Búho Logistics prices are published with a "pick fee" structure scaled by monthly order volume, but total fulfillment cost includes multiple components beyond this base rate: storage, receiving, materials, shipping, returns and special services.
If you're searching for information about how much Búho Logistics costs, you probably need to outsource fulfillment for your ecommerce, optimize preparation and shipping costs, or compare 3PL alternatives in Mexico. The reality is that understanding a Búho quote requires going beyond the published "pick fee" and understanding how storage, final customer shipping and returns management add up.
Ecommerce brands handling considerable volume need to understand exactly how tiered pricing works, what additional components appear in monthly invoicing, how dimensional weight impacts shipping costs and what surcharges may arise from special services or peak season.
In this article we break down the main factors of Búho Logistics pricing, how to calculate your total monthly cost with numerical examples, what questions to ask for complete quotes, and why growing brands are choosing alternatives with integrated fulfillment and transparent pricing like Cubbo.
Búho Logistics Pricing Structure: Pick Fee and Additional Components
Búho Logistics pricing model builds on a base rate called "pick fee" varying by monthly volume tiers, but total cost includes multiple additional layers.
Volume-Tiered Pick Fee
Búho Logistics publishes pick fee rates in Mexican pesos decreasing as your monthly order volume increases:
Up to 100 orders/month: $1.25 USD per order
101 to 500 orders/month: $1.00 USD per order
501 to 1,500 orders/month: $0.85 USD per order
1,501 to 5,000 orders/month: $0.70 USD per order
Over 5,000 orders/month: Enterprise plan (custom quote)
What pick fee covers: this typically refers to order preparation cost (picking and packing), although it's critical to validate if it includes all order units or there's additional charge for extra items.
Tiered model advantage: as you grow, your unit preparation cost drops automatically. A brand moving from 400 to 600 monthly orders reduces its pick fee from $1.00 to $0.85 per order.
Critical point: the term "pick fee" can mean different things between operators. In some 3PLs it's cost for first item plus additional charge per extra unit; in others it's total cost per complete order. Validating exactly what it includes is essential for comparison.
Storage: Cost Per Square Meter
Búho Logistics structures storage per occupied square meter, with typical ranges according to published information:
Storage range: $17.50 to $25 USD per m²/month
What determines exact cost:
- Product type (temperature controlled vs standard)
- Inventory rotation (high vs low)
- Total volume stored (volume discounts)
- Seasonality (peak space needs)
Space calculation: average SKU in box can occupy 0.04-0.08 m² footprint in selective rack. With 50 SKUs and 30-day stock, you may need 3-6 m².
Real impact: unlike pick fee that drops with volume, storage rises linearly with inventory. Brands with broad catalog and slow rotation can see storage representing 15-25% of total logistics cost.
Inventory Receiving
Merchandise entry to warehouse generates separate costs from storage:
Receiving components:
- Merchandise unloading
- Count and verification against purchase order
- SKU entry in system
- Warehouse placement
- Labeling if required
Typical structure: can be charged per pallet, per work hour, per box or per container by complexity.
What to validate: if you receive merchandise frequently in small lots vs few times in volume, cost structure changes significantly. Some operations have minimum per receiving independent of volume.
Packaging Materials
Materials (boxes, envelopes, fill, tape, labels) can be included in pick fee or charged separately:
Common materials:
- Different size boxes
- Padded envelopes
- Fill (paper, bubble wrap)
- Packing tape
- Shipping labels
Charging models:
- Included in pick fee (everything within preparation cost)
- Fixed charge per order (e.g., $0.40-0.75 USD for standard materials)
- Actual charge by materials used
What impacts: if you use custom or branded packaging, there's typically additional charge vs 3PL's standard materials.
Shipping Cost (Customer Delivery)
Transportation to final customer is typically the largest component of total cost:
National shipping ranges according to Búho: $3.75 to $9 USD depending on destination and format.
