Melonn pricing is not published in a standard accessible rate card. On platforms like GetApp and Capterra, Melonn appears as "no prices" or "no information from provider", indicating they quote case by case according to each brand's needs.
If you're searching for information about how much Melonn costs, you probably need to outsource your fulfillment, optimize logistics costs, or scale your ecommerce operation without investing in your own infrastructure. The reality is that understanding a Melonn fulfillment quote requires going far beyond comparing "price per order."
Ecommerce brands handling considerable order volume need to understand exactly what components make up the cost, which are variable, how dimensional weight impacts, and what happens with returns, multi-warehouse, and peak seasons.
In this article we break down the 10 main components of Melonn pricing, how to calculate your real monthly cost, what questions to ask for comparable quotes, and why growing brands are choosing alternatives with completely transparent and predictable pricing like Cubbo.
The 10 Main Components of Melonn Pricing
When you request a quote from Melonn, pricing breaks down into multiple components that charge different aspects of the logistics operation. Understanding each one allows you to project real costs and avoid surprises.
1. Technology Platform Fee
The monthly platform fee covers access to Melonn's technology: inventory management system, integrations with sales channels (Shopify, Mercado Libre, etc.) and any marketplace, users, reporting and dashboards.
With Melonn: this fee is typically marked as "TBD according to needs and monthly orders" in reference documents, meaning it varies according to your operation's volume and complexity.
What to ask: Is the platform fee fixed or scales with volume? Is there limit on users or integrations? What functionalities are included vs additional modules?
If you sell through marketplaces that require formal onboarding, confirm whether the platform supports workflows tied to being a registered merchant so listings, payouts, and compliance events remain synchronized across channels.
2. Storage and Inventory
Storage is typically charged per cubic meter (m³) occupied monthly, and may include surcharges for inventory age when stock remains without rotating beyond certain period.
With Melonn: reference documents show rates like $4.95 USD/month per 0.25 m³ with rotation under 6 months, with progressive surcharges for 6-9 month, 9-12 month, and 12+ month inventory according to item size.
Factors impacting cost: slow-moving products generate more cost. An SKU remaining 8 months can cost double compared to one rotating in 45 days. Additionally, item size (small, medium, large) affects the age surcharge.
Hidden risk: if you launch seasonal collection and don't liquidate on time, old inventory surcharges can spike your storage costs 50-100% without your sales volume changing.
3. Inbound Receiving
Receiving includes unloading, counting, inspection, system placement and initial storage. This cost can be free under specific conditions (standard receiving in schedule) or charged per unit, per box or per hour if complex.
With Melonn: the exact receiving charge structure should be confirmed in quote, especially for urgent receiving, merchandise without appointment, or products requiring detailed inspection.
Common additional costs: special labeling, repackaging merchandise arriving in poor condition, out-of-hours receiving, fragile products requiring special handling.
4. Order Preparation (Picking and Packing)
Order preparation or fulfillment is one of the most significant components. Melonn structures this cost by number of pieces in the order, with different rates according to item quantity.
Typical structure (according to Mexico 2024 reference documents):
- 1st piece: $0.93 USD
- Additional piece: $0.30 USD
- First 3 pieces: $1.18 USD with additional $0.28 USD
- First 5 pieces: $1.43 USD
- First 10 pieces: $1.78 USD
Real example: a 1-item order costs $0.93, a 3-item order costs $1.18, a 7-item order costs approximately $1.73 ($1.43 + $0.30 for 2 additional after first 5).
Packaging surcharges: if you use own packaging (branded bag, box) there may be additional surcharge vs using standard 3PL packaging.
5. National Transport and Shipping
Shipping cost depends on weight (actual vs dimensional), destination zone and service level (standard, next day, same day). Melonn offers options with national carriers and premium carriers like FedEx and DHL.
Critical dimensional weight: billed weight is the greater between actual weight and dimensional weight, calculated as: (length × width × height in cm) / 5,000
Devastating example: a product weighing 600 grams but packed in 40×30×20 cm box has dimensional weight of 4.8 kg (36,000 cm³ / 5,000). You're charged as if it were 5 kg package even though content weighs less than 1 kg.
