How vouchers really cut your margin
A ₱50 voucher on a ₱499 item looks like a 10% discount. But your product cost doesn't go down with it, so the ₱50 comes almost straight out of your profit.
The platform's percentage fees are charged on the price after your discount, so they shrink a little. On Shopee, a ₱50 voucher lowers the fees on a ₱499 order by ₱8.92. The other ₱41.08 comes out of your pocket. If you made ₱139.98 on that order before, you now make ₱98.90: 29% less profit from a 10% discount.
That's why a promo needs more orders just to stand still. The checker shows how many.
A worked example: an 11.11 sale
A Shopee Marketplace seller normally sells 300 orders a month of a ₱499 item that costs ₱250, with ₱15 of packaging. For 11.11 they plan 20% off and join the Mega Discount Voucher program, which adds a 4% fee capped at ₱200 per item.
| Normal | 11.11 promo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price after discount | ₱499.00 | ₱399.20 |
| Fees and charges | ₱94.02 | ₱92.19 |
| Product cost and packaging | ₱265.00 | ₱265.00 |
| Profit per order | ₱139.98 | ₱42.01 |
Profit per order drops by 70%. To earn the same as a normal month, the seller needs about 233% more orders: 1,000 instead of 300. The most they could discount and still break even is 30.7% (with the program fee). A sale can still be worth it for the extra visibility, reviews and new followers, but now the seller knows the real price of those.
Checklist before you join a campaign
- Know your break-even discount. The checker shows the most you can give before an order loses money. Stay well inside it.
- Add every fee the campaign brings. Free shipping, voucher and live programs often charge an extra percentage on each order. Add it as a campaign program fee.
- Check the minimum spend. A voucher with a ₱1,000 minimum on a ₱499 item makes buyers add items. That can help, but check the profit on the bigger order.
- Price the gift too. Freebies feel small but come off every order. Add them as a free gift.
- Plan your stock. If the promo needs twice the orders to earn the same, make sure you can pack and ship twice as many on time.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays for a Shopee or Lazada voucher?
It depends on the voucher. Shop vouchers and discounts you create are paid by you, and they lower the price the platform charges its fees on. Platform vouchers are paid by the platform, but joining the program behind them often adds an extra fee on each order.
How much discount can I give and still make money?
Up to the point where profit per order reaches zero. The checker works this out for your price, costs and fees. For a ₱499 item costing ₱250 on Shopee, it's about 34%. Most sellers stay well below that to keep some profit.
Is a bundle better than a discount?
Often, yes. A bundle discount spreads over more items, and fixed costs like packaging and the per-order processing fee are paid once. Compare a bundle and a single-item discount here and see which leaves more profit per order.
Do vouchers reduce the platform's commission?
Yes. Commission and most percentage fees are charged on the price after your own discounts and vouchers. That's why your fees drop a little during a promo, but not nearly as much as the discount.
Should I join every big sale like 11.11 and 12.12?
Not automatically. Join when you can afford the discount, ship the extra orders on time, and the visibility is worth the lower profit. Use the checker for each sale, since program fees and vouchers change.