If your 3PL pricing looks fine on the sales deck but ugly on the invoice, you are not alone. Fulfillment fees hide in packing tables, DIM math, “miscellaneous” surcharges, and account management fees that quietly grow. An additional fee for large items, custom packaging, or international shipping can also appear unexpectedly on invoices. Here’s a practical breakdown of the five most common hidden costs in ecommerce fulfillment in 2025, how to spot them, and how to negotiate them out.

1) DIM weight and oversize surprises

Carriers increasingly bill by dimensional weight. UPS’s 2026 Daily Rates took effect January 26, 2026, so any UPS-based DIM-weight benchmark should be checked against the current UPS rate guide. UPS lists a divisor of 139 for Daily Rates, and FedEx uses similar guidance; whichever is greater, DIM or actual weight, wins. If your 3PL’s cartonization drifts, you pay more shipping fees than planned. Review carton libraries and require periodic cube audits. 

2) Peak and demand surcharges you didn’t model

Expect time-limited holiday price changes and peak surcharges across USPS, UPS, and FedEx this Q4. USPS has already posted its 2025 holiday adjustments, with specific per-package increases by service and zone. FedEx continues to adjust surcharges and recently increased late payment fees to 9.9% of overdue balances. Your 3PL should forecast these into your fulfillment cost model and update your pricing models ahead of peak season. On March 25, 2026, USPS announced a transportation-related time-limited price change that would increase base postage prices for Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select by 8 percent from April 26, 2026 through January 17, 2027.

3) Inbound receiving and special projects that balloon

“Standard receiving” might sound simple, but many third-party logistics providers bill by the hour for complex inbounds, relabeling, or inventory inspection. Setup fees may also apply during the onboarding process, covering initial integration and service setup, and these one-time charges can vary depending on the complexity of your requirements. Typical ranges vary widely, and container handling can also add fees. Insist on service level agreements that define when hourly rates kick in and cap spend per container or inbound receipt.

4) Account management and “program” fees

Some fulfillment providers add a monthly account management line or a “program fee” that doesn’t correlate to measurable value, no SLA, no deliverables. If the fee funds actual logistics operations (dedicated analyst, weekly optimization, custom reporting, support, technology upgrades), great. If not, move to custom pricing where the monthly cost ties to volume or outcomes.

5) Packaging and special handling multipliers

Pick and pack is only part of the story. The packing process, including kitting and assembly, can involve additional steps to meet specific client requirements and may impact overall costs. Boxes, mailers, poly, dunnage, and inserts can add real dollars per order. Ask for pack fees by material type, whether you can bring your own custom-branded packaging, and how “oversize handling” triggers. Publish a packaging bill of materials in your RFP so quotes are comparable. Reference tables from reputable 3PL pricing explainers to benchmark.

Flat Rate Pricing: Is It the Solution to Hidden Fees?

Flat rate pricing has become an attractive option for many ecommerce businesses aiming to simplify their fulfillment costs and avoid the headache of hidden fees. With this pricing model, your fulfillment provider charges a single, fixed shipping cost per order, regardless of the package’s actual weight, dimensions, or destination. For online stores juggling multiple SKUs and fluctuating order volumes, this can make budgeting and cost analysis much more straightforward.

The biggest advantage of flat rate pricing is predictability. Instead of worrying about surprise surcharges, fluctuating shipping rates, or unexpected account management fees, you know exactly what your shipping cost will be for each order. This transparency helps ecommerce businesses avoid hidden costs that often sneak into invoices, like fuel surcharges, residential delivery fees, or delivery area surcharges. By rolling these into a single flat rate, fulfillment providers make it easier to calculate your total fulfillment cost and plan your logistics operations with confidence.

Flat rate pricing can also drive cost savings by streamlining your fulfillment process. With fewer variables to track, your team spends less time calculating shipping costs and more time focusing on inventory management, optimizing storage space, and improving customer experience. Many fulfillment services that offer flat rate pricing also bundle in warehousing fees, packaging materials, and even custom packaging options, further reducing the risk of additional fees cropping up later.

However, flat rate pricing isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. If your ecommerce business regularly ships large, heavy, or unusually shaped items, a flat rate may not reflect your actual shipping cost, and you could end up paying more than you would with a customized pricing model. Flat rate pricing also tends to be less flexible than tiered or weight-based pricing models, which can be adjusted as your order volume or shipping needs change. For some businesses, especially those with highly variable shipments, a more tailored fulfillment strategy may deliver better cost savings.

