On Flipkart, the fixed fee is a per-order charge that usually depends on the item's price slab or category, while the collection fee is a charge for collecting payment that can vary by payment mode and order value. Neither is a universal figure: both come from your seller agreement and current rate card. Check each against your settlement report line by line, and confirm the latest terms with Flipkart.
What the two fees mean
Before paying you, Flipkart typically deducts several charges from each order: commission, shipping, fixed fee, collection fee, reverse shipping on returns, and GST on these fees. This article covers two of them.
- Fixed fee: a per-order (or per-unit) charge, usually linked to the selling price band or the category.
- Collection fee: a charge linked to collecting the customer's payment, which can differ by payment mode, such as prepaid or cash on delivery.
Names, slabs and amounts change over time and by category. Treat your seller agreement and the current rate card as the only source of truth, not blog posts or other sellers' numbers.
How the collection fee is applied
The collection fee is normally charged per order item and deducted at settlement. The amount commonly depends on a few factors:
- The payment mode of the order.
- The selling price or order value band.
- The product category or your seller tier.
Before you check any statement, find out from your rate card whether the fee is a flat amount or a percentage for your slab, and which price it is calculated on. Also note the effective date, because rate cards get revised.
How the fixed fee is applied
The fixed fee is usually a set amount per item, decided by a price slab and sometimes by category. The common confusion is which price decides the slab: the listed price, the price after your own discounts, or the price after marketplace-funded offers. Do not assume. Read the definition in your agreement or ask your account manager in writing.
Also confirm how the fee behaves on cancelled and returned orders. Some charges may be retained and others reversed, depending on the return type and the terms that apply to you.
How to verify both fees in your reports
- Download the settlement or payment report for the period from your seller dashboard.
- Find the fixed fee and collection fee columns. Column names vary, so ask support for definitions if they are unclear.
- Match each order item ID to your sales report to get the SKU, selling price and payment mode.
- Look up the applicable slab and rate in your rate card.
- Recalculate the expected fee and compare it with the deducted amount.
- List every difference with the order item ID, expected amount and charged amount.
Common mismatches to look for
- The fee slab was applied on a different price from the one your agreement specifies.
- The collection fee does not match the payment mode of the order.
- Fees charged on cancelled orders or not reversed on returns, where your terms say otherwise.
- A revised rate card applied before its effective date.
- GST on fees that does not match the fee invoice. Confirm the treatment with your tax adviser.
Keep dated copies of every rate card and agreement update. Without them, a dispute becomes your word against a report.
Making the check routine
Do this every settlement cycle, not once a quarter, since disputes are easier to raise while the orders are recent. Small per-order errors are easy to miss in a sample and add up over volume, which is why spreadsheets often stop scaling.
MarketplaceMetrics by Fundle reconciles marketplace sales and settlements, checks commissions and fees against agreed terms, and tracks returns and recovery cases. Myntra Excel reports are reviewed today, and Flipkart coverage would be a scope discussion. Pricing is a tailored quote.
Worked example
Illustrative example only. The fees below are assumed for this walkthrough and are not Flipkart's actual rates. Amounts are before GST.
| Item | Per rate card (assumed) | Charged in settlement |
|---|---|---|
| Selling price | ₹1,000 | ₹1,000 |
| Fixed fee | ₹20 | ₹20 |
| Collection fee | ₹15 | ₹30 |
| Fixed + collection total | ₹35 | ₹50 |
The collection fee is ₹15 higher than expected. If the same issue hit 200 orders (illustrative), the over-deduction would be ₹3,000. You would check whether the payment mode was recorded wrongly or the wrong rate was applied, then raise a case with the order item IDs.
Questions and answers
Is the Flipkart collection fee the same for every seller?
Not necessarily. Fees depend on your seller agreement, category and the rate card in force. Do not rely on another seller's numbers or old articles. Check your own rate card and its effective date, and confirm with seller support if anything is unclear.
Is the fixed fee charged on returned orders?
It depends on the terms that apply to your category and return type. Some fees may be retained and others reversed. Compare the settlement lines for returned order items against your agreement, and raise a dispute with order IDs if the treatment differs.
Where do I see these fees in the settlement report?
Open the payment or settlement report for the period from your seller dashboard. Fees are usually itemised per order item, though column names change. Match them to your sales report using the order item ID, and ask support for column definitions if needed.
Is GST charged on these fees?
Marketplace fees typically carry GST, shown in the fee invoice or settlement breakdown. Do not assume the rate. Read it from your invoice, and confirm the treatment, including input tax credit, with your tax adviser.