Variables determining cost:
- Destination zone (local, national, remote)
- Physical and dimensional weight
- Service level (standard, express, same-day)
- Carrier used
Critical dimensional weight: using standard factor of 5,000 for Mexico, a 600g product in 35×28×10 cm box has dimensional weight of 1.96 kg, billed as 2 kg although weighing 0.6 kg.
Impact example: reducing box height from 10 cm to 7 cm can change dimensional weight from 1.96 kg to 1.37 kg, dropping rate tier and saving $0.75-1.25 USD per shipment.
Returns Management
Reverse logistics includes costs of:
Return components:
- Return transportation
- Warehouse receiving
- Product inspection
- Reconditioning or relabeling
- Re-entry to inventory or disposition
Impact by category: in fashion, returns can reach 25% of orders in clothing according to market studies. Each return can cost $2.75-4.75 USD in processing plus reverse transportation.
Net cost calculation: if your shipment costs $4.75 USD and you have 25% returns at $2.75 USD each, net logistics cost per order that stays is: ($4.75 + 0.25 × $2.75) / 0.75 = $7.25 USD approx.
Special Services and Added Value
Additional services beyond storing and shipping:
Kitting and bundles: assembly of promotional packages, product sets Specialized labeling: for retail, compliance, barcodes Quality control: detailed inspection, functionality verification Custom packaging: branded packaging, promotional inserts B2B operations: retail order preparation with specific requirements
These services are typically quoted per manipulated unit or per work hour by complexity.
Búho Logistics Service Promise
Búho communicates specific operational promises having value in pricing:
Same-day ready orders: incoming orders are prepared and shipped same day, accelerating final delivery.
Refund guarantee: costs refunded for errors attributable to 3PL, reducing operational risk.
Shipping optimization: system suggests optimal shipping according to destination and characteristics, potentially reducing costs.
30 free days: risk-free trial period to validate service before commitment.
These promises can justify slightly higher pricing if they reduce incidents, returns and support tickets that also have cost.
What 3PL Fulfillment Pricing Is and How It's Structured
Fulfillment prices aren't a simple "cost per order" rate. They're an ecosystem of charges covering entire chain from merchandise arrival to customer delivery and returns management, forming a crucial part of overall e-commerce operations that determine customer experience and profitability.
Why Pick Fee Is Only One Piece
Published pick fee ($0.70-1.25 USD by volume) typically represents only 10-20% of total logistics cost in ecommerce operations.
Typical real breakdown:
- Pick & pack: 10-20%
- Storage: 5-15%
- Customer shipping: 60-75%
- Returns: 5-10%
- Special services: 0-10%
Why it matters: two brands can have same pick fee but total costs differing 40-60% according to their product mix, destinations and return rate.
Storage Charging Models
Storage can be billed in multiple ways:
Per square meter: like Búho ($17.50-25 USD/m²/month), measures occupied footprint.
Per pallet: common in B2B, charges per complete pallet position.
Per bin or location: charge per each "box" or assigned location.
Per volume (m³): measures three-dimensional occupied space.
Daily vs monthly calculation: some 3PLs calculate storage per day (month average), others by monthly snapshot. This changes result if your inventory fluctuates significantly.
Dimensional Weight: The Invisible Factor
Dimensional weight is calculated because carriers charge for space occupied in transport unit, not just weight.
Mexico standard formula: (Length × Width × Height in cm) / 5,000 = dimensional kg
Billed by greater of actual and dimensional weight.
Devastating example:
- Product: 3 kg pillow
- Box: 60×50×40 cm
- Dimensional weight: (60×50×40) / 5,000 = 24 kg
- Pay for 24 kg, not 3 kg
Solution: compression bag can reduce to 40×30×15 cm = 3.6 kg dimensional, saving ~85% in shipping cost.
Order Complexity: Multiple Lines
Number of items per order significantly impacts cost:
Simple order (1 SKU, 1 unit): base pick & pack cost
Multi-line order (3 different SKUs): may have additional charge per extra line
Multi-unit order (1 SKU, 5 units): may or may not have additional charge by 3PL model
Impact example: brand with 40% multi-line orders (3+ items) can have 30-50% higher average preparation cost than brand with 90% single-item orders, although both process same number of monthly orders.