Zone rates: cost varies significantly between local shipping (same city as distribution center), standard national and extended zone (remote areas). Extended zones can have 30-50% surcharge over base rate.
6. Multi-Warehouse and Split Shipments
Melonn operates multiple distribution centers in cities like Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. This has direct cost implications.
Potential advantage: bringing inventory closer to demand zones reduces last-mile times and cost.
Critical operational risk: if an order includes SKUs stored in different centers, split shipment can be generated (split order), where a single order results in two separate shipments, effectively doubling shipping and fulfillment cost.
Real example: customer orders 2 products, one is in Mexico City and another in Guadalajara. Result: 2 labels, 2 fulfillments, 2 last-mile costs. The "order" you projected at $6 logistics cost ends up costing $11.
What to validate: inventory allocation rules, how they minimize split shipments, historical reports of split orders according to your catalog.
7. Returns and Reverse Logistics
Returns management includes return shipping, receiving, inspection (unpacking), classification and re-entry into available inventory or destruction.
With Melonn: FAQ indicates that "unpacking" can be charged same as quoted fulfillment cost, meaning a return can cost as much as original shipment in manipulation terms.
Complete cost structure:
- Reverse shipping (rate by zone)
- Unpacking/inspection (equivalent to fulfillment)
- Repackaging if necessary
- Relocation in inventory
Real impact: a fashion brand with 15% returns can see that reverse logistics represents 25-30% of total fulfillment cost.
What to clarify: In what cases is unpacking cost waived? How are returned products classified (A, B, C, destruction)? How long to re-enter available stock?
8. Cash on Delivery (COD)
Cash on Delivery is relevant for brands offering this payment option. Melonn charges percentage commission with minimums for managing collection and money transfer.
Typical structure (according to reference documents): 4.5% of order value with $2.25 USD minimum for local shipments and different minimums for national shipments.
The minimum trap: if your average ticket is low, the minimum can represent much higher percentage than 4.5%.
Numerical example:
- COD order of $30: 4.5% = $1.35, applies $2.25 minimum → real cost 7.5%
- COD order of $60: 4.5% = $2.70 → real cost 4.5%
Monthly cost: a brand with 800 monthly orders and 30% COD (240 COD orders) can pay $540 USD/month in COD commission alone if each pays the minimum.
9. Value-Added Services
Special services include everything beyond storing and shipping: kitting, bundles, special labeling, quality control, serialization, gift packaging.
Common examples: assembling promotional kits, adding inserts or cards, repackaging to meet specific regulations, basic personalization.
With Melonn: these services are quoted separately according to complexity and volume. A special campaign requiring assembly of 3,000 kits will have specific quote based on time and materials.
What to define: cost per kit/bundle, if assembled on demand or pre-assembled, charges for special materials, setup times for campaigns.
10. SLA and Cut-Off Time
Service level (same day, next day, standard) and cut-off time (when order must be in to ship that day) directly impact operational cost.
Why it matters: guaranteeing orders received until 6pm ship same day requires extended shifts, picking prioritization, premium carrier pickup windows. All this costs.
Pricing difference: standard SLA (2pm cutoff, next day ship) can cost 20-30% less than aggressive SLA (6pm cutoff, same day ship in local zone).
What to request: separate quote for different SLAs, understand what percentage of your orders really need premium speed vs standard, model incremental cost.
What 3PL Fulfillment Pricing Is and How It's Structured
Fulfillment prices are not a simple flat rate. In e-commerce, they are an ecosystem of interconnected charges covering the entire chain from when your product arrives at warehouse until it's delivered to customer and returns are managed.
Why Melonn Doesn't Publish Public Rate Card
Melonn appears as "no prices" in software directories because each operation is unique. Factors that radically change cost:
Product profile: lightweight compact clothing vs bulky products vs fragile products vs cold chain.
Volume and pattern: 1,000 stable monthly orders vs operation with 300% seasonal peaks in Buen Fin.
