Marketplace fees can quietly erode margins if you don’t understand the full structure — referral fees, fulfillment fees, and advertising costs all stack up differently across platforms.
Amazon
Referral fees typically range 8–15% depending on category, plus FBA fulfillment fees if using Prime shipping, plus optional but often necessary advertising spend to stay visible.
Etsy
Lower listing fees but includes payment processing and a percentage transaction fee, plus optional Etsy Ads — generally more favorable for handmade/niche goods with less price competition.
eBay
Final value fees vary by category, generally competitive with Amazon but with less inherent buyer traffic for non-auction, fixed-price listings.
Flipkart
Commission structure varies significantly by category, generally comparable to Amazon within the Indian market, with its own advertising and fulfillment options.
The Real Comparison Isn’t Just the Fee Percentage
Factor in built-in traffic volume alongside the fee — a marketplace with a higher fee but far more organic buyer traffic can still produce a better net return than a cheaper platform with little built-in demand.
Selling across multiple marketplaces gets complex fast. Talk to UniqDigi about multi-marketplace management.
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