When evaluating flat rate pricing, consider how it impacts your warehousing costs and inventory management. Some fulfillment providers include storage fees in their flat rate, while others charge separately based on the amount of storage space your inventory occupies. Make sure you understand exactly what’s included in the flat rate and how it aligns with your business operations.

How To Calculate Your Total Fulfillment Cost

• Order fulfillment: The order fulfillment process includes receiving inventory, storage, picking, packing, and shipping, with each stage contributing to the overall cost.
• All-in per order: pick fee + additional picks + packaging + shipping label + surcharges + storage amortized + returns share + account management fees + pick and pack fee + labor costs.
• Storage: rate per storage space unit (bin, shelf, pallet, cubic foot) plus any long-term or specialized storage lines; model seasonal inventory peaks. Storage costs can be calculated as a fixed fee or flat rate, and storage fees may vary depending on space utilization and duration.
• Inbound: receiving method (per pallet, per carton, hourly), labeling, and non-compliance penalties. Inbound shipping is also a cost factor when sending inventory to fulfillment centers.
• Reverse logistics: expected return rate and per-unit processing cost.
• Shipping rates: lane-level quotes for your top SKUs and destinations; ensure major carriers and regionals are included with negotiated shipping rates. Shipping carriers and pick and pack fees can vary depending on the provider and order volume.

Cost structures for fulfillment companies and fulfillment partners can vary depending on the provider, and many fulfillment providers offer customized solutions for online stores to achieve lower costs and total cost transparency. FedEx package standard list rates for U.S., U.S. export, and U.S. import services increased an average of 5.9% effective January 19, 2026, so 3PL quote comparisons should be refreshed against the 2026 rate book.

Fulfillment centers and fulfillment companies may use standard packing materials, but higher costs can result from special handling or hazardous materials.

Outsourcing logistics to a third-party logistics (3PL) provider can help achieve cost savings and optimize the supply chain.

It is important to compare total costs, including all fulfillment costs across providers, and all fees, to avoid surprises.

Negotiation Scripts That Work

• “Cap my hourly.” If hourly receiving is unavoidable, cap hours per inbound and include auto-approval thresholds.
• “Publish the pack BOM.” Fix the unit price of each packaging material item for 6 – 12 months.
• “Show me DIM control.” Quarterly cartonization audit with sample orders and photos, or fee credits.
• “Outcome-based account management.” Tie the monthly fee to specific deliverables and SLA improvements, not a vague “program.”

Where Cahoot Saves Money By Design

• Bulk purchasing power on materials across our network reduces pack fees.
• Cartonization and rate-shop automation curb DIM surprises.
• Multi-node placement reduces zones, so you pay ground, not air.
• Transparent invoices with line-item detail keep you in control.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the right DIM divisor to use in 2025?

UPS lists 139 for Daily Rates, and FedEx applies dimensional weight rules with similar divisors. Always check current carrier guides; your divisor may vary by service.

Will there be 2025 holiday surcharges?

Yes. USPS has posted time-limited holiday increases for October 2025 – January 2026, and FedEx/UPS maintains demand surcharge frameworks. Model these in your fulfillment pricing now. 

Are account management fees normal?

They exist, but should buy value, analytics, continuous improvement, and SLA oversight. If you cannot tie the line to outcomes, negotiate it out, or convert to custom pricing.

How do I compare 3PL quotes apples to apples?

Normalize to an all-in fulfillment cost per top SKU and destination: storage, picks, pack materials, label, surcharges, and returns. Use an identical packaging bill of materials for all bidders. 

How does Cahoot help me avoid hidden costs?

We quote transparently, automate rate-shopping and cartonization, and place inventory near demand to lower logistics costs while meeting customer expectations on shipping speed.

Written By:

Jeremy Stewart

Jeremy Stewart leads customer success at Cahoot, helping merchants achieve high-performance logistics through smart technology and process optimization. With a background in both ecommerce operations and client services, Jeremy ensures that every merchant using Cahoot gets measurable results—whether they’re scaling from one warehouse to many or managing complex returns.

Pet customers are loyal, vocal, and absolutely unforgiving when order fulfillment goes sideways. If the food arrives warm, the treats crumble, or the litter leaks, they do not reorder. That is why choosing a 3PL for pet products is less about cheap storage and more about temperature control, effective inventory management, and spotless compliance. The pet industry sets unique standards for logistics, requiring specialized solutions to meet regulatory requirements and the growing demands of pet owners. A pet products business must also ensure that high-quality products reach customers, maintaining quality assurance and safety throughout the supply chain. You also need to make sure your 3PL can meet the demanding performance metrics for your channels, such as Chewy Marketplace, for example.

