Frequently Asked Questions
RedSky Europe provides fulfilment and managed VAT services for online retailers selling in Europe. We help businesses grow by taking care of all their eCommerce order fulfilment and EU VAT management needs from our EU and UK fulfilment centres.
If you’ve been shipping orders yourself or have been using an outsourced shipping provider such as a 3PL or fulfillment service you will no doubt have many questions! We have compiled a list of the frequently asked questions. For specific questions, feel free to schedule a no-obligation, no sales talk chat with Jenna here.
The commonly asked questions.
- Who do you work with?
- Which eCommerce platforms do you connect with?
- Where are you located?
- Why is Ireland a great location for a fulfillment warehouse?
- What services do you offer?
- Do you offer flexible pricing plans that are tailored to my business needs?
- Do my products need barcodes?
- How long does it take for orders to be shipped after an order is received?
- I have products ready to ship. Can you help with my Crowdfunding shipping?
- Does RedSky Europe supply packaging?
- Can I have a coupon or insert placed in all or some of the orders?
- Do you charge a fixed monthly fulfillment fee?
- What are your storage prices?
- My product includes batteries, is this an issue?
- What is signature confirmation?
- Do you accept returns?
- What happens with returns?
- What is the receiving process?
- How long does it take for RedSky Europe to receive a shipment?
- Can I see my live inventory numbers?
- What does WMS mean?
- What is volumetric weight?
- What is VAT?
- What are sellers’ obligations?
- What VAT services do you offer?
- What are the advantages of the RedSky Europe VAT Platform?
Who do you work with?
- International eCommerce Retailers
- Promotional Marketing Agencies
- Corporate Employers
- Entrepreneurs & Starts-ups
- Crowdfunding Campaigners
- Subscription Box Suppliers
- Swag Suppliers
Which eCommerce websites do you integrate?
RedSky Europe integrates with all major eCommerce platforms including Amazon, Shopify, eBay, Magento, Squarespace, Wix, WooCommerce and many more.
Where are you located?
Our warehouse is located in Kilkenny, Ireland which is just an hour from Dublin.
Why is Ireland a good location for a fulfilment warehouse?
- Ireland offers barrier-free access to over 500 million consumers within Europe
- Ireland’s geographic position, easy transport links to Europe, the U.S. & Middle East; and membership of the E.U. and Eurozone, ensure easy access across the globe
- Ireland has a very stable Government and Economy (Economic growth of 8.3% in 2018).
- With the United Kingdom leaving the EU (Brexit), Ireland is the largest European country where English is its main language.
What services do you offer?
- Inventory management
- Inventory storage
- Order pick and pack
- Sourcing custom packaging & materials
- Promotional materials and presentation packaging
- Assembling kits for subscription boxes
- Returns processing
- VAT Management
We are constantly looking at ways in which we can offer more bespoke services that will help your business grow. Contact us today with your requirements and we will work with you to find the best solution for your business.
Do you offer flexible pricing plans that are be tailored to my business needs?
Yes, just fill out our enquiry form with your requirements and we will set up an introductory call to get an understanding of your specific requirement so that we can put together a proposal for you.
Do my products need barcodes?
Yes, all products entering the RedSky Europe live warehouse must be barcoded. This helps to ensure the accuracy of orders going out to customers as well as your inventory in the warehouse.
Typically manufacturers will supply barcodes with the products however, if not, we can provide them as a separate project before we receive your stock into the live warehouse.
How long does it take for products to be dispatched after receiving an order?
Orders received before 12:00 noon on business days will be dispatched that day. (Some exceptions apply such as pre-orders etc.)
I have products ready to ship, can you help with my Crowdfunding fulfilment?
Ideally you would contact us as early as possible during the crowdfunding process so that we can plan you fulfilment needs with you.
Does RedSky Europe supply packaging?
Yes, we offer standard packaging as part of your total fulfilment cost. Any packaging requirements outside of this may incur additional charges.
Can I have a coupon or insert placed in every parcel?
Yes, we can easily accommodate the insertion of coupons, cards, flyers, etc in the packing of your orders.
Do you charge a fixed monthly fulfilment fee?
No, our fulfilment fees are based on your storage requirements and the number of orders processed.
What are your storage prices?
Our storage prices vary depending on the number of SKU’s and the type of storage space required. Contact our team for more information.
My product includes batteries, is this an issue?
This depends on the type of battery. We will request your product MSD sheet to asses suitability.
What is signature confirmation?
Signature confirmation is when a signature is required in order for your package to be delivered. This service may incur an extra charge.
Please note that this may not be an option due to Covid-19 public health recommendations.
Do you accept returns?
Yes, we receive all returned goods to our warehouse in Ireland. Your customers can send returns to the following address:
Returns
RedSky Europe,
IDA Business Park,
Purcellsinch,
Dublin Road,
Kilkenny,
Ireland,
R95 X0RN
What happens with my customer returns?
We work with each client to manage their returns in the most cost-effective and efficient manner possible. Our returns service includes inspecting, repacking, re-barcoding and re-stocking returned products. With prior agreement, we can dispose of any products deemed unfit for re-sale. There is a per-item cost for this service.
What is the receiving process?
When your shipment arrives at the RedSky Europe warehouse, it goes through a comprehensive receiving process.
We provide all our clients with Guidelines to help ensure their goods are received quickly and efficiently. Please contact your Customer Success Representative if you need to request a copy or if you have any additional questions about our receiving process.
How long does it take to receive a shipment?
Receiving into live inventory timeframes:
• Individual non-palletized cartons: up to 5 working days from arrival
• Less than 6 pallets: up to 5 working days from arrival
• More than 6 pallets up to 7 working days from arrival
Can I see my inventory live?
Yes, our dashboard gives you real-time global inventory visibility so you are in control of your inventory. You can log into your dashboard at any time to check inventory levels, shipments status, parcel tracking info, and more.
What does WMS mean?
WMS stands for Warehouse Management System. Our WMS allows you to view and track your inventory at every point in the fulfilment process; from our receiving dock to your customer’s door.
What is volumetric weight?
Volumetric weight is a calculation used by carriers to determine the the cost of shipping a package when the space it takes on an aircraft is more costly then the weight. Volumetric weight can also referred to as “dim” or dimensional weight.
RedSky Europe applies volumetric weight calculations on orders that are using DHL’s Global Express service.
It is calculated as follows:
Length x Width x Height / 5000 = Volumetric weight in kilos rounded up to the nearest 0.5kg
What is VAT?
Similar to the U.S. sales tax, Value Added Tax is a tax charged on the sale of goods or services and is included in the price of most products and services that are used every day.
What are sellers’ obligations?
Once certain low-value country thresholds are breached, the Seller is required to maintain a VAT registration and to make periodic VAT returns and payments in these countries.
What VAT services do you offer?
We offer a fully managed range of VAT services allowing you to concentrate on growing your sales in Europe.
- Register your company for VAT
- Prepare and manage your VAT returns and payments
- Advise on all VAT related issues.
- Essentially all VAT related to VAT will be undertaken by the RedSky Europe
What are the advantages of using the RedSky Europe VAT Platform?
Given that there are 27 countries in the E.U. with differing requirements, this results in a significant level of complexity for U.S. Sellers. RedSky Europe can eliminate this complexity by:
- Managing all VAT related activities
- VAT processing for all countries
- Retention of statutory information and management of any Tax Authority audits.
All your documentation relating to VAT will be retained by RedSky Europe and i available for inspection at any time.
Looking for a trusted partner?
Reduce your shipping, returns and VAT headaches throughout Europe with a dedicated team experienced with global brands, big and small. We’re here to answer questions and give you options.
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