Current Challenges When Evaluating Búho Logistics Prices
Lack of Transparency in Additional Components
Published pick fee is clear ($0.70-1.25 USD), but additional components require quote:
What you need to validate:
- Does pick fee include all order units or is there charge per additional item?
- Are materials included or charged separately?
- How exactly is storage calculated (daily, monthly, minimums)?
- What's the real receiving cost per pallet or box?
- What specific carrier rates do they have by zone and weight?
The problem: without this detailed information, comparing "pick fee of $0.85" with another 3PL is impossible.
This becomes even more complex for brands selling through a marketplace, where fulfillment and pricing models often differ from direct-to-consumer operations.
Shipping Cost Variability
Transportation represents 60-75% of total cost, but has multiple variables:
Variability factors:
- Monthly fuel surcharge (12-20% variable)
- Extended zone ($6.50+ USD additional)
- Dimensional vs actual weight
- Service type (standard, express, same-day)
Real impact: published range of $3.75-9 USD is enormous. Without knowing your exact destination mix and product characteristics, projecting average cost is impossible.
Returns Impact on Net Cost
Returns transform apparent cost into real cost:
Typical fashion scenario:
- Shipping cost: $4.75 USD
- Return rate: 25%
- Return processing cost: $2.75 USD
- Net cost per completed sale: ($4.75 + 0.25 × $2.75) / 0.75 = $7.25 USD
The "cost per order" of $4.75 USD actually is $7.25 USD when factoring returns.
What to validate: complete reverse logistics cost structure, not just outbound shipping. For compliance purposes, make sure your operation is established as a registered merchant, since certain carriers and marketplaces require formal registration for returns processing and tax reporting.
Inventory Rotation and Storage
Storage impacts differently by your rotation:
High rotation (30-45 days inventory):
- Lower storage cost
- Higher receiving frequency
- Stockout risk if not well managed
Low rotation (90+ days inventory):
- Higher accumulated storage cost
- Possible "aged inventory" charges
- Immobilized capital
Numerical example: storing 10 m² for 12 months at $20 USD/m² = $2,400 USD annually. If you can reduce average inventory to 6 m² with better rotation, you save $960 USD annually.
Last-Mile Pressure in Mexico
Mexico's last-mile market is expanding with cost pressures:
According to market analysis, the sector will reach $17.45 billion USD in 2026 with continued growth until 2031, driven by ecommerce increase and fast delivery expectations.
Implication: demand for faster deliveries (same-day, next-day) pressures costs upward. Offering "fast and cheap shipping" is increasingly difficult to sustain.
How to Calculate Real Monthly Cost with Búho Logistics
Total Monthly Cost Formula
Total Cost = (Orders × Pick Fee) + (m² × Storage) + (Orders × Average Shipping) + Receivings + Returns + Special Services
Example A: Small Store (200 orders/month)
Assumptions:
- 200 monthly orders
- 101-500 plan: pick fee $1.00 USD
- Storage: 2 m²
- Average shipping: $5.50 USD (mid-range)
- 1 monthly receiving: $40 USD
- Returns 8%: 16 returns × $3.25 = $52 USD
Calculation:
- Pick & pack: 200 × $1.00 = $200 USD
- Storage: 2 × $20 = $40 USD
- Shipping: 200 × $5.50 = $1,100 USD
- Receiving: $40 USD
- Returns: $52 USD
- TOTAL: $1,432 USD/month
Cost per order: $1,432 / 200 = $7.16 USD
Percentage breakdown:
- Shipping: 77%
- Pick & pack: 14%
- Storage: 3%
- Receiving: 3%
- Returns: 3%
Insight: shipping completely dominates. Reducing $0.50 in average shipping cost saves $100 monthly, more than any pick fee negotiation.
