How to Compare Sendoso with Other B2B Direct Mail and Gifting Platforms for Revenue Teams

If you run a revenue team, you’ve probably heard about B2B gifting and direct mail platforms. Maybe you’re looking at Sendoso, or maybe one of its competitors keeps popping up in your inbox. The pitch is always the same: “Send a gift, book a meeting, close more deals.” But—does it really work? And how do you actually compare these platforms when most of them sound the same on the surface?

This guide is for sales, marketing, and revenue leaders who want to cut through the noise and pick a platform that’ll actually help hit quota (not just collect dust after onboarding). Here’s how to navigate the landscape and avoid costly mistakes.

Step 1: Get Clear on Why You Want a Gifting Platform (Really)

Don’t even start comparing features until you know what you’re actually trying to do. Most teams buy these platforms for one of a few reasons:

  • Outbound sales: Breaking through to cold prospects with physical mail or personalized gifts.
  • Marketing campaigns: Nurturing leads or warming up event attendees.
  • Customer success/renewals: Thank-yous, milestone gifts, or “just because” touches for clients.

Pro tip: If you can’t tie the platform directly to pipeline or retention, you’ll have a hard time justifying the spend six months from now. Be honest: Is this about real results, or just making your brand look cool?

Step 2: Make a Shortlist Based on What Actually Matters

There are a dozen-plus vendors in this space: Sendoso, Reachdesk, Alyce, Postal, PFL, and some smaller upstarts. Here’s what usually matters (and what doesn’t):

What Matters:

  • Integration with your CRM and sales tools
    If it doesn’t sync with Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach, or your system of record, it’s dead weight. Double-check the depth, not just the logo on their site.

  • Fulfillment and shipping options
    Do they handle global shipping? Can they send perishable items? Is local warehousing an option, or does everything ship from one location? This affects both speed and cost.

  • Gift catalog variety
    Are you stuck with branded mugs and Amazon cards, or can you send unique, personalized gifts? Some platforms let recipients pick; others don’t.

  • Control and compliance
    Can you set budgets, approval flows, and track spend by rep or campaign? If you’re in a regulated industry, do they offer proper compliance features?

  • Ease of use
    The best gifting strategy in the world fails if your team hates using the tool. Get a demo and actually click around.

What Doesn’t (Usually) Matter:

  • AI-powered recommendations
    Sounds cool, but in reality, most reps just want to send what works—not what an algorithm suggests.

  • “Personalization at scale” promises
    You can automate sending, but true personalization still takes some effort. If a platform promises magic here, be skeptical.

  • Number of integrations
    Quality over quantity. One deep CRM integration beats ten shallow ones.

Step 3: Demo Deeply—Don’t Just Listen to the Pitch

Every vendor will show you a slick deck and say they’re “the only all-in-one solution.” Ignore the fluff. When you demo, focus on:

  • Real workflows:
    Can your BDR actually send a coffee card in under two minutes? Can marketing set up a triggered send for webinar no-shows, or does it take IT support?

  • Admin experience:
    How easy is it to track what’s been sent, by whom, and why? Can you pull a report without a support ticket?

  • Recipient experience:
    What does the email or package look like? If the “unboxing” is a letdown, your brand takes a hit.

  • Support and SLAs:
    If something goes wrong (and it will), how fast do they fix it? Is there a real person to talk to, or just a help doc?

Pro tip: Ask to see the “ugly stuff.” For example, what happens if a gift is undeliverable or a prospect never claims it? The best platforms have a plan for this.

Step 4: Compare Pricing (But Don’t Get Fooled)

Pricing is all over the place: subscriptions, platform fees, per-send charges, warehouse fees, and sometimes even “success fees.” Here’s how to keep it straight:

  • Ask for an “all-in” quote:
    Make vendors show you total cost for your real use case—100 sends per month, X users, global shipping, etc.

  • Beware minimums and lock-ins:
    Some require annual commitments or minimum monthly spend. This can kill flexibility if you’re just testing the waters.

  • Hidden costs:
    Ask about storage fees for swag, rush shipping, or custom gifts. Sometimes the “low” base price is a mirage.

  • ROI math:
    Don’t accept vague promises of “increased engagement.” Ask for customer stories or data that match your own sales motion. If they can’t deliver, that’s telling.

Step 5: Check References and Customer Stories—Not Just Logos

Vendor websites are full of big brand logos—but that doesn’t mean those companies actually use the product in the way you plan to. Ask for:

  • Two or three customers in your industry or with similar team size
  • Stories from teams actually using the features you care about (not just the “lighthouse” account)
  • Honest feedback—what’s annoying, what’s great, what would they change?

If possible, find users who aren’t reference customers. LinkedIn is your friend here.

Step 6: Pilot Before You Commit

All the research in the world doesn’t beat a real-world test. Most platforms will let you run a pilot or proof of concept. Here’s how to make it count:

  • Set clear success criteria:
    Do you want booked meetings? Faster deal cycles? Better NPS from customers? Define it up front.

  • Go end-to-end:
    Don’t just send gifts to your own team—use it with real prospects or customers. The glitches always show up here.

  • Measure adoption:
    Are reps actually using it, or is it another “cool tool” gathering dust? If adoption is low in the pilot, it won’t magically improve after rollout.

Pro tip: Make the pilot small and focused. Better to learn fast and iterate than get stuck in a year-long contract with a platform nobody likes.

A Few Honest Takes on the Big Names

  • Sendoso: The most full-featured, with deep integrations and lots of warehouse options. Great for larger teams, but can be pricey and a bit overwhelming for small teams. Their support is pretty strong, and their global reach is a real plus if you have international prospects.

  • Alyce: Leans hard on “personal choice”—recipients pick their own gift. Nice touch for high-value targets, but catalog can feel a bit limited. Works best for ABM, less so for mass campaigns.

  • Reachdesk: Good for EMEA/global, slick interface, competitive on price. Doesn’t have as many physical warehousing options as Sendoso, but strong on digital and local experiences.

  • Postal: Focuses on events and experiences, with a smaller catalog but some fun local options. Lighter-weight feel, good for teams just dipping their toes.

  • PFL: Old-school direct mail roots, strong on print and custom packages, but less modern UX. Good if you want to send big, complex mailers—not just coffee cards.

Don’t obsess over “market leader” status. The best tool is the one your team will actually use and that fits your goals. Features you don’t need are just noise.

Keep It Simple—and Iterate

Picking a gifting platform shouldn’t feel like buying an ERP system. Get clear on your goals, test a couple of options with real users, and don’t believe everything in the sales deck. Most teams overcomplicate this—just start small, measure what matters, and tweak as you go.

A fancy tool is nice, but results are what count. And hey, if all else fails, there’s still nothing wrong with a handwritten note and a good cup of coffee.