TradeMe is testing a controversial new service fee structure that charges buyers on top of their purchase price, running from 28 September to 11 October 2025.
The experiment applies to a randomly selected group of buyers purchasing items in the Home & Living and Clothing & Fashion categories from casual sellers, with payments required through TradeMe’s Ping service.
The tiered fee structure charges: 
- $0.10 for items under $10
- $0.99 for items between $10.01 and $100
- $2.99 for items over $100.
TradeMe says the service fee helps cover costs of developing technical infrastructure and customer support to keep the platform secure and reliable.
The buyer fee trial is running simultaneously with a promotion offering casual sellers zero success fees in the same categories during the same period. Professional sellers are excluded from the experiment.
The move marks a significant shift in TradeMe’s fee model, which has traditionally charged sellers rather than buyers. If successful, the trial could signal a move toward a dual-sided fee structure similar to auction houses, where both buyers and sellers pay transaction fees.
The experiment has drawn criticism from users who point out the disproportionate impact on low-value purchases. A buyer winning a $10 item would now pay $1.99 total—a 9.9% price increase with the $0.99 fee going straight to TradeMe. Similarly, a $100 purchase becomes $102.99.
Is this fair? You decide.