Operational complexity: simple 1-SKU orders vs multi-channel with kitting and personalization.
Geography and distribution: concentrated sale in Mexico City vs uniform national distribution vs strong Northeast presence.
Service level: standard 3-5 day deliveries vs guaranteed next day vs same day in specific zones.
This is why Melonn prices (like any professional 3PL) are designed through detailed analysis of your specific operation.
Component Model vs Single Rate
Melonn uses component-based pricing: each element is charged separately. Storage + receiving + fulfillment + materials + shipping + returns + extras. This provides granular transparency but requires careful analysis to project total cost.
Advantage of component model: you can identify exactly where your biggest cost is and optimize. If 60% of cost is shipping due to dimensional weight, you know optimizing packaging will have more impact than negotiating 10 cents in fulfillment.
Disadvantage: complexity makes comparing between providers difficult without completely standardizing inputs.
Difference Between Quote and Real Cost
A recurring problem is that initial quotes are made with assumptions that don't reflect operational reality:
Quote assumption: 1.5 items average per order
Reality after 3 months: 2.3 items average (mix changed)
Quote assumption: 80% local shipments, 20% national
Reality: 55% local, 45% national (geographic customer distribution was different)
Result: real cost per order is 25% higher than initial projection.
Solution: make quote with real data from last 3-6 months, not optimistic averages. And request simulation with real order sample exported from your platform.
4 Current Challenges When Evaluating Fulfillment Prices in Mexico
Brands seeking to outsource fulfillment with Melonn or other 3PLs face specific challenges complicating real cost evaluation.
1. The Silent Multiplier: Dimensional Weight
Dimensional weight is the silent killer of cost projections. Brands believe their products "weigh little" and therefore shipping should be cheap, until they discover the formula.
Dimensional weight calculation: (length × width × height in cm) / 5,000 = dimensional weight in kg
Billed by the greater of: actual scale weight vs calculated dimensional weight.
Devastating example:
- Product: cosmetics set of 400 grams
- Final packaging: 35×25×18 cm
- Dimensional weight: (35×25×18) / 5,000 = 3.15 kg
- Billed weight: 3.15 kg (not 0.4 kg)
If your rate is $4 USD up to 1kg and $6 USD for 3-5kg, shipping cost just went up 50% for using oversized box.
What to optimize: reducing box 3 cm per side can change dimensional weight tier and generate 15-20% shipping savings. This is more impactful than negotiating 10 cents in platform fee.
2. Lack of Visibility in Split Shipments
With multi-warehouse, the risk of split shipments (split orders) can destroy cost projections.
The problem: your system assigns inventory to minimize cost, but if a customer orders 2 SKUs and one is in Mexico City and another in Monterrey, you need 2 shipments.
Real impact:
- Projected order: $6.50 total logistics cost
- Reality with split: $12 (two fulfillments + two shipments)
- Overage: 85% more than expected
What to validate: historical percentage of split shipments according to your catalog, inventory allocation rules, if there's explicit additional charge for split orders.
3. Hidden Costs in Peak Season
Many 3PLs have implicit or explicit peak season surcharges (Buen Fin, Hot Sale, Christmas) that don't appear in base quote.
Common forms of surcharge:
- Direct 15-25% surcharge at peak
- SLA change (what was next day becomes 3-5 days)
- Daily processing minimums (can't process more than X orders/day)
- Large client prioritization (your operation slows down)
What to ask specifically: Are there peak season surcharges? How are orders prioritized on 3X volume days? Do SLAs maintain or relax? What's real operational limit of orders/day they can process for my account?
4. Returns: The Invisible Cost That Doubles Fulfillment
Returns are where many brands lose money without realizing. It's not just return shipping, it's all reprocessing.
