A useful China fulfillment budget separates warehouse work, transport, import costs and exceptions. The cheapest pick fee is not necessarily the cheapest delivered order. Ask for a quotation based on real packed dimensions, order composition and destination postcodes rather than an unsupported market-average rate.
This worksheet is a method for comparing quotations, not a published FulfillNexa tariff. Confirm commercial terms, minimum charges, validity and currency in writing.
Prepare a representative order file
Include product and variant IDs, units per order, packed weight and dimensions, destination country and postcode, product value, origin and any regulated components. Add monthly expectations as a forecast, not a guaranteed volume.
Separate single-item and multi-item orders. A second item can change packaging, chargeable weight or the eligible service. Likewise, a remote postcode may not have the same price as a city-center address.
Ask for these cost lines
| Cost bucket | Basis to request | Typical ambiguity to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| Receiving | Carton, pallet, item or labor time | Counting versus detailed inspection |
| Storage | Bin, pallet, volume and time | Reserved capacity versus occupied space |
| Pick and pack | Order and additional item | Packing material included or separate |
| Value-added work | Specific task | Inserts, bundles, relabeling and rework |
| Transport | Service and chargeable weight | Fuel, remote and oversize charges |
| Import | Declared transaction and route | Duty, tax, brokerage and payer |
| Exceptions | Agreed event or task | Returns, resends and failed delivery |
No minimum order quantity does not automatically mean no minimum invoice, setup charge or storage commitment. Request each term separately.
Calculate cost per delivered order
Start with the period's attributable receiving, storage, handling, materials, transport and nonrecoverable import costs. Add the measured cost of failed deliveries, resends and returns. Divide by successfully delivered orders, while separately reporting the failure rate and any costs incurred for unsold inventory.
Use gross and net tax treatment consistently. Sales VAT collected for a tax authority is not ordinary sales revenue, and recoverable import VAT may need separate cash-flow treatment. Have the merchant's accountant confirm the model.
If a door-to-door freight quote already contains last-mile delivery, do not add the same leg again. If it excludes clearance or destination handling, show those items explicitly rather than burying them in contingency.
Compare three scenarios
Use a baseline order mix, a higher-volume mix and an exception-heavy mix. Change the assumptions that actually drive cost: units per order, package dimensions, destination distribution, storage duration and returns. Do not simply reduce every price because the forecast is larger.
Keep the evidence next to each assumption. A carrier quote has a validity period; a warehouse storage rule has a billing definition; an estimated return rate should be replaced by observed records when available.
Reduce cost without weakening the service
Approve packaging that protects the product with less avoidable empty space. Improve supplier carton identification to reduce receiving uncertainty. Resolve SKU mapping before orders arrive. Set a clear hold rule so staff do not repeatedly touch disputed stock.
FulfillNexa's Dongguan warehouse is the 8,000 m² ecommerce site with multiple loading docks, including apparel and toy fulfillment. Its 3,000 m² Shenzhen hub handles oversized cargo and transshipment. Physical transfers, special handling and route changes should be priced if the plan needs them.
Reconcile the first invoice
Match billed events to orders and receipts. Sample chargeable weights against finished parcels. Review exception approvals and compare delivered outcomes with the quote assumptions. Fix recurring mismatches before scaling volume.
For inventory-location decisions, use China-direct versus US warehousing. For Amazon replenishment, keep FBA preparation fees separate from consumer-order handling.
FAQ
Can I budget from product weight alone?
No. Finished parcel dimensions, weight, service and destination all affect the quotation.
Should I include returns if I have no history?
Show them as an explicit scenario assumption, not an invented industry fact, then update using actual results.
Is storage included in fulfillment?
Only if the quotation says so and defines the allowance and billing period.
What should I send for a useful quote?
Representative orders, SKU and packaging data, destination mix, expected storage, service requirements and import responsibility.
Sources and verification links
Operational rules can change. Check the linked primary sources and confirm shipment-specific requirements before booking.
- International Trade Administration: Know Your IncotermsOfficial source
- CBP importing guidanceOfficial source
- International Trade Administration: shipping and logisticsOfficial source