Whatnot cuts commissions for high-volume sellers, takes aim at eBay Live
Whatnot announced that, starting September 21 for existing sellers and the week of September 28 for new ones, it will shift to volume‑based commissions that can drop to 6.5% for sellers with over $500,000 in four‑week sales. The new tiers also list publicly available rates as low as 4.5% for fashion and 4% for other collectibles, with coins able to fall to 3.5%.
For sellers with less than $15,000 in sales over a four‑week period, the standard US commission stays at 8% across most categories. Total sales from Live shows, Marketplace and Shop are combined to determine the four‑week volume, and the commission applied to each sale depends on its category. Payment processing remains separate at 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction in the US, calculated on the full amount paid by the buyer including shipping and taxes. Premier Shop sellers receive an extra 10% discount on their commission rate through October 31, but that benefit ends on November 1, after which rates will be based solely on sales volume.
While Whatnot does not name eBay directly, it frames the change as a reaction to the three‑decade‑old ecommerce giant’s effort to gain ground in livestream shopping after years of inactivity. In July, eBay introduced uniform Live fees, setting a 4% commission plus 2.9% processing for coins and eligible sneakers and a 6% commission plus 2.9% processing for most other categories.
What we know
Existing sellers’ new commission structure starts September 21.
New sellers move to the volume‑based structure the week of September 28.
Sellers with $500,000+ in four‑week sales qualify for publicly available rates of 6.5% for Sports and Trading Card Games, 5% for Other Collectibles, 4.5% for Fashion and 4% for the broader Other category.
Starting November 1, Premier Shop will no longer include a commission discount, leaving rates based solely on sales volume.
In July, eBay published standardized US Live rates for the first time, charging a 4% commission plus 2.9% payment processing for coins, bullion and eligible sneakers and 6% plus 2.9% for most other categories.