Why Pet Is Different

Pet isn’t “just another CPG.” Dry pet food needs cool, dry storage, typically under 80°F; moisture swings and heat degrade nutrients and oil stability. Wet food and fresh formulas add temperature-controlled storage and stricter handling. These aren’t nice-to-haves; they’re FDA-anchored realities under the Food Safety Modernization Act’s (FSMA) Preventive Controls for Animal Food and related guidance.

Beyond the FDA, labels and handling instructions often follow the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) model guidance, storage directions, ingredient statements, and clarity on life-stage. Your 3PL must respect those labels and keep documentation on hand for audits. To ensure compliance with all relevant regulations, it is essential to follow proper procedures throughout the supply chain. Careful handling and precise handling of pet products are critical to maintain product quality and safety during storage, packing, and transportation.

Meanwhile, demand is resilient. U.S. pet spending reached about $152 billion in 2024 and is projected to hit roughly $157 billion in 2025. That means opportunity for brands that safeguard product safety and customer loyalty with reliable shipping and delivery speed.

The Three T’s: Temperature, Turnaround, Trust

Temperature. Your 3PL should provide documented temperature and humidity controls for dry, canned, and fresh categories, with sensor logs you can audit. For fresh and refrigerated diets, verify the cold chain plan, from dock to reliable carriers to the final destination.

Turnaround. Pet shoppers reorder frequently, often on a weekly cadence. That means consistent same-day pick, accurate inventory management strategies, and backup labels when carriers miss pickups. Efficient order processing and expertise in fulfilling orders are essential to achieve accurate delivery and meet customer expectations. The metric that matters is SLA adherence across seasonal demand, not the one perfect day.

Trust. Trust equals compliance plus transparency. You need FSMA Part 507 awareness (sanitation, pest control, recall readiness) and clean warehouse management system records. Ask for mock recall drill results and how quickly they can isolate lots by stock levels and real-time inventory tracking. Real-time visibility in pet care fulfillment ensures customers can track their orders and builds trust in your brand.

Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility

Sustainability is no longer optional in the pet products industry; it’s a core expectation from both pet owners and retail partners. The environmental impact of pet supplies fulfillment, from packaging waste to carbon emissions, is under increasing scrutiny. Leading 3PLs are stepping up by offering eco-friendly packaging options, such as biodegradable bags and recyclable materials, that help reduce landfill waste without compromising product safety. Optimizing shipping routes and consolidating orders can further cut down on carbon emissions, making the entire supply chain more efficient and environmentally responsible.

Energy-efficient warehouse operations, like LED lighting and smart climate controls, not only lower the carbon footprint but also contribute to cost savings for pet products businesses. Waste reduction programs, including recycling initiatives and responsible disposal of damaged goods, help ensure that every step of the fulfillment process aligns with sustainability goals. By choosing a 3PL that prioritizes environmental responsibility, pet products businesses can strengthen their brand reputation, meet evolving market demands, and deliver the level of customer satisfaction today’s eco-conscious consumers expect.

Technology And Innovation In Pet Product Fulfillment

Technology is transforming the way pet products businesses manage inventory, fulfill orders, and meet customer expectations. A modern warehouse management system (WMS) is the backbone of efficient pet products fulfillment, providing real-time tracking of inventory, optimizing stock levels, and ensuring accurate order fulfillment. Automated packaging and labeling systems streamline the fulfillment process, reducing errors and speeding up operations, key to meeting the fast turnaround times pet owners demand.

Advanced solutions like AI-powered inventory forecasting and predictive analytics allow pet products businesses to anticipate seasonal demands and unexpected market changes, minimizing missed sales opportunities and excess stock. These tailored solutions not only improve inventory accuracy but also drive cost savings and timely delivery across every sales channel. By leveraging the latest technology, 3PL providers can offer scalable, efficient operations that keep pet products businesses ahead of the curve and ensure a positive customer experience from click to doorstep.

Risk Management And Mitigation

Risk is a constant in the pet products industry, whether it’s a product recall, supply chain disruption, or regulatory change. Effective risk management is essential for protecting your brand and maintaining customer loyalty. A 3PL with deep experience in the pet products industry will proactively identify potential risks, from inventory shortages to compliance gaps, and develop contingency plans to keep your supply chain resilient.

