E-commerce fulfilment in Cape Town — outsource the warehouse, keep the growth
JLog is a Cape Town 3PL (third-party logistics provider). We store your stock, pick and pack every order, and ship it the same day from our 1,200 m² warehouse in Woodstock. You keep selling. We handle everything from the shelf to your customer’s door.
At a glance
What does e-commerce fulfilment cost?
A monthly service fee from R2,000, plus R15 per order picked and packed and R5 for each extra item in that order. Courier is charged at carrier cost plus 10%. Orders in before 11:00 are dispatched the same day from our Woodstock warehouse. Prices include VAT; the estimator below works out your monthly cost.
How to get started
Four steps from your first question to your first order out the door. Most of the work is ours.
-
Check your price
Use the estimator or the rate card on this page. It takes a minute and uses our real rates.
-
Send us your details
Your platform, monthly orders and number of products. WhatsApp us or use the form. We reply within 4 business hours.
-
Send us your stock
Deliver to Unit 12C, 10 Railway Street, Woodstock. We count, barcode and shelve it. It is ready to sell within 48 hours of arrival.
-
Connect your store and start selling
Shopify, WooCommerce and Etsy connect for free, with more platforms coming soon. Orders in before 11am leave the same day, with 11 South African couriers or FedEx and DHL. Most stores are live within 5–7 working days.
Terms that don’t lock you in
Stored stock is insured by you, not by JLog.
No setup fees
You don’t pay to get started, and connecting your Shopify, WooCommerce or Etsy store is free.
No minimum volumes
A quiet month doesn’t cost you a penalty. Your service fee follows the number of orders you actually ship.
Month-to-month
Stay because it works, not because you signed. You can leave on 30 days’ notice.
And if we pick an order wrong, we fix it at our cost. Our picking error rate is under 1%.
What will fulfilment cost you?
Set your monthly orders, items per order and pallets. The estimate uses the same rates as our rate card below. No teaser prices.
Instant cost estimate
Estimates based on published VAT-inclusive rates. Every client's mix differs — your confirmed rate may vary.
What e-commerce fulfilment costs
Three parts: a monthly service fee, a pick-and-pack fee per order, and storage. All prices include VAT. No setup fees, no minimum order volumes, month-to-month with 30 days’ notice.
Monthly service fee, by orders per month
Your monthly service fee is set by your total orders that month. Storage rates drop for all your pallets once you pass 20 or 60 pallets.
Per order and storage
Receiving, returns and extras
Standard packing materials are included in the pick-and-pack fee. Shipments over 25 kg move to our wholesale rates.
Your stock and orders, in one login
From 1 October 2026, log in at my.jlog.co.za to see your stock levels, orders and tracking numbers without emailing anyone.
Built for brands of every size
Fashion and apparel
Sizes and colours kept straight, and returns checked back in.
Homeware and décor
Glass, ceramics and candles packed to arrive in one piece.
Beauty and wellness
Cosmetics, skincare and supplements, stored in our secure, ambient warehouse.
Books and prints
Packed flat and protected, so corners arrive sharp.
Art and collectibles
Handled by the team that has carried the Investec Cape Town Art Fair four years running.
Your branded packaging
Your boxes, tissue and inserts on every order, so the unboxing still feels like you.
We flag it. You decide.
We flag it
You hear the same day, with photos of the affected units.
We set it aside
Quarantined, so it can’t be picked for an order by mistake.
You decide
Return to supplier, relabel or dispose. We wait for your instruction.
You get a paper trail
The goods-in report records it, for your supplier or your insurer.
Free guide
12 Questions to Ask Any 3PL Before You Sign
An honest 2-page guide covering pricing transparency, lock-in clauses, stock accuracy, returns, customs, and the questions most merchants forget to ask until after they've signed.
- What the monthly fee actually includes — and what it doesn't
- The exit clause question every 3PL hopes you won't ask
- Who pays when a picking error costs you a customer
- How to tell if the "integration" is real or a spreadsheet in disguise
1What does 3PL fulfilment actually cost — in full?
Ask for a full written rate card before you commit. You need: the monthly service fee and what it buys, the per-pallet storage rate, the per-order pick and pack rate, the per-item rate for multi-line orders, intake fees on receiving new stock, and how courier charges are billed. If the provider cannot give you a written rate card within 24 hours, that is your answer.
2Is there a lock-in contract, and what does the exit look like?
Ask for the minimum term, the notice period to terminate, and what happens to your stock if you leave. Month-to-month with 30 days' notice is the standard for e-commerce 3PLs. Watch for auto-renewing annual contracts, termination fees, and stock release fees charged on exit.
3How are pricing changes notified and applied?
Rates change. Ask: how much notice will you receive before a rate increase, and can you exit if you disagree with the new rate? A provider that can change prices with 7 days' notice and no exit right is a pricing risk to your margin structure.
