A worked marketplace comparison example
A realistic example showing how the same product can produce different profit across marketplace scenarios.
The product scenario
Start with a single product: £35 selling price, £11 product cost, £4 shipping cost and £2.80 ad spend per order.
This is not a universal product. It is a clean example that shows why marketplace comparison should use identical inputs.
The marketplace changes the cost stack
Each marketplace applies a different fee structure. Some combine percentage and fixed fees. Others require category-specific assumptions.
The comparison is useful because it keeps those assumptions visible instead of hiding them in a blended estimate.
The decision is not only the top number
The highest profit scenario deserves attention, but a seller should also consider fulfilment fit, audience, repeat purchase potential and operational complexity.
Use the profit result to narrow the choice, then use business judgement to pick the channel.