Marketplace fees in Canada: compare the real transaction, not one percentage

Start with the total transaction

A marketplace can have a low headline selling fee and still cost more after payment processing, shipping subsidies, currency conversion or promoted-listing spend. Compare the net amount that lands in your pocket.

The fee checklist

• Marketplace selling/final-value fee
• Payment processing fee, if separate
• Shipping label or shipping subsidy cost
• Currency-conversion spread or foreign transaction costs
• Promoted listing or advertising spend
• Taxes charged on platform fees where applicable
• Return/refund exposure and non-refundable fee components

Why this guide avoids a giant percentage table

Marketplace fees change too often for a static chart to stay trustworthy. A stale 2024 fee table can cost a seller real money in 2026. Instead, this page gives you the model: pull the current official fee policy for each marketplace and calculate the same sample sale through each one.

A simple comparison example

Choose a realistic item—say a $100 sale—then run the platform’s current fee formula, expected shipping and any currency costs. Repeat at $25 and $300. Some marketplaces are more attractive at one price point than another.

Price crosslisted items with fees in mind

There is no rule saying a crosslisted item must have the same price everywhere. If one channel has materially higher transaction costs or shipping expectations, adjust the destination price before you post.