A DTC 3PL RFP is a request for proposal written around order-level economics: what it costs to pick, pack, and ship an individual consumer order, integrate with your storefronts, and process the returns that come back. It differs from a general warehousing RFP because the cost drivers are different — units per order, packaging complexity, parcel rates, and returns volume move a DTC quote far more than square footage ever will. In Canada in 2026, DTC pick-and-pack runs $2.50 to $7.00 per order depending on the market, with Toronto at $3.50-6.50 and Vancouver at $4.00-7.00 (Warehouse Bridge network data). This guide covers what e-commerce brands specifically need to spec, ask, and compare — the general RFP process and timeline is covered in the companion guide.
The DTC spec sheet
Give every bidder the same six numbers, and your quotes arrive comparable instead of creative:
- Monthly orders, 12 months trailing — with the peak month flagged. Averages hide the number that matters.
- Units per order — the quiet cost driver. At 1.2 units/order, additional-unit fees barely register; at 3+, they can exceed the base pick fee.
- SKU count and size profile — 200 apparel SKUs pick differently than 40 supplement SKUs. Include dimensions and weights.
- Channels and split — Shopify DTC vs Amazon FBM vs marketplace. Each has different label, insert, and SLA implications.
- Packaging spec — branded boxes, inserts, gift notes. Custom packaging can add $0.50-1.00 per order in handling.
- Returns rate — by category. Apparel runs 15-30%; most other DTC categories 5-10%.
What to ask that general RFPs miss
Integration depth, not just “we support Shopify.” Ask how inventory syncs (real-time vs batch), how order edits and address changes flow after import, what happens to orders that fail validation, and whether tracking pushes back automatically. The difference shows up in your support inbox, not the demo.
Shipping economics. Ask for the carrier lineup, whether rates are passed through with a disclosed markup or resold at margin, and the cutoff time for same-day dispatch. Parcel spend is usually 2-4x fulfillment fees for a DTC brand — a $0.50 cheaper pick with a 15% shipping markup is a bad trade. The fulfillment cost per order guide has the full comparison math.
Returns as an operation, not an afterthought. Per-return fee, grading rules, time-to-restock, and what happens to ungradeable units. Restocked returns are recovered revenue; a slow returns queue is dead inventory.
Peak capacity in writing. Your November forecast belongs in the RFP, and the response should commit labour and space to it. Ask what happened to their cutoff performance last Q4 — specifically.
DTC benchmarks (2026)
| Market | Pick & pack (first unit) | Pallet storage | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto / GTA | $3.50 – $6.50 | $18 – $35 /mo | Eastern population coverage, next-day Ontario ground |
| Montreal | $3.25 – $5.75 | $16 – $32 /mo | Quebec market + bilingual compliance |
| Calgary | $3.00 – $5.50 | $14 – $28 /mo | Western coverage at the best rates |
| Vancouver | $4.00 – $7.00 | $20 – $40 /mo | Import-fed brands, BC next-day |
| Winnipeg | $2.50 – $4.75 | $12 – $24 /mo | Lowest cost, central ground reach |
Location strategy usually beats rate shopping: a GTA node covers the eastern two-thirds of Canadian demand in 1-2 ground days, and brands with heavy Western volume add Calgary or Vancouver as a second node rather than compromising on one city. Full market tables live in the Canadian Warehouse Market Report.
When DTC brands skip the RFP
Under roughly 1,000 orders per month, the 8-12 week formal process costs more than it saves — at that volume, evaluate two or three pre-vetted providers directly or use a brokered match. Our live pricing flow prices your order profile against the market in under a minute and matches you with operators already running e-commerce fulfillment in the GTA and beyond — the same comparability an RFP forces, without the quarter of runway.