Starting May 8, Shopee will be increasing its SPayLater seller fee from 3.5% to 4.5%, as announced on the platform's Seller Education Hub. This new fee structure will apply to all completed orders made using SPayLater, regardless of the installment plan duration — whether it's one month or up to two years.

No Way to Opt Out

SPayLater, Shopee's buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) option, is automatically enabled for eligible sellers by default — and here's the kicker: there's no way to turn it off. That means if a buyer selects this option during checkout, sellers will be charged the new 4.5% fee whether they like it or not.

To add to that, the fee is also subject to Malaysia's 8% Sales and Service Tax (SST), which further compounds the cost for sellers.

Shopee: "It's Good for Your Business"

In its announcement, Shopee tried to cushion the blow by highlighting the benefits of SPayLater. According to the platform, the BNPL feature helps drive more traffic to stores, boosts conversions, and increases average basket sizes — all of which can potentially lift a seller's monthly Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) by more than 20%.

Sellers Aren't Buying It

Despite Shopee's optimistic pitch, not all sellers are convinced the fee hike is justifiable. Loh, a power tool seller who requested to stay partially anonymous, said that growing costs like this one are the exact reason his business has been shifting away from Shopee.

It's Not the First Time

This isn't the first time Shopee has stirred controversy with its fee adjustments. Just last August, the platform raised its seller transaction fee from 2.0% to 3.5%, a move that also sparked backlash from the seller community.

Confusion Over Who Should Pay

Many sellers online have voiced frustration over the latest increase — particularly because it's the buyer, not the seller, who chooses to use SPayLater. In Facebook groups dedicated to Shopee sellers, members questioned why sellers are being penalized for a buyer's payment choice.

Sellers Consider Price Hikes

In response to the upcoming fee adjustment, some sellers are now considering raising their product prices to cover the added cost. While that may help absorb the fee, it could also affect competitiveness — especially in a price-sensitive marketplace.