How to manage deliveries on marketplaces?

As soon as a buyer validates their order on a marketplace, you are required to send the product within the stated lead time. This is why the issue of delivery management should be raised beforehand. You have two options: you can either handle deliveries yourself, or entrust them to the marketplace.

Handling deliveries yourself

Each marketplace offers its own delivery methods: simple or registered dispatch, Colissimo, Chronopost, etc. Rates and dispatch conditions are pre-established, so you will simply need to adapt your prices to take these costs into consideration. 

Once the package has been given to the transporter, you will be required to update the order status (“dispatched”), and if necessary provide the buyer with follow-up information on the delivery.

Warning: you must guarantee delivery of the goods to the provided address and within the stated lead time. It goes without saying that marketplaces do not much appreciate cancellations and transit errors…it is therefore essential for you to have proper control over your delivery circuits.

Entrusting logistics to marketplaces

Certain marketplaces offer to handle deliveries on behalf of their retailers. This is the case for Amazon with its Fulfillment programme (“Dispatched by Amazon”). In such cases, the platform stores your goods, packages them and sends them to buyers – located in any European country. Cdiscount offers a similar service (“Dispatched by Cdiscount”), with additional coverage of your customer service tasks and management of potential returns.

What is the advantage? You can make the most of the marketplaces’ incredible logistics, and will be able to access various European markets. What is the drawback? Above and beyond the (high) cost, you lose control of your stock and supply chain, which complicates any vague hopes you may have had of growing more independent.