shieldBuyer Protection Fees
At The Parts Shop, transparency is key. We keep our fees simple and fair so we can fund Buyer Protection holds, verify fitment data, and provide dedicated support when you need it—without hidden surprises at checkout.
🛍️ Buyers: One Small Protection Fee
When you purchase a part, a small Buyer Protection Fee is added to your subtotal at checkout. This isn't just a payment processing fee—it powers the safety tools that protect your order from payment to fitment check.
What Your Fee Covers:
- 🛡️ Payment Protection Hold: Your funds are safely held under Buyer Protection and never released to the seller until your part arrives and is verified.
- 💳 Encrypted Payment Handling: Safe, fraud-protected checkout using industry-leading security.
- 🤝 Dedicated Platform Assistance: Full access to The Parts Shop Team and our structured Direct Resolution Chat if a part isn't right.
📊 How the Fee is Calculated
Our fee structure uses a fixed base plus a tiered percentage rate. The higher the value of the part, the lower the percentage rate you pay:
| Order Subtotal | Percentage Rate | Fixed Base |
|---|---|---|
| Under £50.00 | 6.5% | + £0.70 |
| £50.00 – £199.99 | 5.5% | + £0.70 |
| £200.00 – £499.99 | 4.5% | + £0.70 |
| £500.00 and above | 3.5% | + £0.70 |
💡 Real-World Examples
• Tier: Up to £49.99 (6.5%)
• Calculation: £0.70 base + £1.95 (6.5% of £30) = £2.65 Protection Fee
• Tier: £50.00 – £199.99 (5.5%)
• Calculation: £0.70 base + £8.25 (5.5% of £150) = £8.95 Protection Fee
• Tier: £500.00 & above (3.5%)
• Calculation: £0.70 base + £22.75 (3.5% of £650) = £23.45 Protection Fee
🏷️ Sellers: 0% Platform Commission
Unlike mainstream platforms that take 12.8% to 15% out of your hard-earned parts sales, The Parts Shop charges zero platform commission:
- 0% Listing Fees — List unlimited parts in your Workshop for free.
- Platform Commission: £0.00 — Always free to list, negotiate, and sell.
- Direct Card Processing & Payout — Merchant handling and automated bank transfer handled directly by Stripe at the standard UK domestic rate of 1.5% + 20p.
- Your Take-Home — You keep roughly 98% to 98.4% of your asking price paid straight into your bank account.
For example, on a £100.00 part sale, Stripe card processing is just £1.70, so you receive £98.30 directly in your bank account (saving 10%–12% vs. mainstream auction sites).