Use the category row, not the marketing description
The official schedule distinguishes closely related products. It lists mobile phones and certain electronic devices at 7%, while phone cases and screen protectors appear at 9%. It also separates electric toothbrushes from ordinary toothbrushes. These examples show why a broad category label is insufficient.
Product classification must describe the product accurately. The reduction policy states that incorrectly categorised items reclassified during review do not qualify for the lower effective fee. A margin target is not a valid reason to choose a different product category.
| Category example | Listed rate | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Phones | 7% | Actual device classification |
| Cases, Screen Protectors & Stickers | 9% | Accessory category |
| Electric Toothbrushes | 7% | Exact electric-device category |
| Toothbrushes | 9% | Ordinary toothbrush category |
Illustrative mixed basket: a device and an accessory
Assume an eligible device with a €50 chargeable base and a 9% accessory with a €10 base, with no shipping, coupons or refunds. The device fee is €3.50 and the accessory fee is €0.90, giving €4.40 total commission. The basket's effective rate is 7.33%, not 7% or 9%.
Applying 7% to the whole €60 basket would give €4.20 and understate the charge by €0.20. Applying 9% to both would give €5.40 and overstate it by €1. The correct weighted result depends on the item mix.
Mixed-basket commission = Σ (item chargeable base × that item's applicable rate)Keep category and promotion changes on separate timelines
A valid new-seller rate may be lower than the category rate during its window. When the incentive ends, the correctly classified eligible product can return to 7%, while non-eligible products return to their standard treatment. Do not assign the end date or later rate from one SKU to every product without checking.
Store the category ID or path, applicable rate, policy reference and dates in the working cost model. A later reclassification can create a new expected-rate period; preserve the earlier record so historical comparisons remain explainable.
- Find the live product's exact category.
- Locate that row in the official commission schedule.
- Check any currently active lower incentive.
- Calculate each item before summing the basket.
- Compare the result with a settled order and retain the rate evidence.
Model a refund at the item rate that was charged
If the €10 accessory in the illustrative basket is fully refunded while the €50 device remains, the relevant accessory commission is €0.90. The remaining device fee is €3.50 under the simple assumptions. Reversing an average basket percentage can produce the wrong item-level result.
Keep the original fee and reversal as separate rows. Customer-paid shipping and platform-funded promotions can add further allocation questions, so use the actual statement details for those components instead of extending the simplified mixed-item example.
Does a lower commission make the device the better product?
The two-percentage-point difference is only one cost line. Warranty support, product cost, fulfilment and stock recovery may change the contribution comparison, but their values must come from your product and operating evidence. Do not assume that a category reduction makes all electronic goods more profitable.
Compare the complete basket and return scenario before expanding the category. The schedule supplies a platform cost input; the decision still depends on the costs and demand the seller can substantiate.