e-commerce
Amazon India slashes fees to boost seller growth
Zero referral fees now on over 12.5 crore products under Rs 1,000, Easy Ship fees cut by over 20 per cent from 16 March 2026.
MUMBAI: Amazon India just dropped fees like confetti because when sellers save up to 70 per cent, even the checkout cart starts celebrating. Amazon India today announced a major fee reduction to supercharge growth for lakhs of sellers, expanding zero referral fees coverage more than 10x from 1.2 crore products in 2025 to over 12.5 crore products priced under Rs 1,000 across 1,800 plus categories. Effective 16 March 2026, the changes also include a more than 20 per cent cut in Easy Ship fees for products below Rs 300, plus savings of up to 90 per cent plus on selling fees for the second unit when multiple units ship in one box.
Easy Ship where sellers store products at their premises while Amazon handles pickup and delivery remains a favourite for small businesses and those scaling up, thanks to lower upfront logistics costs. The revisions aim to make selling more profitable, especially for entrepreneurs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
Amazon India director of selling partner services Amit Nanda said, “Building on last year’s fee reductions, we are now expanding that commitment to benefit a much larger cohort of sellers. By eliminating referral fees across 1,800 plus categories and reducing logistics costs, sellers can save up to 70 per cent in fees.”
Illustrative per-unit savings (effective 16 March 2026, products under 500g):
Fashion jewellery necklace set (Rs 999, Easy Ship), total fees drop from Rs 324 to Rs 100, a 69 per cent reduction (save Rs 224).
Earphones (Rs 798, Fulfilled by Amazon), total fees fall from Rs 248 to Rs 109, a 56 per cent reduction (save Rs 139).
T-shirt (Rs 299, Easy Ship), total fees reduce from Rs 71 to Rs 56, a 21 per cent reduction (save Rs 15).
Earthen Story (a Bengaluru-based seller) co-founder Ashish Agarwal reflected on last year’s changes, “When Amazon axed referral fees on products under Rs 300 last year, it was a game-changer… The result? 50 per cent explosive growth, with more momentum to conquer even bigger categories.”
Sellers can choose from three fulfilment options, self-ship, Easy Ship, or Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA). The fee cuts reinforce Amazon’s push to pass operational efficiencies back to sellers and customers in one of the world’s fastest-growing e-commerce markets.
In a platform where every rupee saved can fuel the next listing, Amazon isn’t just tweaking numbers, it’s handing sellers rocket fuel to scale faster, sell smarter, and keep the cart rolling.
e-commerce
Flipkart rolls out 105 per cent bonus for 20,000 employees
Strong FY25 performance drives payouts even as layoffs and shifts unfold.
MUMBAI: In a year where belts were tightened and rewards loosened, Flipkart seems to be playing both offence and defence trimming roles on one hand while handing out a generous 105 per cent bonus on the other. The Walmart owned e commerce major has rolled out a 105 per cent bonus payout for 2025, covering nearly 20,000 employees, signalling a year of steady operational momentum even as the company navigates restructuring pressures. The payout, communicated internally by chief human resources officer Seema Nair, is tied to performance across key metrics including growth, operational efficiency, financial outcomes and people indicators, a combination that suggests the company is inching closer to its long stated goal of sustainable profitability.
Employees at SD level and below are set to receive their bonuses in March, while payouts for senior leadership, including vice presidents and senior vice presidents, will follow after the close of the performance cycle. The elevated 105 per cent multiplier stands out in a sector where cautious payouts have increasingly become the norm, pointing to what appears to be a relatively strong internal scorecard for FY25.
Yet, the announcement arrives with a noticeable contrast. Earlier this year, Flipkart reduced its workforce by around 300 roles as part of its annual performance review process. While officially framed as performance driven, the juxtaposition of layoffs alongside above target bonuses reflects a more nuanced balancing act, one that prioritises cost discipline while continuing to reward and retain high performing talent.
This dual approach is becoming increasingly common across the technology and e commerce landscape, where companies are navigating an uneven hiring environment while under pressure to deliver profitability. Rewarding top contributors, even amid selective workforce reductions, allows firms to maintain morale and retain critical talent without losing sight of financial prudence.
At the same time, Flipkart is also undergoing leadership shifts that hint at a broader strategic recalibration. Nishant Verman has been appointed senior vice president for corporate development and partnerships, while group chief financial officer Sriram Venkataraman is set to step down. Ravi Iyer will take on expanded responsibilities within the finance function, marking a reshuffle at the top as the company gears up for its next phase.
These changes come amid reports that Flipkart is planning to shift its holding structure back to India, a move widely interpreted as groundwork for a potential public listing. While timelines remain fluid, the combination of stronger financial discipline, leadership restructuring and employee incentivisation suggests a company preparing itself for greater scrutiny and scale.
For employees, the 105 per cent payout offers a welcome boost in what has otherwise been a period of adjustment. For Flipkart, it is a signal that even as it cuts where necessary, it is willing to spend where it counts. In the high stakes game of growth versus profitability, the company appears to be hedging its bets carefully, rewarding performance while reshaping itself for what could be its most defining chapter yet.
