Warehouse Basics Blog

15 years in business...who would've thunk it?

On July 1st...Warehouse Basics, Inc. will be celebrating their official 15th year since incorporating in Georgia.  My how time flys when you are having this much fun.

The last couple of years have been a little tougher as the economy continues to struggle along, however, with the team that continues to gut it out everyday, we are making a difference.

We have had some good years and we have had our share of some lean years, but I would not change a thing.  The learning experience of having some of the best customers you could imagine make getting up each day a pleasure.  Something to look forward to, and getting paid for what you love to to...it just doesn't get much better.

I want to take the time to say thank-you to all our customers...current, past, and hopefully future prospects.  Thanks to our employees, vendors, suppliers, and all who have contributed to the success of Warehouse Basics, Inc.   

In particular, I want to thank Ken Watkins, my partner, and most of all, the glue that has made the company what it is today.  I just recently returned from a two month sabbatical, along with a trip to Alaska.  To be able to do that after 42 years of working is nothing short of phenomenal, knowing the company was in good hands while I was off.  Thanks Ken.

With continuing our push to lower costs, increase revenues through crossdocking, fulfillment, warehousing and distribution, the future looks bright.  Our entire team is hitting on all cylinders, and we seem to have the right people on the bus in the right seats...Hold on, 25 years is just around the corner.

Need any help with warehousing, crossdocks, distribution, fulfillment, inventory management, or other supply chain or logistics solutions....give us a call @ 404 346-1848 or see more info at www.warehousebasics.com

Crossdocking in Atlanta, GA

Have you ever arrived at destination and were told the customer can't take the load?  Might be a couple of days before they will...who are you going to call?  You have another appointment for a pick-up at another location...full trailer, and now your stuck...Well are you really?

Nope...just call Warehouse Basics, Inc.  404 346-1848

We will unload your trailer, get you on your way, and re-deliver the freight to your customer when he can accept it.  This is a typical "Crossdock" situation.

Typical minimum charge is $150.00 for a palletized load up to 24 pallets for the unloading and the re-loading at our facility.  Re-delivery and transportation charges will be based on destination.

We will hold your freight up to 3 business days with no additional storage charges.

That is just over $3.00 per pallet handling in and the same out for handling an emergency and keeping the truck on-time to meet all your financial responsibilities. 

Flexibility, reliability, and overall ability to unload, load, provide all appropriate paperwork and communication to you and the customer is what we do.

Open Monday to Friday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm we can react to most needs.  Typical in and out of the building in under 2 hours...most of the time under one hour.  Help us help you solve this appointment problem.  Want to know more click here...http://mce_temp_url/

Carriers would all agree that when the wheels are not turning, revenue is not being generated.  The biggest problems facing carriers are distressed loads. Distressed loads can be as small as the driver missed their appointment to as big as the load shifted in transit and the consignee has refused to unload the load.  All of these delays create heart ache for dispatchers and drivers.  In this tough economy delays add up to costly expenses and loss in revenue.

*Refused by consignee                                         **Ready for delivery

The best solution for the dispatcher is that they have a reliable warehouse in the area that can correct the problem.  The warehouse has to be flexible and reliable offering a variety of labor and equipment to complete the work and keep the costs as low as possible.  A great warehouse will ask questions over the phone to determine what the problem is with the load.  If the problem is simply a missed appointment, a great warehouse will charge a fee to handle the product into their warehouse and offer transportation to redeliver the load at the newly scheduled time.  This is usually done as a cross dock service, which elimates the need to charge a storage fee. This service allows the company driver to be on their way to get the next load that is waiting on them.  If the problem is the load has shifted the great warehouse will ask questions over the phone to determine what will be involved.  Once the driver arrives, the warehouse will take pictures and email them to the dispatcher.  The warehouse will then estimate the charges to rework the shifted load and the time to complete so that the dispatcher can make a determination whether to keep the driver on the load or allow the local warehouse to deliver the load.  At the end of the day the warehouse partner you choose should provide a flexible, reliable solution.

When looking to price warehousing distribution services, there are 5 critical areas to keep in mind:

1. Storage...there are typically 2 types of storage pricing...the initial storage is the 1st time entry of the goods into the warehouse...this can be figured through split month if the product comes in on the 1st of the month thru the 15th you should expect to pay a full months rent...if however, the products arrive from the 16h thru the 31st of the month you should figure on paying half a month's rent.  Some companies might average the days or use a formula of 75% of the recurring monthly rent.

The second type of storage charges are called recurring, that is whatever number of the unit of measure, cases, pallets, sacks, totes, or whatever you agree on is billed for the quantity stored on the 1st day of each new month following the original entry. 

Things to watch out for are:  product arrives on the 14th of the month and goes out on the 1st day of the new month...you are paying 2 months rent for 16-17 days storage...timing is everything.  If you hold off one more day...you could save a half month of rent...or at least you have something to negotiate...

Handling charges...these charges cover the inbound and outbound handling of the goods.  Again, back to the unit of measure you agree on.  What are some items that impact the handling price....weight, size, stackability (bulk or rack storage) number of SKU's (stock keeping units) and number and complexity of the times the product wil need to be touched.  Whether product is handled by hand, pallet jack, or special forklift with specialized attachment.

Order entry / Admin costs:  Typically the cost associated with handling all the Bill-of-lading, to phone calls, faxes, emails, scans, and paper shuffling.  End of day reports, parcel and LTL shipments with tracing and tracking numbers all have an impact on the price.  Complexity, and information technology can either add to the price or minimize "fat fingering" info into the database.  Watch out for the pesky transaction fees, they can add up very quickly.  If you require web visibility of your inventory management, typically the costs will sometimes get buried in this line item.

Next are accessorial charges...this can be anything and everything from pallets, stretchwrap, banding, UPS charges, phone charges, labeling, inventory cycle counts, and the change in scope...you forgot to tell me about this charge...all-in-all, this becomes a catch-all.  Agree that these charges should only apply if agreed upon in advance.

Last but not least are "Contract terms and conditions"...Net payment terms, 30 day contracts, limits of liability, claim handling, insurance, and extra services.  Ask lots of questions...don't assume anything...

Most contract terms and conditions in the public and contract warehousing business are boilerplate agreements...but keep one eye on the fine print. 

If this still pretty confusing...give us a call @ 404 -346-1848 or email at warehousebasics@gmail.com

We will help you anyway we can...you are the customer...demand nothing but the best.