Complete cost of return:
- Reverse shipping: $3.50-6 USD by zone
- Unpacking/inspection: $0.90-1.25 USD (can equal fulfillment)
- Repackaging if necessary: $0.75-1.50 USD
- Relocation: included or minimum charge
- Total per return: $5-8.75 USD
Impact on fashion brand:
- 2,000 orders/month
- 18% returns (360 returns)
- Cost per return: $7 USD average
- Monthly returns cost: $2,520 USD
If your base fulfillment cost is $9,000 USD, returns add 28% additional. Your real cost is $11,520 USD, not the projected $9,000.
How to Calculate the Real Cost of Melonn (or Any 3PL)
Beyond numbers in the quote, calculating real monthly cost requires modeling all components with real operational data.
Minimum Data You Need for Precise Quote
To obtain a useful quote from Melonn, you need to provide:
Volume and pattern:
- Average monthly orders and distribution (valley, average, peak)
- Average lines per order (items per cart) with real distribution
- Seasonality: peak factors in Buen Fin, Hot Sale, key seasons
Product and packaging:
- Real average weight per SKU
- Final packaging dimensions (length × width × height)
- Number of active SKUs and rotation
- Fragile, special or products with particular requirements
Geography and service:
- % orders by zone (local, national, extended)
- Required SLA by zone (same day, next day, standard)
- Typical destinations (main cities)
Returns and COD:
- Historical return %
- % orders with cash on delivery
- Average ticket by payment type
Inbound and specials:
- Receiving frequency (weekly, biweekly, monthly)
- Inventory volume (estimated m³)
- Special services required (kitting, personalization, etc.)
Total Monthly Cost Formula
Total Monthly Cost = Platform Fee + Storage + Receiving + (Fulfillment per Order) + (Shipping per Order) + Returns + COD + Special Services
Detailed numerical example (illustrative numbers based on reference documents):
Operation: 2,500 orders/month, 2.2 items average, 150 m³ inventory, 12% returns, 25% COD.
Components:
Storage:
- 150 m³ / 0.25 = 600 positions
- 600 × $4.95 = $2,970 USD
Receiving:
- 2 receivings/month estimated
- $250 USD estimated
Fulfillment:
- 40% 1-item orders: 1,000 × $0.93 = $930
- 35% 2-3 item orders: 875 × $1.18 = $1,033
- 25% 4+ item orders: 625 × $1.60 average = $1,000
- Fulfillment subtotal: $2,963 USD
Shipping (60% local, 40% national mix):
- 1,500 local × $3.40 average = $5,100
- 1,000 national × $4.75 average = $4,750
- Shipping subtotal: $9,850 USD
Returns:
- 300 returns × $6.50 average = $1,950 USD
COD:
- 625 COD orders × $2.25 minimum = $1,406 USD
Platform fee: $400 USD estimated
MONTHLY TOTAL: $19,789 USD
Key Metrics for Comparison
Cost per order = $19,789 / 2,500 = $7.92 USD per order
Cost per unit sold = $19,789 / 5,500 units = $3.60 USD per unit
Fulfillment cost as % of sales: if your average ticket is $42.50, you sell $106,250 monthly. Fulfillment represents 18.6% of sales ($19,789 / $106,250).
Industry benchmark: healthy ecommerce fulfillment usually sits at 10-15% of sales. If you're at 18-20%, there's optimization opportunity.
Scenario Simulation: The Only Way to Validate
Don't stay with a single number. Request 3 complete scenarios:
Scenario 1: Valley month
- 1,500 orders
- Normal mix
- Standard SLAs
Scenario 2: Average month
- 2,500 orders
- Normal mix
- Normal SLAs
Scenario 3: Peak month (Buen Fin)
- 6,000 orders
- 70% concentrated in 10 days
- Demanding SLAs (guaranteed next day)
Compare cost per order in each scenario. If cost at peak rises 40% vs average due to seasonal surcharges, you need to know that BEFORE signing.
A Strategic Partner for Growth: Cubbo's Value vs Traditional Models
While evaluating Melonn prices and other 3PLs, consider a radically different approach: complete fulfillment with absolute transparency and predictable pricing from day one. This includes robust direct sales fulfillment in Mexico for brands scaling D2C without operational friction.
Cubbo doesn't just compete on price, it competes on total elimination of complexity and cost predictability allowing growing brands to scale without surprises.