This means implementing strict quality control measures, maintaining transparent pricing, and ensuring regulatory compliance at every stage of the fulfillment process. Real-time inventory tracking and regular audits help prevent missed sales opportunities and reduce unnecessary labor or capital expenditures. Ongoing training and inspections ensure that every team member is prepared to handle unexpected challenges, safeguarding both product integrity and customer experience. By partnering with a 3PL that prioritizes risk management, pet products businesses can confidently scale operations, protect their reputation, and deliver the reliable service that keeps pet owners coming back.

The Pet 3PL Checklist (Copy/Paste To Your RFP)

• Storage specs per SKU: dry kibble below 80°F, moisture control, separation from cleaners and chemicals.
• Lot and expiration control with FEFO (First Expired, First Out), plus expired inventory quarantine procedures.
• Pest management plan aligned to Part 507 GMPs, with logs.
• Dock-to-door cold chain validation for refrigerated or frozen lines.
• Carrier matrix that matches the weight and cube of bulk pet food and grooming supplies; not every lane is UPS Ground.
• Packaging SOPs: protective packaging for cans and glass, poly-in-box for oils, liners for dusty litter SKUs.
• Returns triage: when to destroy vs restock to protect pet health.
• Transparent pricing: no mystery “food handling” fee; itemized fulfillment services, hidden fees called out.
• Recall readiness: mock recall completed in the last 12 months; time to isolate all affected lots.
• Data access: real-time inventory, aging, and real-time tracking through your OMS.
• Customized solutions: ensure the 3PL can provide customized solutions for different pet products, including specialized warehousing and packaging as needed.
• Pet products fulfillment strategy: confirm there is a robust pet products fulfillment strategy in place to address product handling, inventory accuracy, and timely delivery.
• Managing inventory: prioritize effective systems for managing inventory, including forecasting and coordination to avoid stockouts or overstock.
• Outsourced pet products fulfillment: consider the benefits of outsourced pet products fulfillment for efficiency, scalability, and proper handling of industry-specific requirements.

Inventory Management Strategy For Pet Brands

• Pet brands often experience seasonal demands, requiring them to adapt their inventory strategies to handle fluctuations in order volume and product mix.
• Segment storage by risk and velocity. Keep fast movers close to carriers, slow movers deeper in the building to save warehouse space.
• Efficient management of pet supply, including pet food, treats, and health items, is crucial, especially when segmenting inventory to ensure timely fulfillment and compliance.
• Forecast by reorder cadence. Autoship means steady rhythm with occasional spikes; tune labor and slots accordingly.
• Leveraging outsourced pet products services can help brands handle inventory fluctuations and scale operations up or down as needed.
• Smaller shipments to test new flavors or bag sizes, then ramp. This reduces missed sales opportunities and obsolescence.
• Dual-node setup for national coverage, so your customers expect 1 – 2 day delivery without air. That is pure cost savings.
• Risk management: diversify suppliers, pre-approve alternates, and lock in packaging conversions well before unexpected market changes.

How Cahoot Helps Pet Brands Win

We run pet-friendly SOPs: temp monitoring for dry zones, FEFO allocations, protective pack recipes for cans and fragile jars, and scalable solutions across our network of distribution centers. We provide personalized service and tailored fulfillment solutions for pet brands, ensuring expert handling of diverse products like pet beds and other pet essentials. Add multi-node routing to keep timely delivery and on-time delivery consistent without paying for air. And because we operate as a transparent fulfillment partner, our transparent pricing lets you see the true landed cost per order.

Frequently Asked Questions

What regulations apply to pet food storage in 3PLs?

FSMA’s Preventive Controls for Animal Food and 21 CFR Part 507 require GMPs, sanitation, pest control, and records for facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold animal food. Your 3PL must comply. 

Do dry kibble products really need temperature control?

Yes. FDA and AAFCO guidance recommend keeping dry food under about 80°F, away from moisture and heat, to maintain nutrient integrity and shelf life. 

How fast should a pet 3PL ship?

Same-day fulfillment for orders before cutoff and predictable 1–3 day ground delivery for most ZIPs. Reliability matters more than a single headline speed.

How do pet products 3PLs handle recalls and lot tracking?

Insist on lot-level granularity, FEFO, and a proven mock recall. The 3PL should be able to locate, quarantine, and report affected inventory within hours.

