In a major update to its pricing structure, Amazon India has started charging a Rs 5 marketplace fee for every customer order. The fee, inclusive of taxes, applies uniformly across all transactions, with a few category-specific exemptions.
Charge Applies to All Customers Including Prime
The new fee applies to all Amazon users, Prime members included. Regardless of how many items are in a single cart, the Rs 5 fee is charged once per transaction. It is designed to help Amazon maintain its wide seller network and infrastructure while offering transparent pricing.
Categories That Are Exempt
Not every order will include the fee. Exemptions apply to:
- Gift cards (digital and physical)
- Amazon Business, Bazaar, Amazon Now, and Amazon Fresh orders
- Digital services such as mobile recharges, bill payments, app purchases, subscriptions, and insurance
Also, if there is already a processing or exchange fee, the Rs 5 marketplace charge will not be shown separately for now.
Refund Policy Explained
The Rs 5 fee is refundable only in certain situations:
- Full order cancelled before shipping: Full refund of the fee
- Partial cancellation: Proportional refund
- Full rejection at delivery: Full refund
- Partial rejection: Partial refund
- Returns after delivery: No refund
This ensures the charge reflects only for completed transactions where marketplace services are fully rendered.
Amazon Follows Industry Trend
Amazon’s move mirrors actions by competitors like Flipkart (Rs 3 per order), Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart, who have already implemented similar fees. The fee will show up in invoices, confirmation emails, and order summaries to ensure full transparency for buyers.
As online shopping platforms seek new ways to manage operational costs, small per-order fees may become the norm across the e-commerce industry.