Transparent Pricing Without Hidden Components
The fundamental difference with Cubbo is there aren't 15 cost lines to analyze, negotiate and project. Pricing is clear all-inclusive from first conversation.
No dimensional weight surprise: rates already contemplate real distribution of weights and dimensions. No subsequent adjustment that doubles your shipping cost.
No split shipments: inventory strategy minimizes split orders, and when they occur due to real exceptions, there's no surprise additional charge.
No peak season surcharges: pricing maintains in Buen Fin, Hot Sale and Christmas. Infrastructure is sized for peaks without degrading service or increasing costs.
Real example: an electronics brand projected growing from 1,800 to 5,500 monthly orders in 8 months. With Cubbo they knew exact cost per order at each stage, allowing precise financial planning for marketing investment and inventory expansion.
Technology 100% Included Without Additional Fees
Cubbo includes complete platform without charges per users, integrations or functionality:
Unified panel: total visibility of inventories, orders, shipments, real-time metrics.
Unlimited native integrations: Shopify, Mercado Libre, WooCommerce, VTEX, Amazon, without limit or charge per additional platform.
Open APIs: for custom integrations with ERPs or internal systems, complete documentation.
Advanced reports: performance analytics, rotation speed, zone analysis, all included.
Direct comparison: while other 3PLs charge $250-750 USD monthly for platform or limit users, Cubbo includes everything without restrictions — including specialized workflows for sectors such as fullfillment in Mexico for fintech.
All-Inclusive Model That Eliminates Uncertainty
Cubbo structures pricing as comprehensive rate including:
- Storage needed to fulfill orders
- Professional picking and packing with 99.5% accuracy
- Packaging materials
- Shipping with best rates by destination
- Complete returns management
Projection advantage: a single number tells you how much it costs to deliver an order. You don't need Excel sheet with 12 formulas to calculate monthly cost.
No abusive minimums: while some 3PLs charge minimums penalizing valley months, Cubbo structures reasonable minimums aligned with real operation of growing brands.
Specialized Human Support Included
Each Cubbo client has dedicated account manager at no additional charge:
Deep business knowledge: your AM knows your products, seasonality, challenges and works proactively on solutions.
Continuous optimization: you don't wait for problems. AM identifies improvements, adjusts processes, optimizes costs month to month.
Strategic advice: support in launches, campaigns, channel expansion, growth projections.
Multi-channel attention: phone, WhatsApp, email with fast responses and real resolution.
Quantifiable value: equals having senior logistics manager ($2,500+ USD monthly) included in your fulfillment rate.
Why Cubbo Offers the Best Value-Price Ratio in Mexico
Comparing Melonn prices vs Cubbo isn't just numbers, it's evaluating total value and predictability of your logistics investment.
Predictable Costs Enabling Real Planning
Cubbo operates with all-inclusive pricing where cost per order is known and stable. There are no:
- Dimensional weight adjustments afterward (already contemplated in rate)
- Extended zone surprise surcharges (zones are included)
- Additional peak season fees (pricing maintains)
- Split shipments doubling cost (inventory strategy minimizes)
- Variable COD charges with minimums (different model)
Result: the cost you project in January is what you pay in November (Buen Fin included). This eliminates variability destroying budgets.
Comparative example: a beauty brand with 3,200 monthly orders projected $8.25 USD per order with traditional model. Real cost ended at $10.90 USD due to combination of high dimensional weight, non-contemplated extended zone and 20% Buen Fin surcharge. With Cubbo, projection and reality were identical: constant $8.60 USD.
Strategic Infrastructure: Speed as Competitive Advantage
Cubbo's location in Polanco, Mexico City isn't accidental. It's deliberate strategy to maximize speed and minimize cost, especially for brands comparing logistics companies in México City:
Guaranteed same-day in Mexico City: over 40% of national ecommerce concentrates in the capital. Delivering same day generates more conversion and repurchase.
1.3 days national average: with well-located inventory, most orders are delivered in 24-48 hours without costly express shipments.
