To identify a wrongly applied fee category on Flipkart, list the category and price band each SKU should fall under as per your seller agreement or rate card. Then take order-level settlement data, calculate the effective fee percentage per SKU, and flag orders where the charged fee does not match the expected category. Raise a ticket with order IDs and evidence.
What a wrongly applied fee category looks like
Marketplace fees are usually tied to how a product is classified: its category, sub-category, price band and sometimes fulfilment type. If a listing sits under the wrong classification, every order of that SKU can be charged at the wrong rate. Because settlements are paid in bulk, the error rarely stands out.
Typical signs:
- Two SKUs in the same category show clearly different effective commission percentages.
- The same SKU is charged differently across weeks without a price or policy change.
- A newly listed product is charged more than similar older products.
- The fee on an order does not match the rate card for that category and price band.
Gather what you need before you audit
You cannot call a category wrong without a reference point. Collect these first:
- Seller agreement and rate card: the latest version, including any addenda or emailed revisions. Fee rates, price bands and the basis of calculation (for example, whether a fee applies on the selling price before or after taxes) must be read from your own documents. Confirm the latest terms with your account manager.
- Your SKU master: SKU ID, Flipkart listing or FSN reference, intended category, sub-category, MRP and selling price.
- Order-level settlement data: download the payment or settlement reports from Seller Hub. Report names and columns change, so check what your account currently provides.
- Listing screenshots or catalogue exports: proof of the category chosen at listing time.
Step-by-step: find the mismatch
- Map each SKU to its expected fee category. Use the rate card to note the category, price band and fee components that should apply.
- Extract fee lines per order. Separate commission, fixed or closing fee, shipping or weight-based fee, collection fee and any other deductions. Do not review only the total deduction.
- Calculate the effective rate. Divide the commission line by the fee basis defined in your agreement. Do this order by order, not on monthly totals.
- Group by SKU and compare. Pivot by SKU and look for rates that differ from expected, or that vary within one SKU.
- Check price-band boundaries. If fees change by price band, test orders near the threshold, including orders where a discount or offer moved the selling price across it.
- Verify the category on the live listing. Confirm whether the catalogue category differs from what you intended.
Quick checks table
| Check | Compare against | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Effective commission % | Rate card for the SKU category and price band | Higher than the agreed rate |
| Same SKU, different weeks | Earlier settlements | Rate changed with no documented revision |
| Category on listing | Your SKU master | Catalogue category differs from intended |
| Price band | Selling price at order time | Fee tier does not match the band |
| Similar SKUs | Each other | One SKU is an outlier |
Common causes of wrong category fees
- Wrong category at listing: a product is placed in a broader or different category during catalogue creation.
- Catalogue changes: a listing is merged, edited or re-mapped, changing the fee classification.
- Outdated rate card: the marketplace applies a revised schedule you have not reviewed.
- Price-band misapplication: a temporary discount or MRP edit pushes an order into a different tier.
- Variant mismatches: parent and child SKUs are mapped differently.
Some differences are legitimate, such as a notified revision. Check the notice trail before calling it an error.
Raise the dispute and track recovery
Prepare one consolidated file per issue: SKU, category expected versus charged, order IDs, settlement dates, fee line amounts, the relevant agreement clause and listing screenshots. Raise a support ticket through the channel your account manager recommends, keep the ticket number and note the response deadline. Follow up on the same thread rather than opening duplicates.
Doing this in spreadsheets works for a few SKUs but gets heavy at scale. MarketplaceMetrics by Fundle checks fees against agreed terms and tracks recovery cases; Myntra Excel reports are reviewed today, and other marketplaces such as Flipkart are in scope discussion, so confirm current coverage with the Fundle team.
Worked example
Illustrative example only. The rates and amounts below are hypothetical and not actual Flipkart rates.
- An SKU sells at ₹1,000 and your agreed commission for its category is 10% (hypothetical), so expected commission is ₹100 per order.
- Settlement lines show ₹130 commission, an effective rate of 13%, which suggests a different category was applied.
- Difference per order: ₹30. Over 200 orders in a month: ₹6,000 (illustrative).
- Action: confirm the listing category, collect the 200 order IDs, quote the agreement clause and raise a ticket for correction and refund of the excess.
Questions and answers
Where do I find the correct fee category for my product on Flipkart?
Check your seller agreement, the current rate card shared by Flipkart, and the category shown on your live listing. Rates and category structures get revised, so confirm the latest terms with your account manager or in Seller Hub before disputing any charge.
How often should I audit fee categories?
Audit new SKUs in their first settlement cycle, then review all active SKUs on a regular schedule, such as monthly. Also audit after any catalogue edit, price change near a band boundary, or notified revision to the rate card.
Can a wrong category be corrected for past orders?
It depends on your agreement and the marketplace's dispute process. Raise a ticket quickly with order IDs and proof, since time limits may apply. Ask your account manager whether past settlements can be adjusted and within what window.
What evidence should I attach to a fee category dispute?
Attach order IDs, settlement dates, the fee lines charged, the expected category and rate from your agreement or rate card, and listing screenshots. A summary showing expected versus charged amount per order makes the case easier to review.