Guide to selling on Trade Me NZ
Last updated: 27 February 2025
Learn how to sell on Trade Me, one of New Zealand’s leading marketplace. Discover fees, setup steps and tips for success.
Key takeaways
- Trade Me is one of the most popular marketplaces in New Zealand
- To sell on the marketplace, you should be at least 18 and registered in NZ or AU, with approvals needed for other countries
- Convenient payment options like Ping and Afterpay simplify transactions and build buyer trust
- Success on Trade Me requires detailed listings, transparent shipping and fast communication to ensure smooth sales
Trade Me is one of the most popular online marketplace among New Zealand-based businesses, with 50% of merchants using the platform to sell their products. If you plan to sell online in NZ, Trade Me can be a great place to start.
In this guide we discuss all about Trade Me and how to become a successful seller on the platform. If you’re in NZ and looking to sell on Trade Me, keep reading.
Table of Contents
What is Trade Me?
Trade Me is one of New Zealand’s leading online marketplace where individuals and businesses can buy and sell a wide range of items. From clothing to cars and even property, it’s a platform that connects millions of New Zealanders every day. Established in 1999, it has become a household name, offering sellers a trusted way to reach local buyers.
For small businesses, selling on Trade Me is a great opportunity to expand reach and grow sales without needing a physical storefront. Trade Me provides various tools and ads to help your listings stand out, along with secure payment options to simplify transactions.
Why sell on Trade Me NZ?
Selling via Trade Me is a smart move for businesses and individuals looking to tap into one of the top marketplaces in NZ. Here’s why:
- Trade Me sellers gain access to millions of potential buyers. Whether you’re selling in NZ from Australia or locally, the platform connects you with engaged shoppers who are ready to buy
- It’s easy to get started. You can quickly set up a Trade Me account and start listing items without the need for a complicated setup
- Trade Me offers transparent fees and commissions, so you know exactly what to expect. Plus, the range of Trade Me payment options ensures smooth transactions for both buyers and sellers
- Sellers can also use Trade Me ads to boost your visibility and stand out from the competition
Who is eligible to sell on Trade Me?
If you’re thinking about selling on Trade Me, it’s important to ensure you meet their eligibility requirements. Here’s what Trade Me outlines for sellers:
- You must be at least 18 years old and legally able to enter into contracts
- You should be a resident of New Zealand or Australia unless Trade Me specifically approves you to sell from another country
- You need to complete the registration process and provide accurate, current details
For sellers based outside of New Zealand or Australia, Trade Me requires prior approval. You can’t just sign up and start selling directly.
Trade Me NZ fees: What does it cost to sell on Trade Me?
Understanding the costs associated with selling on Trade Me is crucial for managing your business expenses. Here’s a breakdown of the key fees:
- Success fees for casual sellers: If you’re a personal (casual) seller, you’ll pay a success fee of 7.9% of the item’s sale price for most categories. This fee is charged when Trade Me helps you sell a product. There’s no fee for items that sell for $1 or less and the maximum success fee is $499.
- Success fees for in-trade sellers: Business (in-trade) sellers have tiered success fees based on the category:
- 5.9% for certain electronics and appliances
- 7.9% for general items
- 9.9% for categories like clothing and fashion
- 11.9% for specific categories such as antiques and art The maximum fee remains $499.
- Payment processing fees: This depends on the payment options used for the sale:
- Ping: A transaction fee of 2.19% of the item plus shipping price applies (1.89% for Top Sellers).
- Afterpay: A fee of 4.95% of the item plus shipping price is charged
- Optional listing extras: To boost your listing’s visibility, you might consider:
- Gallery: $0.55
- Subtitle: $0.55
- Feature Combo: $3.95
These extras are charged when the listing is created
- Withdrawal fees: If you need to withdraw an auction listing before it ends, a fee of $3 or the applicable success fee (whichever is higher) is charged. Listings withdrawn within one hour of being listed incur no fee
- Open 15+ local currency accounts and get paid like a local
- Pay suppliers, partners and staff worldwide in 100+ currencies
- Collect payments for free from 130+ marketplaces and payment gateways, including Amazon, Etsy, PayPal and Shopify
- Save with competitive exchange rates on currency conversions and transfers
- Lock in exchange rates for up to 24 months for cash flow certainty
How to sell on Trade Me NZ: The step-by-step guide
Here is a step-by-step guide you can refer to when you start selling on Trade Me NZ:
1. Register for an account
To start selling on Trade Me, visit the website, sign up with accurate details and verify your email. Businesses must follow selling on marketplace rules, especially if selling in NZ from Australia.
2. List your items
Log into your account and click ‘Sell an item’ to begin listing. Add a clear title, detailed description and high-quality images to make your listing appealing. Finally, set your price by choosing between an auction or fixed-price format, depending on what suits your item best.
3. Add shipping details
Add clear shipping options and costs to your listings, ensuring transparency about delivery times. Trade Me has a service called ‘Book a courier’ which you can use. Under this service, Trade Me takes the product from your doorstep, packages it and ships it to the customer on your behalf. Alternatively, you can also choose your own shipping provider.
4. Choose payment options and collect payments
When choosing payment options for your listings, there are several convenient options available. You can enable Ping, which charges a fee of 2.19% per transaction (reduced to 1.89% for Top Sellers), or Afterpay, which charges 4.95% per transaction, allowing buyers to pay in installments. You can also connect your NZD bank account to your seller account to receive direct bank transfers and save up on fees.
If you’ve registered a New Zealand bank account with Ping, payments are made every business day. However, if you’re using an international bank account, payments are deposited on the first Friday of each month.
Expand your reach in New Zealand with WorldFirst
Selling on Trade Me NZ offers a fantastic opportunity to grow your business and tap into one of New Zealand’s most active online marketplaces. However, managing international payments and frequent currency conversions can be a significant challenge for sellers based outside of New Zealand. That’s where WorldFirst comes in.
WorldFirst offers multi-currency accounts that let you send, receive and hold funds in 20+ currencies, including GBP, USD, EUR, CAD, JPY, AUD, SGD, NZD, HKD and CNH.
With a World Account, you can:
- Collect payments in NZD (or 20 other currencies) and hold them in your account to avoid unnecessary currency conversions
- Receive payments from more than 100 global marketplaces and payment platforms.
- Repatriate your earnings to your local bank account at competitive exchange rates, ensuring you retain more of your hard-earned profits.
- Pay suppliers in their preferred currency without hefty fees, making your supply chain more cost-effective and efficient.
- Send and receive payments in 40+ currencies across 130+ countries and regions, giving you the freedom to trade globally while keeping costs predictable
Disclaimer: The information contained is general only and largely our views. Before acting on the information you should consider whether it is appropriate for you, in light of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Although information has been obtained from and is based upon multiple sources the author believes to be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy and it may be incomplete or condensed. All opinions, estimates, mentioned products/services and referenced material constitute the author’s own judgement as of the date of the briefing and are subject to change without notice. WorldFirst shall not be responsible for any losses or damages arising from your reliance of such information.
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