Practical elimination of extended zone: being in nerve center reduces percentage of shipments falling into remote zone premium rates.
Real comparison: an order from industrial zone warehouse can cost $5.75 USD shipping with 4-6 days delivery. Same order from Polanco costs $3.90 USD with 1-2 days delivery.
365-Day Operation Without Service Degradation
Cubbo operates every day of the year including weekends and holidays:
Processes campaigns without interruptions: launch Friday promotion, orders are processed Saturday and Sunday.
No degradation at peaks: infrastructure and team are sized to handle 3X volumes without affecting SLAs or quality.
Real example: a supplement brand ran Black Friday campaign Friday 29th. With 24/7 operation, processed and shipped 1,800 orders during weekend, delivering Monday-Tuesday. With traditional operator not working weekends, those orders would have delayed until Wednesday-Thursday.
Linear Scalability Without Structure Changes
Cubbo pricing scales linearly: if you go from 2,000 to 6,000 monthly orders, cost per order maintains or improves slightly through economies of scale.
There are no:
- Pricing tier changes raising rates
- Additional fees for high volume
- Need to renegotiate contract
- Penalties for accelerated growth
No seasonal peak surcharges: cost in Buen Fin is same as February. Operational capacity is ready for peaks.
Real example: a toy brand grew 340% in November-December (from 900 to 3,000 orders/month). With traditional 3PL faced 25% peak season surcharge plus SLA degradation (2-day deliveries became 5-7 days). With Cubbo maintained same cost per order and 1-2 day SLAs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to request a price quote from Melonn?
To obtain Melonn prices, the standard process is contacting through their website or commercial team. There's no downloadable public rate card.
Typical process:
- Initial contact form
- Discovery call to understand needs
- Request for detailed operational information
- Analysis and proposal preparation
- Formal quote presentation
- Negotiation and adjustments
- Contract signature and onboarding
Estimated time: 2-4 weeks from initial contact to final quote.
Key tip: have complete information prepared (volume, items/order, weights, dimensions, destinations, seasonality, returns, COD) to accelerate process and obtain precise quote instead of generic numbers.
What are typical Melonn price ranges in Mexico?
Based on 2024 reference documents (which should be validated with current quote), some orientative ranges:
Storage: $4.95 USD/month per 0.25 m³ with rotation < 6 months
Fulfillment:
- 1 item: $0.93 USD
- 2-3 items: $1.18-1.48 USD
- 5+ items: $1.43-2.00 USD
Local shipping (≤1 kg): $3.40 USD approximate
COD: 4.5% with $2.25 USD local minimums
Important: these are illustrative ranges from unofficial documents. Your real pricing will depend on volume, complexity, location and negotiation. Always request personalized quote.
What hidden costs typically appear with Melonn?
The most common non-evident costs in fulfillment:
Dimensional weight: lightweight but bulky products are charged for space occupied, not real weight. Can double shipping cost.
Split shipments: orders requiring shipment from multiple centers generate double shipping and fulfillment cost.
Slow inventory surcharges: products remaining 6+ months without rotating generate progressive storage overcharges.
COD minimums: the $2.25 minimum can represent 7-10% of ticket on low-value products vs 4.5% nominal.
Returns unpacking: can cost equal to original fulfillment, effectively doubling handling cost.
Extended zones: 30-50% surcharges for remote destinations not appearing in base table.
Own packaging: surcharges for using custom boxes or bags vs standard packaging.
Special services: kitting, personalization, additional quality control are quoted separately.
How does dimensional weight affect Melonn prices?
Dimensional weight is critical factor that can radically change shipping cost.
Formula: (length × width × height in cm) / 5,000 = dimensional weight in kg
Charged: the greater between actual weight and dimensional weight.
Impactful example:
- Product: decorative pillow of 350 grams
- Packaging: 45×35×22 cm
- Dimensional weight: (45×35×22) / 5,000 = 6.93 kg
- Billed as: 7 kg package (not 0.35 kg)
If rate up to 1 kg is $3.40 and 5-8 kg is $7.25, shipping cost just went up 113% due to bulky packaging.
