How to choose a fulfillment partner in Europe: 8 questions to ask

Choosing the right fulfillment partner is an important step towards sustainable growth for your business. Moving stock between warehouses costs time and money, so it pays to ask the right questions before you sign. Below are the 8 questions we would ask any 3PL in Europe, including us, and what a good answer sounds like.

Why the choice matters more in Europe

Selling across the EU is not one market. Customers in Romania and Bulgaria still pay cash on delivery for a large share of orders, shoppers in Poland and Czechia expect a parcel locker, and in Germany fast home delivery is simply expected. An EU fulfillment partner that is strong in one country can be weak in the next. That is why "cheapest price per order" is a poor starting point. Start with how your customers buy, then check whether the partner can serve them.

8 questions to ask before you choose a 3PL in Europe

1. Where are your warehouses, and how fast do parcels reach my customers?

A good partner names the exact cities, not just "Central Europe", and gives real delivery times to your top three countries: numbers per route, not a map with arrows.

How we answer: BigArena has 8 warehouses in 7 countries: Plovdiv and Sofia (Bulgaria), Kostolné Kračany (Slovakia), Oradea (Romania), Šimanovci (Serbia) and Katerini (Greece) are running, Valencia (Spain) opens in December 2026 and Albania in early 2027. Every warehouse ships to the whole of Europe. From Slovakia, parcels reach customers in Slovakia, Czechia, Poland, Hungary and Slovenia in 1 working day.

2. Which couriers can my customers choose from?

Some customers want a parcel locker, others a home delivery, others a pickup point. If the 3PL works with one carrier only, you lose sales at checkout.

How we answer: we work with 40+ couriers across Europe, including GLS, DHL, DPD, InPost, Packeta, Speedy, Sameday and ACS. You add the couriers you want to your store, and the end customer picks the one they prefer.

3. Do you handle cash on delivery, and in which countries?

In Southeast and Central Europe, cash on delivery is still a large part of e-commerce. Check in which countries the partner collects COD, how the money is reconciled and how often it is paid out to you.

How we answer: we handle cash on delivery in 19 countries. More on the topic in our guide to cash on delivery in Europe.

4. What is the cut-off time for same-day packing?

"Fast shipping" means little without a cut-off time. Find out until what hour an order still leaves the warehouse the same day, and what happens on peak days like Black Friday.

How we answer: orders received by 14:00 are packed the same day.

5. How do you prove what went into a parcel?

Sooner or later a customer will say an item was missing. Without proof, you refund. What matters is the evidence the partner keeps for each order and how quickly you can get it.

How we answer: we record video of 96% of orders during packing. The camera starts when the order is scanned at the packing station, and every order passes through 3 people before the parcel is closed. See how it works on our video verification page.

6. How does my online store connect, and what does that cost?

Orders should flow into the warehouse automatically, and stock levels should flow back to your store. Ask which platforms are supported, who does the setup and whether it is charged.

How we answer: we connect Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, PrestaShop, OpenCart and custom stores via API. Integration of your online store is free.

7. What exactly is in the price?

Fulfillment pricing is never one number. A good offer lists every line item in writing: storage, pick and pack, packaging, courier rates, the COD fee, returns handling and the monthly fee. Then compare offers line by line on your real order profile, not on a single sample order.

8. Who will I talk to when something goes wrong?

A ticket system is fine for routine questions. When a big shipment arrives damaged or a courier loses parcels in peak season, you want a person who knows your account. The partner's track record matters too: how many clients, how many shipments, how many years.

How we answer: every client gets a personal account manager. Since 2019 we have handled more than 20 million shipments for 700+ client companies.

Red flags to watch for

• Delivery times given only as "2-5 days" for all of Europe, with no per-country numbers.
• One courier for every country, with no choice for the end customer.
• A price list that leaves out packaging, returns or the COD fee.
• No proof of packing when a customer complains.
• No named contact person, only a support inbox.

Frequently asked questions

Is it better to use one fulfillment partner for all of Europe or one per country?

For most online stores one partner with several warehouses is simpler: one contract, one panel, one invoice. A second partner makes sense only if you need a country your main partner does not cover well.

How long does it take to switch to a new 3PL?

It depends on the number of products and how fast stock can be moved. Ask the partner for a step-by-step plan with dates before you sign.

Do I need a company in every country I sell to?

Not necessarily. VAT and registration rules depend on the country and your sales volume, so check them with your accountant before you start selling there.