How does Cahoot reduce pet fulfillment costs?

By placing inventory near demand, optimizing cartons, and using regional carriers for heavy items, we cut shipping costs while maintaining customer satisfaction and brand loyalty.

Written By:

Indy Pereira

Indy Pereira helps ecommerce brands optimize their shipping and fulfillment with Cahoot’s technology. With a background in both sales and people operations, she bridges customer needs with strategic solutions that drive growth. Indy works closely with merchants every day and brings real-world insight into what makes logistics efficient and scalable.

If you sell on Walmart Marketplace, your 3PL can make or break your growth. Selling on Walmart Marketplace gives you the opportunity to reach millions of customers, expanding your potential audience significantly. The platform is surging, the buyers are trained on fast delivery, and Walmart’s physical stores quietly turbocharge the last mile. Most third-party logistics providers still operate with an “Amazon-only” mindset. That’s why so many Walmart orders get stuck, misrated, or delayed.

Here’s the playbook I use to evaluate a Walmart 3PL, so you get the upside of Walmart Fulfillment Services, cost savings on shipping, and a better customer experience without surprise hidden fees.

Walmart Marketplace Is A Different Animal

Walmart’s Marketplace isn’t a niche anymore. Seller count and volume have accelerated through 2025, with Marketplace Pulse tracking a 30 percent increase in sellers in the first five months alone and a rapid influx of international sellers. Translation, more competition, and a higher bar for fast delivery and customer expectations.

And Walmart keeps leaning into its superpower, stores. The company extended delivery coverage to 12 million more households in 2025 using geospatial routing, letting multiple Walmart stores fulfill a single order. That store network, rebranded as Accelerated Pickup and Delivery (APD), turns physical stores into fulfillment centers for real-time speed. Walmart fulfillment centers and warehouses are strategically located to enable fast delivery and efficient inventory management. These Walmart fulfillment centers and warehouses play a key role in storing products and supporting the fulfillment center network. Effective warehousing and storing inventory are essential for meeting Walmart’s delivery expectations and ensuring accurate, timely order fulfillment.

If your 3PL can’t plug into that ecosystem, or at least align to its service levels, your Walmart orders will lag.

Why Most 3PLs Miss The Mark On Walmart

1. They copy-paste Amazon SOPs. Routing rules, order management systems, and fulfillment process logic often assume Amazon’s cutoffs and zones. Walmart’s promise logic is different, and Walmart fulfillment windows require different carriers, shipping costs math, and cubic foot handling. If your 3PL doesn’t tune templates for Walmart, you eat hidden costs and miss same-day shipping promises. Understanding Walmart’s requirements is essential for 3PL success, as optimizing your supply chain and ensuring compliance are key to smooth operations. When evaluating a third-party logistics (3PL) provider, consider key factors like lead times, return processes, and pricing to ensure efficient order management and customer satisfaction. Choosing the right fulfillment partner can be a game-changer for Walmart sellers, enabling you to deliver products reliably and on time, and taking advantage of advanced 3PL services and technology can further optimize your operations.

2. They don’t model store-adjacent speed. Walmart’s network reduces zones for last-mile lanes. Your 3PL should steer Walmart Marketplace sellers toward regional carriers or local injection that mirrors APD pace, not default to national major carriers every time. Recent data shows Walmart customers leaned heavily into same-day during summer deal weeks, because stores are everywhere. When it comes to delivering orders quickly, fulfillment speed is critical; your 3PL must be capable of delivering orders quickly to meet customer expectations and ensure they are delivered accurately.

3. They skip WFS knowledge. Even if you don’t use Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS), your 3PL should know the program’s fulfillment fees, storage rules, hazmat items policies, and routing guide, because those benchmarks anchor buyer expectations, and they’re often cheaper than you think. As of April–July 2025, Walmart publicized that WFS averages about 15 percent less than “the competition” with clear storage/optional fee tables and peak windows. Testing shipments with your 3PL before full rollout is important for quality and compliance, and helps ensure smooth scaling of your operations.

4. They don’t support Walmart-specific data flows. You need real-time tracking in Seller Center, clean inbound receiving for fulfillment centers, and order processing events that match Walmart’s performance scorecards. A 3PL that can’t expose these events reliably will ding your customer satisfaction and rank. It is also important to promptly mark orders as shipped once they are dispatched, maintaining transparency and trust with your customers.

