Amazon Referral Fees for Video Games

Amazon charges a 15% referral fee on Video Games products, covering physical game titles, controllers, gaming headsets, and other gaming accessories. Video Game Consoles carry a lower 8% referral fee. Amazon also adds a $1.80 variable closing fee per media item sold, the same closing fee applied to Books, Music, and Movies, and there is no per-item minimum referral fee in this category. Fees are calculated on the total sales price including shipping and gift wrap.

The video game market on Amazon is heavily influenced by release cycles and seasonal demand. New game titles typically see massive volume in the first two weeks of release before prices begin dropping. Console sellers benefit from the lower 8% rate: on a $500 console, the referral fee is $40 plus the $1.80 closing fee, though console margins remain thin unless you can source below wholesale. Used and collectible games can offer better margins, but condition grading must be accurate to avoid high return rates.