How to optimize: reducing box dimensions through packaging redesign can change billing tier and generate 20-40% shipping savings. This saving typically exceeds any cents negotiation in fulfillment.
What happens if my operation grows rapidly with Melonn?
Accelerated growth can affect pricing and operation in different ways:
Positive potential:
- Better negotiating power due to higher volume
- Access to preferential pricing tiers
- Operational prioritization
Potential risks:
- If contract has minimums, these may adjust upward
- Need for multi-warehouse distribution complicating logistics
- Possible capacity limitations at unforeseen peaks
- Cost structure change when changing tier
What to validate before signing:
- How does pricing scale if I double or triple volume?
- Are there penalties for very accelerated growth?
- What maximum daily/monthly capacity do they guarantee?
- How is expansion to additional centers handled?
Comparison with Cubbo: pricing scales linearly without structure changes. Infrastructure ready to grow from 1,000 to 10,000 monthly orders without friction, reconfiguration or renegotiation.
What's the difference between Melonn and Cubbo pricing?
The fundamental differences in pricing approach:
Melonn:
- Personalized quote by multiple components
- Complex structure with 8-12 cost lines
- Dimensional weight can generate significant adjustments
- Multi-warehouse with split shipment risk
- Possible peak season surcharges
- Variable platform fee according to volume
Cubbo:
- All-inclusive model with clear comprehensive rate
- Predictable pricing including most components
- No surprise dimensional weight adjustments (already contemplated)
- Inventory strategy minimizing split shipments
- No peak season surcharges (constant pricing)
- Technology 100% included without additional fees
- Dedicated account manager at no extra charge
In complexity: Melonn requires detailed modeling of multiple variables to project real cost. Cubbo offers clear number from start.
In predictability: with Cubbo you know exactly cost per order from day one and it remains constant. With traditional models, real cost can vary 18-30% vs initial quote due to non-contemplated factors.
How do returns impact fulfillment prices?
Returns are critical component of total cost many brands underestimate:
Complete return cost (orientative example):
- Reverse shipping: $3.75-6.25 USD by zone
- Unpacking/inspection: $0.90-1.25 USD (can equal fulfillment per Melonn FAQ)
- Repackaging if necessary: $0.60-1.25 USD
- Administrative management: included or minimum
- Total: $5.25-8.75 USD per return
Impact by category:
Fashion/footwear (15-20% returns):
- 2,500 orders/month
- 400 returns
- Cost: $7 USD average per return
- Monthly returns cost: $2,800 USD
If your base fulfillment is $11,000 USD, returns add 25% additional. Real cost: $13,800 USD.
Electronics (5-8% returns):
- 2,500 orders/month
- 150 returns
- Monthly returns cost: $1,050 USD (10% additional)
With Cubbo: returns management is included in all-inclusive model with structured processes for inspection, classification and re-entry into available inventory in record time.
Does Melonn charge monthly minimums?
Monthly minimums are common 3PL practice to protect operation from volatility, but must be clearly defined in contract.
What to validate:
- Is there monthly billing minimum? How much?
- How is it calculated? (by orders, by billing, by m³)
- Is minimum fixed or scales with season?
- Is it credited against month's actual consumption?
- Is there penalty if not reached?
- What happens in foreseeable valley months (January, February)?
Real impact: a brand with strong seasonality (toys, back-to-school) can have valley months with 40% of average volume. If minimum is high and fixed, you pay for capacity you don't use.
Example: $4,000 USD monthly minimum. In March you process only $2,250 in real services. You pay $4,000 anyway. Effective cost per order skyrockets.
With Cubbo: reasonable minimums aligned with real operation of growing brands, with flexibility for foreseeable seasonality.
If your brand handles significant order volume and seeks more than comparing multiple variable cost lines, Cubbo offers complete logistics infrastructure with transparent pricing, included technology, specialized support and predictable costs. Talk to a Cubbo specialist and discover how to simplify your operation with the best value-price ratio in Mexico.