4What is your stock accuracy rate, and who pays when you get it wrong?
Industry standard for picking accuracy is above 99%. Ask what theirs is and how they measure it. Then ask who covers the cost of a wrong pick: the replacement unit, the reshipping cost, and any customer refund. A 3PL that fixes mistakes at their own cost is taking the standard seriously.
5How do you handle returns?
Ask for the full returns flow: how does a return arrive, who receives and inspects it, on what criteria is it restocked vs quarantined vs disposed of, and how quickly does it appear as available stock again? Ask whether returns handling is included in the pick and pack rate or billed separately per return.
6Do you handle imported stock — and can you clear customs too?
Most fulfilment houses receive stock after it clears customs. A 3PL that is also a SARS-licensed customs clearing agent can clear the import and move goods directly to shelf under one job number. This removes a handoff, speeds stock availability, and gives you one point of contact from port to customer.
7Which couriers do you integrate with, and who owns the carrier account?
If the 3PL puts all your shipments through their own carrier account, you cannot see or negotiate rates directly, and switching 3PLs means losing the carrier relationship. Ask whether you can bring your own carrier accounts, and whether you have visibility of actual courier charges line by line.
8Which e-commerce platforms do you actually integrate with right now?
Ask for a live integration list — not a roadmap. Shopify and WooCommerce are table stakes. Takealot, Etsy, and Amazon integrations are more selective. Ask how the integration works (API sync or manual CSV?), who sets it up, and what error-handling looks like when an order fails to sync.
9What stock reporting do I get, and how often?
At minimum you need daily stock-on-hand, weekly order dispatch confirmation, and monthly billing reconciliation. Ask whether reporting is automated or manual, and whether you can query stock levels yourself at any time without raising a ticket.
10What insurance covers my stock while it is in your warehouse?
Ask every 3PL, in writing, what insurance they hold and what it does and does not cover. At JLog, clients insure their own stock while it is stored with us. Ask also what the claims process looks like and who starts it.
11What does onboarding actually look like, and how long does it take?
A well-run 3PL can onboard a new merchant in 5-10 business days given complete stock and SKU data. Ask what you need to provide, who does the setup work, and what the go-live criteria are. If onboarding is described vaguely, expect delays and a rocky start.
12What happens to my stock if I need to leave?
Before you sign, understand the off-ramp. How much notice is required? Who pays the labour to pick and palletise your stock for collection? What is the timeline from notice to stock-out? A provider that makes exit difficult is using your stock as leverage.
Tell us about your store
Your platform, monthly orders and SKU count are enough to start. We reply within 4 business hours with a rate card for your volumes.
What to have ready
- Your platform and store link
- Roughly how many orders you ship a month
- How many products (SKUs) you sell
- Product sizes and weights, or a photo
- How you pack orders today
Don’t have it all? Send what you have and we’ll ask for the rest.
Get an e-commerce fulfilment quote
Shopify, WooCommerce, Takealot — we plug into your store and dispatch from Cape Town.
E-commerce fulfilment questions
How much does e-commerce fulfilment cost in Cape Town?
From R2,000 a month for up to 50 orders, plus R15 per order picked and packed and storage from R250 per pallet a month. Prices include VAT. Use the estimator on this page for your own numbers.
How do I get started?
Send us your platform, monthly orders and number of products on WhatsApp (+27 72 312 3034) or through the form on this page. We reply within 4 business hours. Once you’re set up, deliver your stock to our Woodstock warehouse. It is ready to sell within 48 hours of arrival.
Is there a long contract?
No. It’s month-to-month with 30 days’ notice.
Is there a minimum number of orders?
No. There are no minimum volumes and no setup fees. Your monthly service fee follows the orders you actually ship, starting at R2,000 for up to 50 orders.
What is your dispatch cut-off?
Orders in before 11am leave the same day.
Do you connect to my online store?
Yes — Shopify, WooCommerce and Etsy connections are free.
Do you ship orders outside South Africa?
Yes. Local orders go with 11 South African couriers, and international orders with FedEx and DHL. Courier is charged at the carrier’s rate plus 10%.
How do returns work?
Returned parcels come back to our Woodstock warehouse, where we check them back in. Each return costs R30 plus the courier cost plus 10%.
Can you pack orders in my own branded packaging?
Yes. We use your boxes, tissue and inserts on every order. If you’d rather use ours, standard packing materials are included in the pick-and-pack fee.
Where is your warehouse?
Our 1,200 m² warehouse is at Unit 12C, Nearby Industrial Park, 10 Railway Street, Woodstock, Cape Town.
What is a 3PL?
A 3PL (third-party logistics provider) stores your stock, picks and packs your orders and delivers them to your customers, so you don’t need your own warehouse or packing team. JLog is a 3PL in Woodstock, Cape Town.