Why Does the Profit on Some Orders Disappear More Than You Expected?

Has this ever happened to you? You sell the exact same item at the exact same price, but when the money actually lands in your account, you get a different amount on each platform. Or some product categories get hit with heavier deductions than others, even though the prices are similar.

The answer lies in one thing that many sellers overlook: the Shopee and Lazada commission fees by category, which aren't charged at a single rate across your whole store, and which also differ between Mall stores and regular stores.

In 2026, with competition growing fiercer, every percentage point of cost matters. Let's fully understand this structure so you can set prices and choose the store model that gives you the best value.

1. Commissions Vary by Category — Why?

Platforms don't charge a flat, blanket fee. Instead, they divide it by product category, because each group has different margins, servicing costs, and risks.

Broad principles you should remember (the actual numbers change often, so always check in the seller system):

• High-margin products such as fashion, cosmetics, and supplements usually carry higher commission rates.
• Thin-margin but high-unit-price products such as electronics and mobile phones usually have lower rates, because the profit per item is small.
• Specially controlled categories such as certain mother-and-baby products may have different conditions.

Here's an example to picture it. Suppose you sell two products in the same store:

Key takeaway: Don't set prices by adding the same percentage to every SKU. Always look at the rate for that specific category first.

2. How Do Mall Stores and Regular Stores Differ?

Mall stores (Shopee Mall / LazMall) are zones for official brands or authorized distributors, while regular stores are ordinary shops that anyone can open.

The main differences that affect your costs and sales:

Put simply, Mall stores pay higher fees in exchange for credibility, visibility, and access to special campaigns, while regular stores have lighter costs but must work to build trust themselves.

So Which One Suits You?

• If you're a brand owner or an official distributor and your margins can absorb the higher commission, a Mall store greatly helps your image.
• If you sell highly price-competitive, volume-focused products, a regular store with lighter costs may be more worthwhile.

3. Account for All Your Costs Before Setting Prices

Commission is just one piece of the puzzle. The real costs that eat into your profit also include:

1. Category-based commission (which varies as described above)
2. Payment transaction fees
3. Free-shipping program / promotion participation fees
4. Packing, storage, and shipping costs

Item 4 in particular is one that many people underestimate, because during major campaigns or sale festivals, orders surge many times over. If you pack slowly or ship incorrectly, your store rating drops and your long-term visibility takes a hit.

How Can a Fulfillment System Help Here?

Commissions are set by the platform, so you can't control them directly. But what you can control is your back-end costs. This is where a fulfillment system like Flash Fulfillment comes in to help.

• Consolidate stock from multiple platforms in one place — both Mall and regular stores draw from the same warehouse, reducing dead stock.
• Pack and ship to the same standard — keeping your store rating steady even during peak orders.
• See clear per-order costs — so you can calculate net profit including each category's commission more accurately.

When your operating costs are stable and predictable, you'll make pricing and store-model decisions based on real numbers, not guesswork.

Key Takeaways

• Commissions vary by product category — don't add the same profit margin to every SKU.
• Mall stores have higher fees but gain credibility; regular stores are lighter but you must build trust yourself.
• Account for every layer of cost, not just the commission.
• What you can control is your back-end costs — good fulfillment helps keep profits steady.

Want to know where your warehouse and shipping costs still leave room to save? Talk to the Flash Fulfillment team to set up a back-end system ready for every campaign all year round.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Are Shopee and Lazada commissions the same?

Not necessarily. Each platform has its own structure and divides fees by category in a similar way. You should always check the latest rates in each seller system before setting prices, because rates can change.

Mall stores have higher commissions — is it still worth it?

Whether it's worth it depends on your margins and brand goals. If your product has enough profit and you want the authenticity image and greater visibility, a Mall store is usually worth it. But if you focus on high-volume price competition, a regular store may be more suitable.

Why does the product category affect the commission?

Because each category has different margins and risks, so the platform sets rates accordingly. Categories with high profit per item usually have higher rates than categories with thin margins but high unit value.

Can fulfillment reduce commission fees?

It doesn't reduce commissions directly, since those are platform conditions. But it helps reduce packing and shipping costs and maintain your store rating, making your overall net profit better and more accurately predictable.