Amazon and Flipkart revise seller fees ahead of festive season

E-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart have implemented revised fee and penalty structures for sellers in India ahead of the upcoming festive shopping season.

Amazon has transitioned its order cancellation fees for Easy Ship and Self Ship services from a category-specific referral charge to a percentage of the order value. Under this new system, fees are 10% for orders below Rs 10,000, 8% for orders between Rs 10,001 and Rs 50,000, 5% for orders between Rs 50,001 and Rs 1,00,000, and 2% for orders exceeding Rs 1,00,000. Additionally, Amazon is increasing closing fees across its Fulfilment Center, Easy Ship, and Seller Flex channels, citing rising fuel and logistics costs.

Flipkart has introduced a new per-order penalty structure for sellers who have been on the platform for at least three months. Penalties range from Rs 30 to Rs 90, depending on whether the seller fails to hand over an order by the agreed dispatch date or cancels an order after receiving it from a customer.

Sellers have expressed concerns regarding these changes, noting that the increased costs add financial pressure to small and medium enterprises. Some sellers also questioned the fairness of cancellation fees in instances where delays are caused by factors outside their control, such as pickup personnel failing to arrive.