If you sell on a marketplace, one of the biggest decisions is who ships the order. Takealot offers fulfilment for sellers, where you send stock to their warehouse and they pick, pack and deliver. The alternative is to ship orders yourself. Neither is always better. The right answer depends on your products and your volumes.
Fees and rules change, so check Takealot’s current seller terms before you decide. The comparison below shows what to weigh up.
What fulfilment by the marketplace gives you
- Speed and reach. Marketplace-fulfilled products can show faster delivery, which many shoppers prefer.
- Less work. No picking, packing or courier booking for those orders.
- Trust. Shoppers know the marketplace’s delivery and returns process.
What it costs
- Fees. Expect a commission, a fulfilment fee per unit that depends on size and weight, and storage charges.
- Cash tied up. Your stock sits in someone else’s warehouse before it sells.
- Less control. You rely on their processes for stock handling, packaging and returns.
- Stock planning. Slow-moving stock can attract storage costs, so overstocking hurts.
What fulfilling yourself gives you
- Control over packaging, branding and inserts.
- Often a better margin on larger or heavier items.
- Flexibility to sell the same stock across several channels.
But you carry the workload, the courier relationships and the returns.
How to decide, product by product
For each product, work out the profit per order both ways:
- Selling price, minus commission.
- Minus either the marketplace fulfilment fee or your own pick, pack and courier cost.
- Minus your share of returns and storage.
Then compare. Fast-moving, small, light products often suit marketplace fulfilment. Bulky, low-margin or slow-moving products often work better shipped yourself.
A mixed approach is normal
Many brands fulfil their bestsellers through the marketplace and keep the rest at home. Test with a few products first, review the numbers after a month, and adjust.
If you’re planning your marketplace strategy, read our marketplace guide for South African brands.
