Why We Charge a Per-Carton Rate – Even When Almost the Whole Pallet Is Picked
At Amsterdam Warehouse Company (AWC), we apply a fixed rate for full pallet picks.
Naturally, questions arise when a pallet location is nearly full — say 75% or even 99% — but the entire location is picked and we charge per carton instead of applying
1. The Location Is Handled as a Single Pick Task
When all cartons from a pallet location are requested, we treat it as one pick task — regardless of whether it’s a full or partial pallet. The warehouse operator doesn’t make a selection; the location is cleared entirely. That’s a single pick operation, but if the pallet is not officially full, we apply a per-carton rate.
2. Per-Carton Picking Is Often Cheaper for Small Volumes
If only part of the pallet is picked — for example, 20 cartons or fewer — we use per-carton pricing, which is often more cost-effective for the customer. That option remains available as long as not all cartons from a location are requested. Once the entire location is picked, the handling changes — and so does the pricing logic.
3. Open Pallets Require More Handling
Open pallets demand more effort. Our team must check what’s left, recount, and in some cases re-stack or rewrap cartons. This takes more time and attention than a sealed full pallet. That extra effort is priced into our per-carton model, not into the flat pallet rate.
4. Warehouse Efficiency and Flow Depend on Clarity
Full pallet picks are designed for speed and scale. A sealed pallet can be scanned and moved with minimal handling. Per-carton picks — even for 35 or 40 cartons — slow things down, require additional scanning and checking, and increase the risk of errors. That operational difference affects cost, and our pricing reflects that.
5. What Counts as a ‘Full Pallet’ Depends on Article Settings
Whether a pallet is ‘full’ isn’t based on how it looks, but on how the product is defined in our system. One SKU may be considered full at 60 cartons, another at 100 — depending on the article setup and agreed logistics parameters.
To avoid confusion or discussion about whether a pallet is 90% or 95% full, we draw a clear line: unless the pallet is sealed and officially defined as full in our WMS, we charge by carton. This ensures fairness and consistency across all orders.