Blog

The SHIPMAX blog.

Practical, opinionated notes on fulfilment, shipping and scaling, from the team behind the Lead Exchange.

A 'Which? returns investigation' graphic showing a shocked man with an exploding-head effect, next to a parcel labelled 'Returns', a laptop showing 'Easy Returns', and a printed return label.

17 September 2026 returnsreverse logistics

Amazon refunds in two days. Other big retailers take up to twelve. The gap is usually the warehouse.

Which?'s mystery-shopping investigation found major UK retailers breaking refund law. The pattern behind it isn't dishonesty, it's a returns process that was never checked after go-live.

"NEW EU PARCEL RULES START NOV 1st" text over a parcel with a barcode label and an EU map background.

14 September 2026 EU customscustoms

The New EU Customs Rule That's Actually a Product Data Problem

From 1 November 2026, every B2C parcel into the EU needs three product identifiers per line item, two of them mandatory. Here's what's changing, why it's a data problem, and what to fix before the deadline.

"Searching for 3PL? Check this first!" text next to a checklist covering data & reporting, space & capacity, pricing & fees, invoicing & transparency, and returns & reverse logistics.

9 September 2026 3PL selectionfulfilment onboarding

Searching for a 3PL? Check This First!

The 3PL search doesn't usually stall because 3PLs are hard to find. It stalls because brands can't answer basic questions about their own operation. Here's what to have ready.

"The Ultimate Guide to WMS in 2026" graphic showing a barcode scanner, a warehouse, and a laptop displaying a WMS dashboard with inventory, orders, shipments and accuracy stats.

2 September 2026 WMSwarehouse management system

The Ultimate Guide to Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) in 2026

What a WMS actually does, the six types on the market in 2026, a 10-step framework for choosing one, and a full terminology glossary. Updated for the AI and robotics shift reshaping the category.

"UK to EU E-Commerce: Basics & Pro Tips 2026" text over a Union Jack and EU flag.

2 September 2026 UK to EU ecommercecustoms

UK to EU E-commerce: Basics & Pro Tips for 2026

What UK sellers shipping to the EU need to know in 2026: customs basics, INCOTERMS, IOSS, and the new €3 duty that replaced the €150 de minimis threshold from July 2026.

A parcel moving from an Origin warehouse to a Destination warehouse through a row of go/no-go checkpoint gates, illustrating the staged gates in a 3PL switch.

1 September 2026 3PL switchingfulfilment migration

How to Switch 3PL Without Disrupting Your Customers

You've been putting off switching 3PLs because it sounds like the risky move. Here's the staged process that makes it boring, and the exact reasons brands stall that are worth checking against your own excuses.