Example B: Growing Brand (2,500 orders/month)
Assumptions:
- 2,500 monthly orders
- 1,501-5,000 plan: pick fee $0.70 USD
- Storage: 15 m²
- Average shipping: $4.75 USD
- 3 monthly receivings: 3 × $60 = $180 USD
- Returns 12%: 300 returns × $3.00 = $900 USD
Calculation:
- Pick & pack: 2,500 × $0.70 = $1,750 USD
- Storage: 15 × $21.25 = $319 USD
- Shipping: 2,500 × $4.75 = $11,875 USD
- Receivings: $180 USD
- Returns: $900 USD
- TOTAL: $15,024 USD/month
Cost per order: $15,024 / 2,500 = $6.01 USD
Percentage breakdown:
- Shipping: 79%
- Pick & pack: 12%
- Returns: 6%
- Storage: 2%
- Receivings: 1%
Insight: although pick fee dropped 30% ($1.00 → $0.70), cost per order only dropped 16% thanks to economies of scale in other components.
Key Evaluation Metrics
Logistics cost on sales (LCS): total fulfillment cost / monthly revenue
Healthy benchmark: 10-15% for profitable ecommerce. If you're at 20%+, there's margin or logistics efficiency problem.
Net cost per order (including returns): more real metric than "cost per shipped order"
Cost per item shipped: useful for comparing operations with different order complexity
% storage over total: if exceeds 15%, you probably have over-inventory or slow rotation problem
Scenario Simulation
Optimistic scenario:
- Favorable dimensional weight (dense product)
- 85% standard national destinations, 15% extended zone
- 8% returns
- Fuel surcharge 12%
Probable scenario:
- 30% shipments with dimensional weight higher than actual
- 75% standard destinations, 25% extended zone
- 12% returns
- Fuel surcharge 15%
Adverse scenario:
- 60% shipments penalized by dimensional weight
- 60% standard destinations, 40% extended zone
- 18% returns (size adjustment season)
- Fuel surcharge 19%
Cost difference: between optimistic and adverse scenario there can be 35-50% variation in total cost.
A Strategic Partner for Growth: Cubbo's Value vs Traditional Models
While evaluating Búho Logistics prices, consider a radically different approach: complete fulfillment with all-inclusive pricing.
Simplicity vs Multiple Components
Búho Logistics operates with separate components model:
- Tiered pick fee
- Storage per m²
- Variable carrier shipping
- Receivings per event
- Returns per processing
- Special services per unit
Cubbo offers all-inclusive model where cost per order includes:
- Storage
- Complete preparation
- Materials
- Shipping without surprise surcharges
- Returns management
- Technology and support
Advantage: project costs precisely from day one, without needing to model 6+ variable components.
Elimination of Dimensional Weight as Surprise
With traditional model: you discover later your "lightweight" product bills as heavy due to box dimensions.
With Cubbo: integrated pricing already contemplates packaging optimization and dimensional weight management, without billing surprises.
Technology Included Without Additional Fees
Cubbo includes complete platform:
- Robust WMS with total traceability
- Unlimited ecommerce platform integrations
- Open APIs for custom developments
- Advanced real-time reports
- Unlimited users without charges
Without need to pay for separate management software.
Speed as Competitive Advantage
Strategic Polanco location allows:
Guaranteed same-day in Mexico City: over 40% of national ecommerce concentrates in capital. Same-day delivery increases conversion 18-25%.
1.3 days national average: most orders deliver in 24-48 hours without need for costly express shipments.
Comparative example: shipment from peripheral location can take 3-5 days at $5.50 USD cost. From Polanco: 1-2 days at lower integrated total cost.
This efficiency illustrates why logistics companies in México City have become a strategic advantage for brands seeking faster national coverage.
