With over 10,000 3PLs in the US alone, how do you avoid choosing one that sinks your business? Dave Gulas from EZDC 3PL shares the horror stories he's witnessed and the questions that separate good logistics partners from disasters waiting to happen.

In this episode, we explore why treating logistics as a commodity leads to problems, how to vet a fulfilment partner properly, and the operational details that matter when you're shipping thousands of orders monthly. Dave's background in the pharmaceutical industry, where urgency is non-negotiable, shaped his approach to e-commerce fulfilment. He shares what he looks for in great clients (spoiler: they ask the most questions) and why his sales cycle runs several months by design.

Key Point Timestamps:

07:06 - What EZDC 3PL does and who they serve

08:57 - When outsourcing fulfilment makes sense

22:45 - Why treating logistics as a commodity fails

27:43 - Horror stories from bad 3PL partnerships

32:37 - The technology stack that matters

40:59 - Warehouse layout for efficiency

48:20 - The questions to ask before choosing

The Partnership Mindset (22:45)

Dave doesn't respond to enquiries that simply ask "what's your pricing?" without context. His reasoning is straightforward.

"It truly is a partnership. When you get into a business partnership with somebody, are you just going to look someone up online, ask a couple of questions and sign the contract? I hope not."

The brands that treat logistics as a commodity, shopping purely on price, often end up with the problems Dave sees repeatedly. His sales cycle runs several months because both sides need to establish clear expectations before committing.

The Horror Stories (27:43)

Dave has heard them all. Warehouses going bust without telling clients. Inventory tracked on spreadsheets. Response times measured in days.

"We've heard all the horror stories you can think of from literally the warehouse going out of business because they defaulted on their lease and not telling the brand and basically stealing inventory."

These aren't edge cases. When they happen, it's "a big hole to dig out of." Sometimes businesses don't recover.

The Technology Stack (32:37)

Dave uses ShipHero as his warehouse management system. But the specific system matters less than having a proper one at all.

"I'm shocked at how many actual 3PLs are out there where they're tracking inventory on spreadsheets and they're doing things manually. I have brands talk to me like, can you connect to our Shopify? Is that possible? They don't even realise that's possible because they're coming from a warehouse that doesn't do that."

If a potential partner mentions spreadsheets, that's your cue to walk away.

The Questions That Matter (48:20)

Dave's best advice is simple: ask more questions. The best long-term relationships start with the most questions on the front end.

"The best clients, the best long-term relationships are the ones that ask the most questions on the front end. So we're happy to answer them. You can't ask too many."

Ask about their technology stack. Ask for references. Do a site visit if possible. The goal isn't to catch them out. It's to establish clear expectations before you commit.

Today's Guest

Today's guest: Dave Gulas

Company: EZDC 3PL

Website: ezdc3pl.com

LinkedIn: Connect with Dave on LinkedIn