FAQ
The questions that decide whether this works for you
These are the due-diligence questions serious buyers ask before moving stock into another company's building. Where the honest answer is "it depends on your situation", we say that instead of guessing.
Customs, tax and legal setup
Getting goods into Europe
Do you handle customs clearance and import into the EU?
Import into the EU is your responsibility as the importer, usually handled by your freight forwarder or customs agent. We receive goods that have already been cleared into free circulation. We will tell you exactly what delivery terms and documents our operation needs so that clearance is arranged correctly, and we can point you to what other clients do — but we do not act as your customs representative.
Do you handle VAT for me?
No. Your VAT position depends on how you sell, to whom, and from where, and can require registration in Germany or other member states. That is a matter for your tax adviser. What we do provide is an accurate description of what physically happens to your goods and where they are held, which is what an adviser needs to give you a correct answer.
Do I need a German legal entity to use Madyel?
No. You do not need to found a German company to store goods with us and have them fulfilled from Germany. Tax registration obligations are a separate question from company formation, and depend on your sales model — again, confirm that with a tax adviser rather than with us.
Who is the importer of record?
You are. Madyel is a fulfillment service provider handling your goods, not the owner or importer of them. This is set out in the contract so there is no ambiguity if a question arises later.
Risk and responsibility
Liability, insurance and disputes
What happens to my goods if there is a dispute between us?
Your goods remain your property throughout. The contract sets out notice periods, how stock is released and returned, and what happens to goods in the event of termination or a payment dispute, including any right of retention. Read that section before signing — it is the section that matters most, and we would rather you read it carefully than skim it.
How is liability for damage or loss handled?
Liability limits, the value covered, and what falls outside cover are set out per client in the contract. We put this in writing before goods ship rather than leaving it to be discovered after an incident. Where our cover has limits that matter for high-value stock, we tell you so you can insure the difference yourself.
Are my goods insured while stored with you?
Insurance arrangements are agreed per client and written into the contract, including the covered value. High-value or unusual stock may need cover you arrange yourself, and we will say so plainly during onboarding rather than after a loss.
What if goods arrive at your operation damaged?
Damage found at receiving is documented with photos and reported to you before the goods are booked into stock, so you can pursue a claim against the carrier or supplier while the evidence is fresh. Goods that fail your inspection criteria are not silently added to saleable inventory.
Commercials
Pricing and contracts
How is pricing structured?
Pricing is built from separate components rather than a single blended rate: storage (by the space your goods occupy over time), inbound handling (receiving and inspecting a delivery), pick and pack (per order and per line or item), shipping (carrier cost by destination and shipment type), and additional services such as serial number capture, special packaging or returns inspection. Separating them means you can see what is driven by stock sitting still and what is driven by orders moving.
What is the minimum contract length?
Contract length and notice periods are agreed per client and depend on the setup effort involved — a client needing custom inspection criteria and special packaging represents more upfront work than one shipping uniform cartons. We will state the term and the notice period in the offer rather than leaving you to find them in the small print.
Is there a minimum volume?
There is no minimum footprint you have to fill. There is a practical point below which the setup effort outweighs the benefit for both sides. If your volume sits below it, we will tell you rather than take you on and serve you badly.
What does onboarding involve and how long does it take?
Onboarding is a conversation about your products, volumes, inspection requirements and order transfer method, followed by written terms and an agreed arrival window for your first shipment. The timeline depends mostly on how quickly the setup questions get answered and when your freight can arrive — we will give you a realistic date rather than an optimistic one.
Operations
Day-to-day working
How do orders reach you?
Through a file or export process agreed at onboarding. Direct API integrations with e-commerce platforms and ERP systems are planned but are not live today, and we are not going to claim they are. If a live integration is a hard requirement for you right now, tell us up front.
Can I see my stock levels?
You receive stock and movement reporting on an agreed cadence. A self-service client portal with live inventory is on the roadmap and is not available yet — when it is, it will be announced here rather than implied in advance.
What countries do you ship to?
From the German operation we ship to Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Czechia, Austria, Italy and Spain, as parcels, cartons or pallets. If your main market is outside that list, tell us in the quote request and we will tell you honestly whether we can serve it well.
Can you handle heavy, oversized or hazardous goods?
Heavy and oversized goods are normal work for us and are handled as freight rather than parcels. Hazardous goods depend entirely on the classification — tell us the exact class in your enquiry, because for some classifications the correct answer is that we are not the right provider.
Do you have capacity right now?
Capacity is assigned per client, so the honest answer depends on when you ask and what volume you bring. Send us your numbers and we will tell you whether we can take it on and from when — a real date, not a placeholder.
Question not answered here?
Ask it directly. If the answer depends on your specific setup, we would rather tell you that than give you a generic reassurance.
Madyel operates flexible warehouse capacity in Germany that scales with each client. We do not publish capacity, throughput or customer figures we cannot substantiate.