The Buyer Fee Explained
Sellers keep 100% of the listing price, so they can list lower. Buyers pay a small, transparent platform contribution at checkout.
How the Fee Model Works
On most marketplaces, platforms take 12 to 20% from sellers on every sale, and sellers often raise prices to cover that cut. Shufflebuy works differently: sellers keep 100% of their listing price, and buyers pay a small, transparent fee at checkout. The buyer fee funds the platform instead of taking a cut from seller earnings.
Why zero seller fees help buyers
On most marketplaces, platforms take 12 to 20% from sellers. Sellers often raise the listed price to cover that cut. On Shufflebuy, sellers price to what they want to earn. The platform contribution is separate and shown at checkout.
| Other marketplace (example) | Shufflebuy | |
|---|---|---|
| Seller wants to earn | $100 | $100 |
| Platform cut from seller | 12-20% | $0 |
| Listed price | ~$114-$125 | $100 |
| Buyer fee: payment processing (Stripe) | Hidden in listed price | 2.9% + $0.30 |
| Buyer fee: kept by Shufflebuy | Hidden in listed price | ~4% of item price |
| Buyer pays | ~$114-$125 | ~$108 (example) |
Other marketplace figures assume a seller prices to a $100 target net with a 12 to 20% platform cut (listed price ~$114-$125). Shufflebuy assumes the seller passes that saving into a lower listed price. Stripe is shown as 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction (Stripe's standard US pricing); the dollar amount is computed on this example. Shufflebuy fee percentages come from live Firestore config.
What the Buyer Fee Covers
The buyer fee charged at checkout funds everything that keeps Shufflebuy safe and running. Sellers are not charged. The buyer fee is how the platform is supported:
Payment Processing
Secure credit card and payment processing costs, ensuring safe and reliable transactions.
Platform Operations
Infrastructure, hosting, and platform maintenance to keep Shufflebuy running smoothly.
Customer Support
24/7 support team available to help buyers and sellers with questions or issues.
Security & Fraud Protection
Transaction security, fraud detection, and dispute resolution to protect buyers and sellers.
Platform Development
Continuous improvements and new features for the Shufflebuy marketplace.
Transaction Guarantees
Buyer protection and secure escrow services so payment is held safely until the item is received.
How It Works
The buyer fee drops with increased prices. Bigger purchases pay a lower effective rate. That reduces buyer friction on higher value items while keeping the platform funded on smaller sales.
Price Calculator
See how a lower listing price plus a transparent platform contribution compares to paying a higher listed price elsewhere. Enter an item price to see the buyer's total at checkout and the seller's payout:
The Shufflebuy Difference
Traditional Platforms
Buyer pays a higher listed price. The platform cut is not shown as a line item. Platforms take 12 to 20% from sellers on every sale, and sellers often raise prices to cover that cut.
Shufflebuy
Buyer pays the listed price plus a platform contribution at checkout. The seller still receives the full listing price. On a $100 item, the seller receives $100.
Shufflebuy supports sellers by not taking from them. That lets sellers offer competitive prices, while buyers see exactly what they pay. On every Shufflebuy transaction, the seller receives their full asking price. The platform is funded by the buyer fee, not a cut from seller earnings.
Built to run close to break-even
Most of the buyer fee goes straight to costs. Payment processing through Stripe is taken out first, and the rest funds the platform work listed above. After those costs, only a small part of the fee stays with Shufflebuy to keep the company running.
The goal is a community that runs close to break-even, so people can trade goods and services at the lowest competitive prices. We would rather keep fees low and the marketplace healthy than take a large cut from every sale.
Common Questions
Have more questions? Check out our full FAQ page or contact us at support@shufflebuy.com