Looking for a ShipBob Alternative? Here's What We Charge Instead

Why sellers look for a ShipBob alternative

Most sellers who search for this aren't unhappy with ShipBob's service — they're unhappy with their invoice. A large, distributed warehouse network is the right answer for a brand shipping enough volume to split inventory across regions and chase 2-day delivery badges everywhere. For sellers at that scale, it earns its place.

The complaints that push smaller sellers to look elsewhere tend to cluster around three things: billing complexity (accessorial charges, dimensional-weight adjustments, and per-SKU fees that don't match the original rate card), account minimums (many 3PLs set spend or volume floors that hit hardest on the smallest accounts), and support (a ticket queue instead of a person who already knows your account when a receiving shipment is late).

None of that makes ShipBob wrong for everyone. It means the fit depends on your order volume and how much you value distributed inventory over a flat, predictable rate. If you're doing anywhere from a handful up to a few thousand orders a month out of one region, a single-warehouse flat-rate model is usually cheaper and easier to reason about.

What we charge instead of tiered, volume-based pricing

One rate card, published, locked through Q1 2027. No setup fee, no monthly platform fee, no minimum order volume or spend to open an account.

Kitting, bundling, subscription-box assembly, custom inserts, container devanning, LTL freight, and white-glove handling are all available and custom-quoted — tell us your specs and you'll have a number in 24 hours. Full breakdown on the price list, pricing page, and storage details.

What a month actually costs

Take a seller doing 300 FBM orders a month, all under 5 lb, storing 4 pallets, and receiving one inbound shipment of 20 pallets.

That's roughly $3.97 per order, fully loaded before postage, with no setup fee and no platform fee sitting on top of it. Run your own numbers on the pricing page, or send us your SKU count and volume through the quote form for a written quote. Questions first? Call +1 832 759 1368, email sales@kaksourcing.com, or use contact us.

What sellers ask before they switch 3PLs

These are the questions we get on almost every RFQ. Straight answers, no discovery call required.

Do you take on new or small brands?

Yes. No minimum order volume, no minimum spend, no minimum SKU count. We've taken on brands launching with a few hundred units.

Are there setup, onboarding, software, or account-management fees?

No. No setup fee, no software fee, no account-management fee.

Is there a contract?

No. Month-to-month, no cancellation penalty.

How is storage billed, and is it climate-controlled?

$25 per pallet per month — $25 a month for a pallet stored the full month, prorated for the fraction of the month you actually use. The full 32,000 sq ft facility is climate-controlled and monitored 24/7.

Do you track lot numbers and expiration dates?

Yes, available through the KAK WMS dashboard alongside real-time inventory counts.

How does pick-pack pricing work for small orders and bundles?

Flat per-order rate based on weight — a 3-item order under 5 lb is $2.00 + $0.75 = $2.75. Orders are picked and packed on demand; we don't force preassembly. If you want items kitted ahead of time, that's available and custom-quoted.

What packaging is included, and what do branded inserts cost?

Packaging materials (from $0.25) and postage are billed separately, at cost. Custom inserts, branded boxes, and thank-you cards are custom-quoted based on your specs.

Do you mark up shipping carriers?

No. Discounted USPS, UPS, and FedEx rates are passed through at cost.

What about returns?

$1.50 per return, inspection included. Photos, restocking, and disposal are handled per your instructions and confirmed in writing.

Which sales channels do you support?

Shopify, TikTok Shop, Walmart, eBay, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Etsy, Magento, and Amazon FBM, all synced through the KAK WMS.

How switching to KAK works

1. Send your SKU count, monthly order volume, and sales channels through the quote form. You'll get a written rate sheet back — not a discovery-call invite.
2. Review a written rate sheet that matches the published rates above. Nothing gets added later without your sign-off.
3. Route inventory to the Houston warehouse — transfer from your current 3PL, ship direct from your factory, or consolidate overseas freight first (container devanning and LTL quoted at carrier cost).
4. Inbound receives at $20/pallet ($5/carton).
5. Go live in the KAK WMS with real-time inventory synced to your sales channels.
6. Orders and prep received before the 2pm CT cutoff, Monday through Saturday, ship or process the same day.

Where KAK fits, and where a bigger network still wins

We run one facility, not a distributed network. If your business depends on splitting inventory across multiple regions to guarantee 2-day delivery badges on both coasts, a multi-warehouse operator — ShipBob included — is the better engineering answer. That's not a knock on KAK, it's physics.

If you're shipping out of one region, doing anywhere from a handful of orders a month up to a few thousand, and you'd rather have one flat rate you can predict than a fourth warehouse you don't need yet, that's the gap we fill.

Other operators worth a look while you're comparing include ShipMonk, Red Stag Fulfillment, and eFulfillment Service. None of us are identical, and none of us are automatically right for your SKUs — get quotes from a few and compare the fully-loaded cost per order, not just the headline pick fee. See our broader 3PL comparison for more on how to run that math.

Frequently asked questions