Simple fees. No fine print.
Selling on SwapStage costs a single platform fee plus standard payment processing. That's it. No listing fees, no hidden charges, and buyers aren't hit with surprise fees at checkout.
Applies to the sale price only — no fees on shipping or sales tax.
Processing fee applied to the tax-inclusive total — you pay fees on money that goes to the government.
What you keep at every price point
Compared against the leading gear marketplace's effective rate of ~8.35%, derived from real seller payout data.
| Sale price | SwapStage fees | You keep | Competitor fees | You'd keep there | You save |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $200.00 | $14.10 (7.1%) | $185.90 | $16.70 (8.3%) | $183.30 | +$2.60 |
| $500.00 | $34.80 (7.0%) | $465.20 | $41.75 (8.3%) | $458.25 | +$6.95 |
| $1,000.00 | $69.30 (6.9%) | $930.70 | $83.50 (8.3%) | $916.50 | +$14.20 |
| $2,000.00 | $138.30 (6.9%) | $1,861.70 | $167.00 (8.3%) | $1,833.00 | +$28.70 |
| $5,000.00 | $345.30 (6.9%) | $4,654.70 | $417.50 (8.3%) | $4,582.50 | +$72.20 |
Competitor rate (8.35%) is the effective total fee measured against actual pre-tax seller earnings, based on real payout export data. Individual transactions may vary by state tax rate.
See your exact take-home
Enter your asking price. We'll show you exactly what you'll receive and how it compares to listing on other platforms.
- No listing or insertion fees
- No charge to relist unsold items
- No buyer checkout surcharges
- Fees never applied to shipping or tax
- Payout within 48 hours of delivery
Fee calculator
Buyers pay nothing extra — no checkout fees.
Why the structure is built this way
One formula. No surprises.
3.5% platform fee + Stripe payment processing. No listing fees, no final value fees, no charges to get paid. You know your take-home before you list.
Fees on your earnings — not on tax.
Some platforms calculate processing fees on the tax-inclusive total, charging you for money that flows to the government. We don't. Our fees apply only to the amount you actually earn.
Buyers pay nothing extra.
No buyer checkout surcharges. The price you list is the price your buyer pays (plus shipping). Transparent pricing means fewer abandoned carts and faster sales.
48-hour payouts.
Funds are released 48 hours after confirmed delivery — not after a waiting period that can stretch over a week. Your money moves as fast as your gear does.
Full feature comparison
| SwapStage | Leading marketplace | |
|---|---|---|
| Total seller fee | ~6.4% | ~8.35% |
| Listing fee | Free | Free |
| Buyer checkout surcharge | None | Varies |
| Fees on sales tax | Never | Processing fee applied to tax-inclusive total |
| Gear swaps | Free | Not available |
| Payout speed | 48 hrs | 1–5 business days |
| Buyer protection | Included | Included |
| AI listing assistant | Included | Not available |
| Real market price data | Included | Partial (sold listings) |
| Musician community / gigs | Included | Not available |
Competitor features and rates based on publicly available information and seller payout data. Subject to change.
Common questions
When do I get paid?
Funds are released 48 hours after the buyer confirms delivery or 14 days after the carrier shows the first scan — whichever comes first. No waiting around.
Does SwapStage charge buyers anything?
No. Buyers pay the listed price plus shipping. There are no checkout surcharges, service fees, or hidden costs added at checkout.
What counts as the sale price for fee purposes?
The fee is calculated on the item sale price only — not on shipping and not on any sales tax collected at checkout. You are never charged a fee on money that goes to the government or to a carrier.
Are there any listing or monthly fees?
None. Listing is free, relisting is free, and there are no subscription tiers required to sell. You only pay when a sale completes.
What payment processing does SwapStage use?
All payments are processed by Stripe, the same infrastructure used by major e-commerce platforms. Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, which is passed through at cost.
What if a buyer returns an item?
SwapStage Buyer Protection covers eligible disputes. If a return is approved, the original fees are refunded to you. Fees are only earned on completed, successful transactions.
Ready to list?
Your first listing takes under 2 minutes. No subscription, no upfront cost — you only pay when you sell.