Write two checklists
For DTC, consider item accuracy, dispatch, tracking, and packaging. For retail, add the buyer’s routing, labeling, document, and appointment requirements. Ask for evidence relevant to the channel you actually use.
Keep failures visible
Do not average a critical retail failure into a strong DTC result. Record channel-specific gaps and whether the provider has an acceptable correction plan. A mandatory requirement should remain a decision gate.
Test one order from each channel
Use a consumer parcel and a representative retail shipment to compare the work. Record product quantities, packaging, labels, documents, dispatch instructions, and inventory allocation. Ask the provider which tasks are standard and which need setup or approval. Check how a change in one channel could affect stock promised to the other. A shared inventory pool still needs explicit rules about reservations and priorities.
Define a test before recording a score
Write the expected result, the sample, and the evidence you will accept. Keep a failed requirement separate from an unanswered question. Use the same test across providers where their proposed scopes are comparable. If the test changes, record why; otherwise an improved score may reflect an easier question rather than a better fit.
Use this question in your next meeting:
Who owns the decision when retail and consumer orders compete for the same stock?
Go deeper: Five acceptance tests for your next 3PL onboarding. The companion article includes an editable worksheet and links to provider profiles.
Further reading
Shopify: inventory states. Reference for the distinction between available, committed, and other inventory states.