Why Cubbo Offers the Best Value-Price Ratio in Mexico
Predictability vs Variability
Búho Logistics has variable components:
- Pick fee by tier (change when crossing threshold)
- Storage by occupied space
- Shipping by carrier and monthly surcharges
- Receivings by frequency
Cubbo offers known and stable cost per order, allowing:
- Precise budgets for marketing investment
- Reliable financial projections
- Expansion planning without uncertainty
This predictability has also proven critical for fulfillment in Mexico for fintech startups, where cost control and compliance are key growth drivers.
No Seasonal Surcharges
Cubbo operates without peak season surcharges:
- Price in Buen Fin = price in February
- No peak volume penalties
- Guaranteed capacity in critical seasons
Comparison: other models can have 20-30% surcharges in November-December.
Dedicated Account Manager Included
Each client has personal AM at no extra charge:
- Continuous cost optimization
- Strategic expansion advice
- Proactive opportunity identification
- Fast incident resolution
Quantifiable value: equals senior logistics manager ($2,750-3,750 USD monthly) included in fulfillment.
Linear Scalability
Cubbo scales proportionally:
- From 500 to 5,000 monthly orders without structure change
- No forced renegotiation
- Proven capacity to grow 300-400% without friction
Real example: cosmetics brand grew from 800 to 3,200 orders/month in 8 months. With traditional model would have required renegotiation and possible 3PL change. With Cubbo: same model, proportional cost, zero interruptions.
For brands operating hybrid or D2C models, direct sales fulfillment in Mexico enables consistent delivery times and cost efficiency across both online and offline channels, aligning perfectly with Cubbo’s integrated logistics approach.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much is Búho Logistics pick fee?
Pick fee varies by monthly volume:
- Up to 100 orders: $1.25 USD
- 101-500 orders: $1.00 USD
- 501-1,500 orders: $0.85 USD
- 1,501-5,000 orders: $0.70 USD
- Over 5,000: Enterprise plan (quote)
Important: pick fee is only part of total cost. Must add storage, shipping, returns and special services.
What does Búho Logistics pick fee include?
Pick fee covers order preparation (picking and packing), but you must validate if:
- Includes all order units or there's charge per additional item
- Materials are included or charged separately
- Covers multi-line orders without extra charge
Without this clarification, "price per order" can be misleading.
How much does storage cost with Búho Logistics?
According to published information, storage goes from $17.50 to $25 USD per m²/month.
Exact cost depends on:
- Product type
- Total volume stored
- Inventory rotation
- Required special services
How much does shipping cost with Búho Logistics?
National shipping range according to Búho is $3.75 to $9 USD depending on destination and format.
Variables determining cost:
- Zone (local, national, remote)
- Physical vs dimensional weight
- Service level
- Fuel surcharges
Does Búho Logistics offer trial period?
Yes, Búho offers 30 free days of fulfillment as risk-free trial to validate service.
Does Búho Logistics have service guarantees?
Yes, they communicate cost refund guarantee for errors attributable to them, reducing operational risk.
They also promise same-day ready orders when order enters.
What's the difference between Búho Logistics and Cubbo?
Búho Logistics:
- Volume-tiered pick fee ($0.70-1.25 USD)
- Separate components (storage, shipping, etc.)
- Storage $17.50-25 USD/m²
- Shipping $3.75-9 USD by destination
- 30 free trial days
- Location in Santa Catarina
Cubbo:
- All-inclusive model with known total price
- No separate variable components
- Predictable pricing without seasonal surcharges
- Technology 100% included
- Dedicated account manager included
- Same-day in Mexico City, 1.3 days national
- Strategic Polanco location
In predictability: Cubbo offers known fixed cost. Búho requires adding multiple components.
In speed: Cubbo guarantees same-day Mexico City. Búho depends on Monterrey location.
In technology: Cubbo includes complete platform. With traditional model there may be additional integration costs.
If your brand handles significant volume and seeks more than a system of separate components, Cubbo offers complete integrated fulfillment with transparent pricing, included technology, guaranteed speed and specialized support. Talk to a Cubbo specialist and discover how to simplify your logistics with the best value-price ratio in Mexico.
