Starting from April 1, 2025, Shopee Vietnam will comprehensively adjust commission rates for cross-border sellers, while canceling the original Free Shipping Subsidy (FSS) and switching to automatic coverage of free shipping services.
Image source: Internet
This adjustment involves multiple business models
The comprehensive commission rate for cross-border direct mail stores will be adjusted to 13.6% (including tax), making it the highest rate category in this adjustment.
Within the third-party warehouse system, independent stores and stores using the PFF (one store, multiple shipments) model will see the commission rate for 3PF orders increase by 0.5% to 6%; meanwhile, the commission rate for SLS orders in PFF stores will be uniformly increased by 7%.
Regarding the Nanning warehouse system, the commission rate for NNWH orders from independent stores and PFF stores will be uniformly raised to 10%, and SLS orders from PFF stores will also face a 7% rate increase.
It is worth noting that all store types involved in the adjustment will automatically enjoy free shipping services by default, and sellers no longer need to apply for or set up free shipping activities separately. This change means the platform is promoting service standardization by simplifying operational rules, but it also raises the operating cost threshold for sellers.
Image source: Internet
Direct impact and operational challenges for sellers
This commission adjustment will have a significant impact on sellers' profit margins and operational strategies. Taking third-party warehouse PFF stores as an example, the commission increase for 3PF orders (0.5%-6%) may directly squeeze the profits of low-margin products. For example, for a store with a monthly sales of $100,000, if the average commission increase reaches 3%, the monthly cost will increase by about $3,000, putting pressure on the cash flow of small and medium-sized sellers.
As for the Nanning warehouse system adjustment, the commission for NNWH orders is unified at 10%, combined with a 7% rate increase for SLS orders, which may force sellers to reassess their warehouse layout strategies. Sellers choosing the Nanning warehouse need to weigh logistics efficiency against commission costs, while those relying on third-party warehouses will have to deal with more complex rate fluctuations.
In addition, the 13.6% tax-inclusive commission rate for cross-border direct mail stores requires sellers to strengthen tax compliance management to avoid extra costs caused by financial and tax oversights.
For sellers who rely on free shipping activities to attract traffic, the automatic coverage of free shipping services seems to reduce operational complexity, but the actual cost of the commission increase may exceed the previous investment in free shipping subsidies, ultimately leading to a rise in overall costs.
Image source: Internet
Changes and potential impacts on the consumer side
From the consumer's perspective, the policy adjustment will bring a dual effect.
On the positive side, all stores will have default free shipping services, which can further enhance shopping convenience, especially for price-sensitive consumers. The potential risk is that sellers may pass on the cost by raising prices. According to industry experience, for every 1% increase in platform commission, about 60%-70% of sellers will choose to partially increase product prices, especially in highly standardized and competitive categories (such as 3C electronics, household goods).
In addition, the policy adjustment may indirectly affect the consumer experience. Some sellers, in order to control costs, may reduce investment in after-sales service, packaging quality, or logistics timeliness; while sellers with high customer unit prices may maintain competitiveness through value-added services (such as extended warranties, gifts). Consumers need to compare prices more rationally and pay attention to official promotional events to get the best discounts.
Image source: Internet
Conclusion
This commission policy adjustment by Shopee Vietnam marks the shift of the Southeast Asian e-commerce market from extensive expansion to refined operations. For sellers, this is both an opportunity to upgrade the supply chain and a challenge to eliminate inefficient capacity; for consumers, while enjoying convenience, they also need to cope with a possible wave of price increases.
In the future, whether a balance can be found between cost and experience will be the key for all parties to break through. It is recommended that sellers and consumers plan ahead and respond flexibly to the opportunities and risks under the new policy environment.