The e-commerce "playing field" is becoming increasingly fierce.

Erosive profits, escalating costs, and an influx of foreign goods... these are the realities that e-commerce sellers are currently facing.

Competition on e-commerce platforms is becoming increasingly fierce.

The seller complained bitterly.

Just before the peak shopping season at the end of 2025, TikTok Shop announced the introduction of a new fee: an order processing fee. Specifically, starting October 27, 2025, TikTok Shop will officially charge a processing fee of 3,000 VND for each successfully delivered order.

According to the announcement, the fees will be used to upgrade warehousing, develop artificial intelligence (AI) features to support sellers, and improve the consumer experience. Immediately after the new policy was announced, a strong backlash spread among the selling community, especially small traders and household businesses.

This is the second fee increase in just three months, following TikTok Shop's adjustment of its shipping subsidy (SPF) policy in July 2025, which significantly increased sellers' operating costs.

Previously, sellers only spent 3-4% of the order value on platform fees, but now with the new fees (including a 5% transaction fee, a 3,000 VND order processing fee, and costs for shipping, advertising, and promotions), the total cost can now account for up to 17% of the revenue per order.

"Doing business on e-commerce platforms is becoming increasingly difficult, and profits are declining sharply," shared Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhung, a seller on the TikTok Shop platform.

Many online sellers believe that raising prices to cover costs is almost impossible, as it would lead to losing customers and reducing their chances of participating in promotional programs on the platform.

Not only TikTok Shop, but also Shopee and Lazada have adjusted their fees upwards in 2025. Shopee will apply an infrastructure fee of 3,000 VND per order from July 2025, while Lazada will add service and promotion fees in some product categories.

The competition is getting tougher.

According to Metric.vn, in the first three quarters of 2025, nearly 3 million products were sold on Vietnam's four leading e-commerce platforms. In the third quarter alone, revenue reached VND 103.6 trillion, an increase of over 22% compared to the same period in 2024, clearly demonstrating the strong recovery of the online shopping market.

Simultaneously, it's noteworthy that the number of stores leaving the platform has decreased sharply, while the number of those resuming business has increased. In the third quarter, 28,500 shops resumed operations, bringing the total to 566,400 stores, a significant increase compared to 537,900 shops at the end of June. Previously, in June 2025, Metric.vn recorded over 55,000 shops leaving the platform compared to the beginning of 2025.

The reopening of many stores is a positive sign for the market as business confidence gradually recovers.

Besides key sectors such as fashion , beauty, and fast-moving consumer goods, the technology product group was a prominent highlight in the third quarter of 2025.

Many retailers and experts expect the fourth quarter to be a peak season with mega-promotion campaigns (11/11, 12/12) and the year-end holiday season, contributing to maintaining purchasing power and creating momentum for growth across the entire industry. However, the fee increase by some platforms could affect sales.

Dr. Khuc Dai Long (Department of Marketing, University of Commerce) analyzed that increasing fees is unavoidable, but platforms need to be transparent about the reasons and structure of the fees and have a mechanism to consult with the seller community before implementation. This will not only help ensure a balance of interests between the platform and sellers, but also increase consumer trust.

Many experts believe that the changes and additions of fees by e-commerce platforms are a natural selection process as the e-commerce landscape shifts towards quality development. The sharp increase in service fees presents both challenges and opportunities for businesses and sellers in the online marketplace. These fee structures act as a natural filter. Sellers lacking a solid foundation and engaging in opportunistic practices will quickly be eliminated. Stores lacking operational capacity, clear strategies, and long-term commitment will gradually be removed. Furthermore, this process will filter out counterfeit, low-quality, and unverified products, leaving no room for them to thrive.

Currently, the regulatory authorities are demonstrating their determination to improve the legal framework, promote development, and effectively manage e-commerce activities in the context of comprehensive digital transformation. Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien stated that the e-commerce market not only strongly attracts foreign investors but also helps Vietnamese businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to utilize digital platforms to expand distribution channels and access global markets. E-commerce platforms must publicly and transparently disclose information such as: owners and sellers; goods and services provided; rights and obligations of the parties; delivery and payment policies; mechanisms for receiving and handling complaints and feedback, etc.

daidoanket.vn

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/san-choi-thuong-mai-dien-tu-ngay-cang-khoc-liet-post886104.html