Kingston Express Marketplace Fees & Pricing Guide

Kingston Express is a multi-vendor online marketplace that allows third-party sellers to list and sell products to customers. Our fee structure is designed to be transparent, predictable, and aligned with industry standards used by leading marketplaces.

This guide explains all fees that may apply to sellers, how they are calculated, and when they are charged.

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1. Overview of Seller Fees #

Depending on how you use the platform, sellers on Kingston Express may be charged the following types of fees:

• Referral (selling) fees
• Monthly seller subscription fees
• Payment processing fees
• Dispatchment (pick, pack, ship) fees
• Storage and long-term storage fees
• Returns processing fees
• Removal and disposal fees
• Optional advertising and promotional fees
• International and currency conversion fees
• Chargeback and dispute fees

Not all sellers will pay all fees. Many fees apply only if you choose specific services.

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2. Referral (Selling) Fees #

The referral fee is the primary marketplace fee charged on Kingston Express. It is calculated as a percentage of the item’s sale price and is charged only when an item sells.

How Referral Fees Work #

• Charged per item sold
• Percentage varies by product category
• Automatically deducted from sale proceeds
• Applies to all seller plans

Typical Referral Fee Rates by Category #

• Consumer Electronics: 8%
• Computers & Accessories: 8%
• Grocery & Gourmet Food: 8%
• Furniture & Large Appliances: 10%
• Automotive & Motorcycle Parts: 12%
• Tools & Home Improvement: 12%
• Industrial & Scientific Products: 12%
• Handmade Products: 12%
• Home & Kitchen: 15%
• Fashion & Apparel: 15%
• Beauty & Personal Care: 15%
• Health & Household: 15%
• Books: 15%
• Movies, Music & Media: 15%
• Toys & Games: 15%
• Sports & Outdoors: 15%
• Pet Supplies: 15%
• Office Products: 15%
• Video Games & Consoles: 15%
• Watches: 16%
• Jewelry: 20%

Some categories may also have a minimum referral fee per item, typically ranging from $0.30 to $2.00.

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3. Monthly Seller Subscription Fees #

Kingston Express offers two seller plans:

Personal Seller Plan #

• $0 monthly fee
• Pay referral fees per sale
• Best for casual or low-volume sellers

Business Seller Plan #

• $39.99 per month
• Same referral fees apply
• Includes advanced tools, analytics, bulk listing, and priority support

The subscription fee does not replace referral fees.

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4. Payment Processing Fees #

All payments on Kingston Express are processed securely.

Payment Processing Fee #

• 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction

This fee covers:
• Credit and debit card processing
• Fraud prevention and security
• Secure seller payouts

Payment processing fees are deducted automatically at payout.

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5. Kingston Express Dispatchment Fees (Optional) #

Sellers may choose to dispatch orders themselves or enroll in Kingston Express Dispatchment, known as DBKE.

When enrolled, Kingston Express:
• Stores inventory
• Picks and packs orders
• Ships products to customers
• Provides tracking
• Handles dispatchment-related customer service
• Processes returns (where applicable)

Dispatchment fees apply only if you use this service.

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6. Order Dispatchment (Pick & Pack) Fees #

This is the main dispatchment fee and is charged per unit shipped.

What This Fee Covers #

• Picking items from inventory
• Secure packing and labeling
• Packaging materials
• Standard shipping handling
• Dispatchment customer support

Standard-Size Dispatchment Fees (Per Unit) #

• Small Standard (up to 12 oz): $3.00
• Small Standard (12–16 oz): $3.50
• Large Standard (up to 1 lb): $4.25
• Large Standard (1–2 lb): $5.50
• Large Standard (each additional lb): +$0.40

Oversize Fulfillment Fees (Per Unit) #

• Small Oversize: $9.50
• Medium Oversize: $12.75
• Large Oversize: $15.75
• Special Oversize: Custom pricing

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7. Shipping & Delivery Fees #

Standard domestic shipping is generally included in the dispatchment fee.

Additional shipping fees may apply for:
• Expedited or same-day delivery
• Remote or hard-to-reach locations
• International shipments
• Exceptionally heavy or oversized items

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8. Size Tier & Dimensional Weight Rules #

Dispatchment fees are calculated using the greater of:
• Actual shipping weight
• Dimensional (volumetric) weight

Dimensional Weight Formula:
(Length × Width × Height) ÷ Dimensional Factor

Incorrect dimensions may result in fee adjustments.

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9. Monthly Storage Fees #

Inventory stored in Kingston Express dispatchment centers incurs monthly storage fees.

Typical Storage Rates #

• January–September: $0.75 per cubic foot
• October–December (peak season): $2.25 per cubic foot

Storage fees are billed monthly based on average daily inventory volume.

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10. Long-Term Storage Fees #

Inventory stored for 365 days or more may incur long-term storage fees.

Long-Term Storage Fee #

• $6.90 per cubic foot or
• $0.15 per unit, whichever is greater

These fees apply in addition to monthly storage fees.

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11. Returns Processing Fees #

When Kingston Express handles returns:

• Returned items are received and inspected
• Items are restocked, repackaged, or disposed of

In many categories, the returns processing fee is equal to the original dispatchment fee. Some categories may have reduced or waived return fees.

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12. Removal & Disposal Fees #

Sellers may request inventory removal from dispatchment centers.

Typical Fees #

• Standard-size removal: $0.50 – $1.00 per unit
• Oversize removal: $1.00 – $2.50 per unit
• Disposal: $0.30 – $1.50 per unit

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13. Special Handling Fees #

Additional fees may apply for:
• Fragile or special packaging
• Hazardous materials
• Temperature-controlled storage
• Bundling or kitting services

These fees are disclosed before use.

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14. Advertising & Promotional Fees (Optional) #

Sellers may choose to promote products using sponsored listings or advertising tools.

• Fees are optional
• Typically charged on a pay-per-click or budget basis
• Costs are controlled by the seller

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15. International & Currency Conversion Fees #

For cross-border transactions:
• Currency conversion fees may apply
• International shipping and customs fees may apply

Fees vary by destination and payment method.

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16. Chargebacks & Dispute Fees #

In rare cases involving payment disputes or chargebacks, an administrative fee may apply to cover investigation and processing costs.

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17. Dispatchment Fee Calculator #

Kingston Express provides a Dispatchment Fee Calculator in the Seller Dashboard to help sellers estimate total costs before listing products.

The calculator estimates:
• Referral fees
• Dispatchment fees
• Storage fees
• Payment processing fees
• Estimated net payout

Actual fees are calculated when the order ships.

How the Calculator Works #

1. Seller enters product category, price, dimensions, and weight
2. System assigns size tier using actual vs dimensional weight
3. Calculator displays estimated fees:
   • Referral fees
   • Dispatchment fees
   • Storage fees
   • Payment processing fees
4. Estimated net payout is shown

Example #

• Sale price: $80
• Referral fee (15%): $12.00
• Dispatchment fee: $5.50
• Payment processing: $2.62

Estimated payout: $59.88 (before storage or optional fees)

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18. When Fees Are Charged #

• Referral fees are charged after a successful sale
• Dispatchment fees are charged when an order ships
• Storage fees are billed monthly
• Subscription fees are billed monthly
• All fees appear in seller account reports

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19. Important Notes & Policy Updates #

• Fees are subject to change with prior notice
• Sellers are responsible for accurate product data
• Misclassification may result in fee adjustments
• Fees are deducted before seller payouts