High-Value Inventory: Counts, Segregation and Shipping Rules at a 3PL

When I worked with a warehouse to hold a batch of high-value items, I learned that “we’ll store it carefully” is not an answer. High-value inventory needs specifics in writing. Before I sign anything now, I ask about four things: where the goods sit, how often they get counted, who has to sign for them, and what the insurance actually covers.

Segregation comes first. I ask whether high-value stock goes in a caged area, a separate room, or just a designated shelf. A shelf with a label is not segregation. I want to know who has keys or codes, whether access is logged, and whether the camera coverage includes the door and the count bench. If the answer is vague, that tells me what the operation is really like.

Counting is the next question. A yearly cycle count is not enough for expensive goods. I ask for a monthly count on high-value SKUs, with the results emailed in a simple file I can reconcile against my own records. Some warehouses charge for extra counts, so I ask for that rate up front rather than discovering it later. When I needed to compare quotes side by side, I used compare 3PL pricing to see which extras were standard and which were add-ons.

Shipping rules matter as much as storage. For high-value orders, I want signature required on delivery, adult signature in some cases, and no release without one. I ask what happens when a carrier marks a package delivered but the customer says otherwise. That claim process needs a named person on the warehouse side, not a general support inbox.

Insurance is where I see the most gaps. The warehouse’s liability is often capped per pound or per box, which can be far below what the item is worth. Say a plan covers $50 per box and my item sells for $900. That gap is mine to solve, either with my own policy for stored goods or declared value on each shipment, and that costs extra. I always ask them to send the coverage limits in writing and to confirm what is excluded. The provider’s own current terms are the only version that counts, so I read those documents rather than relying on a sales call.

None of this is hostile. Good warehouses answer these questions quickly because they already run this way. The ones that get defensive are usually telling me something useful.

— Mike Carter