Why doesn't the commission received match the merchant rate?

Discrepancies between a merchant’s advertised commission and your final payment are typically due to affiliate network fees, currency conversion fluctuations, or specific product-category exclusions set by the brand.

Common Reasons for Commission Differences

Understanding the math behind your affiliate revenue:

1. Network Fees: Most affiliate networks (e.g., Awin, CJ) charge a platform fee or a "network override." Skimlinks receives the commission after these fees are deducted, which is then shared with you.
2. Product Exclusions: Many brands offer different rates for different products (e.g., 10% for clothing but only 2% for electronics). If your sale was in a lower-tier category, the payout will differ from the "headline" rate.
3. Currency Conversion: If a sale occurs in USD but your account is paid in EUR or GBP, the daily exchange rate and conversion fees will affect the final amount.
4. VAT/Tax Deductions: In many regions, commissions are calculated on the net price of the item (excluding taxes and shipping), resulting in a lower total than the gross sale price.

Resolution: How to verify your commission?

• Check the Hub: Look at the Performance by Merchant report. We display the commission we received from the network.
• Review Merchant Terms: Visit the merchant’s profile in the Hub to check for "Non-commissionable items" or "VAT-exclusive" rules.

Action: Please do not contact support for minor decimal differences. These are standard industry variations caused by the factors above. Only open a ticket if a sale shows a 0% rate or is significantly lower than the stated minimum tier.

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