5. They hide fees. Watch for “Walmart handling” surcharges, unexpected packaging materials fees, and shipping weight upcharges for large cube items. If you can’t audit fulfillment fees per order, you can’t scale. For large or bulk items, having freight options is essential to ensure efficient and cost-effective shipping.

The 12-Point Walmart 3pl Vetting Checklist

1. Native Walmart integration, not a connector-of-a-connector. Test order create, cancel, ship confirm, returns, and real-time tracking.

2. Walmart promises parity. Can they meet WFS-like SLAs on 1 – 2 days to core zip clusters, and do they simulate Walmart’s promise windows before you publish offers?

3. Regional carrier bench. Ask for their on-time performance across Zones 5 – 8 for your top five lanes. If they only quote national carriers, expect higher shipping costs.

4. Store-adjacent injection. Do they support scheduled late pickups or local injection to mirror APD speed near key Walmart stores?

5. Dim and cube handling. Walmart’s heavy and oversize rules differ; ensure cartonization and cubic foot billing are transparent.

6. Peak season plan. Can they surge headcount and dock space for peak season without “capacity caps”? Get last Q4’s throughput.

7. Hazmat and temperature control. If you sell aerosols or meltables, confirm temperature control zones and hazmat credentialing.

8. Returns and reverse logistics. How fast can they receive, grade, and restock?

9. Value-added services. Kitting, relabels, packaging materials swaps, and order management exceptions.

10. Inventory management maturity. Cycle counting, shrink reporting, and slotting tuned for your top SKUs.

11. Transparent pricing. Line-item fulfillment services by pick, pack, dunnage, storage; no “Walmart” surcharge.

12. Case studies on Walmart. Ask for references from marketplace sellers with your weight and cube profile.

When To Mix WFS And A 3PL

WFS is compelling, especially for fast movers that fit the fee table. You still need a third-party logistics partner for multichannel work, oversized items, or SKUs that perform better outside WFS. WFS publishes current pricing, optional services, and routing guides. Use those to set target service levels for your 3PL.

A hybrid model works: let WFS carry your highest-velocity Walmart SKUs, and use a vetted Walmart 3PL for the long tail and multi-channel orders (Shopify, DTC, marketplaces). Walmart has also been investing in seller services and embedded finance to speed payouts, another reason volume is migrating. Your 3PL should be ready to ride that wave, not fight it.

Practical Takeaways

• Treat Walmart like Walmart, not Amazon. Different promise logic, different network, different fulfillment solutions.
• Build a carrier mix that prefers short zones and regional speed.
• Benchmark against WFS fees and SLAs, even if you don’t use them.
• Demand transparency on hidden costs and fulfillment operations.
• Use Walmart’s store network to your advantage; shorter delivery equals happier customers, higher sales, better rank.

Cahoot supports Walmart out of the box: multi-node routing, regional carriers, WFS-aware promise modeling, and transparent order fulfillment costs you can audit down to the SKU.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a Walmart 3PL different from an Amazon-only 3PL?

Walmart’s promise logic, store-adjacent fulfillment, and WFS benchmarks require different routing, carrier selection, and service windows. A Walmart-ready 3PL maps to APD coverage and WFS-like SLAs rather than cloning Amazon rules. 

Should I use Walmart Fulfillment Services or a 3PL?

Use WFS for fast movers that fit the fee table. Pair a 3PL for oversized items, bundles, and multi-channel work. Many brands run both to balance cost savings, fast delivery, and control. 

How fast is Walmart really growing in 2025?

Marketplace seller growth has accelerated through 2025, and Walmart reported strong ecommerce momentum into FY25. That means more competition and higher expectations on speed and price.

What hidden fees should I watch for in Walmart fulfillment?

Look for cartonization upcharges, “Walmart handling” adders, hazmat surcharges, peak storage, and mis-billed shipping weight on large cube items. Compare against WFS’s public rate card to catch anomalies. 

How does Cahoot help Walmart Marketplace sellers?

We tune routing to Walmart’s speed map, leverage regional carriers to shorten zones, expose granular cost lines, and support hybrid WFS + 3PL strategies so you can fulfill orders faster, at lower total cost.

Written By:

Jeremy Stewart

Jeremy Stewart leads customer success at Cahoot, helping merchants achieve high-performance logistics through smart technology and process optimization. With a background in both ecommerce operations and client services, Jeremy ensures that every merchant using Cahoot gets measurable results—whether they’re scaling from one warehouse to many or managing complex returns.