Overview

Bulk Orders enable customers to ship larger parcels weighing over 50 lbs from existing inventory at a Firstbase warehouse. While available for delivery to both residential and office locations, they are mostly commonly used for office shipments.

Bulk Orders differ from Standard Orders, which are used to ship equipment to individual employees, typically to residential addresses. They also differ from Inventory Orders, which involve purchasing new equipment from Firstbase. Bulk Order charges cover only shipping, packaging and warehouse labor, and do not apply to returns. 

Weight Classes & Fulfillment Times

Bulk orders are categorized into five weight classes:

• Standard: Shipments up to 50 lbs are not classified as bulk, and the Standard Order fee applies. To view the standard fulfillment times for each region, please refer to the Service Level Objectives (SLOs) section in the Firstbase Service Capabilities matrix.
• Weight class 0: The lightest bulk category, these shipments are handled via small parcel service, similar to Standard Orders. However, due to the larger volume of items requiring pick and pack, an additional 3 business days are needed for processing on top of the standard fulfillment time. For example, while the SLO for Standard Orders in the United States is 6 business days, Bulk Orders in Weight Class 0 may take up to 9 business days to fulfill.
• Weight classes 1-3: Ranging from 115 to 900 lbs, these shipments typically require palletized shipping via Less-Than-TruckLoad (LTL) services. Due to scheduling and longer transit times with LTL couriers, please allow 2-3 weeks for order fulfillment. Delivery times may vary depending on the destination. For a more precise ETA, contact support@firstbase.com.
• 900+: For orders exceeding 900 lbs, a custom quote is required. After submitting your order on the platform, we will send you a quote within 5 business days. Shipment scheduling will begin once the quote is approved.

Pricing

Bulk Order charges are calculated by multiplying the total weight of the shipment by the cost per pound for the corresponding weight class. As the weight class increases, the cost per pound decreases. Additionally, Bulk Orders incur a handling fee per item, which is multiplied by the total number of items in the shipment. This fee covers the warehouse labor charges for inbound processing, storage, picking, and packing each item. The handling fee per item remains the same across all weight classes.

Please refer to our Bulk Order Shipping & Handling rates for current prices. 

👉 Note:  Prices are updated monthly to reflect changes in gas prices, fuel surcharges, and other shipping and handling costs.

FAQ

How do I request Bulk Orders?

Bulk orders are submitted in the platform in the same way as Standard Orders. Go to the Orders and Returns page, click “Actions,” and choose “Place an order” from the dropdown. A popup will appear, prompting you to select the recipient. Choose either a person or office location from the dropdown, then click “Continue to product selection.” Add in-stock items to your cart, proceed to “Continue to Shipping,” and finally, click “Confirm and place order.” Firstbase will assign a weight class to your order based on its total weight, with the corresponding charges reflected on your monthly invoice. 

What if my Bulk Order contains a mix of in-stock and out-of-stock items?

If some items in your order are out of stock, the in-stock items will be fulfilled from the warehouse, while the out-of-stock items will be drop-shipped directly from the supplier to the recipient by our procurement team. Bulk order charges will only apply to the in-stock items shipped from the warehouse. The drop-shipped items will be billed at the agreed-upon equipment rates, with no additional freight charges.

How am I billed for Bulk Orders? Do my action discount rates apply? 

Bulk Orders are billed monthly and deducted from committed actions if available. Action discount rates don’t apply. 

How does Firstbase determine shipment weight?

Charges are based on estimated weights rather than actual measurements. For simplicity, Firstbase assigns a weight of 2 lbs to all Lightweight categories and 10 lbs to all Standard categories. A full list of weight class by product category is available here [needs link].