be tragic in reference to your brand name and future sales. Have an outline written out on how to address these issues in case they occur.
Make an onsite visit Visit the fulfillment house while a project is being employed. Make sure that things are being operated according to your instructions. You will want to see how your merchandise is being stored and handled by the fulfillment house.
Customer service, inquiries, and complaints Your customers are the cornerstone of your business. Any complaint can represent one or more lost customers (do not underestimate the power of word-of-mouth marketing). Closely monitor customer complaints (especially those of the same promotion). Rebate forms should have a number customers can call to get information in regards to their rebate.
Conclusion These are a few of the major factors involved in fulfillment services. Not all companies are created equal. Source One Fulfillment and Distribution is proud of the services we provide and our customers are as well. We make it our job to satisfy you and your customers.
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