I’ve seen both “referral fees” and “final value fees” mentioned on different marketplaces, and I’m wondering if there’s any real difference between them or if it’s just different wording.
Topic summary
Referral fees and final value fees are essentially the same concept—both represent the commission a marketplace takes when an item sells.
Terminology by platform:
- Amazon uses “referral fee”
- eBay uses “final value fee”
Both are typically calculated as a percentage of the selling price, though specific rate structures vary by platform.
Additional considerations:
- eBay applies a per-order fixed fee on top of its percentage-based final value fee
- This fixed component may be treated separately in eBay’s fee structure
- Amazon does not use a similar fixed fee component
While the core concept is identical across marketplaces, sellers should review each platform’s specific fee calculation methods and additional charges.
They’re pretty much the same thing. Both “final value fees” and “referral fees” are the cut a marketplace takes when your item sells, basically. Some platforms refer to it as a referral fee (Amazon), some as the final value fee (eBay) but they are both taken as a percentage of the selling price.
Thanks for clarifying that! @SealSubs-Roan Just to confirm: doesn’t eBay also apply a ‘per-order fixed fee’ on top of the percentage-based final value fee? And if so, does that count as part of the “final value fee” category, or is it treated separately in their fee structure?
Also, I believe this fixed component isn’t something Amazon uses, right?
They’re essentially the same concept — a commission charged by the marketplace when an item sells.
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Referral fee is the term used by platforms like Amazon, based on the product’s sale price.
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Final value fee is eBay’s term for the same kind of charge.
Both represent the marketplace’s cut from each completed sale, though the calculation details and rate structures can vary slightly by platform.