Setting the commission is the most important decision in an agent job, because on ScrapTrade it is set before the hiring agreement is confirmed and locked afterwards. This guide shows how it works for a seller-hired and a buyer-hired agent, gives worked examples in US dollars, and sets out five things to check before you confirm. It suits both sides: agents choosing what to propose, and sellers and buyers deciding whether a rate is fair. It describes ScrapTrade's published rules and makes no promise about earnings. We have a commercial interest in the scrap trade.
The rules in short
- The commission is a percentage, set when the agent is hired.
- ScrapTrade suggests a default of 5%. The hirer can change it before confirming.
- Once the agreement is confirmed, the rate is locked for that agreement. A different rate means a new agreement, and the original stays on record.
- It is calculated by the platform and shown in the payment breakdown.
| Seller-hired agent | Buyer-hired agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Who pays | The seller | The buyer |
| How it is paid | Deducted from the seller's proceeds when payment settles | Added on top of the purchase price |
| Effect on the other side | The buyer's price is unchanged | The seller's price is not reduced |
Worked examples
These are illustrative arithmetic, not price guides. Platform charges and taxes are outside the commission and are not included.
Seller-hired at the 5% default. A US$1,000 sale. Commission: US$50. Seller proceeds before platform charges: US$950.
Seller-hired at 8.5%. The same sale. Commission: US$85. Seller proceeds before platform charges: US$915. This matches the example on ScrapTrade's agent fees and commission page.
Buyer-hired at 7.5%. A US$1,000 listing. Commission: US$75. The buyer pays US$1,075. The seller still receives US$1,000, less platform charges, and the agent receives US$75. This also matches the fees page.
How to decide a rate
There is no published "right" percentage, and we have no data on what rates are typical. Here is a way to reason about it.
If you are the agent:
- Estimate the hours the job takes: preparing, photographing, listing, answering buyers, following up.
- Estimate the value of the typical lot. Commission scales with the sale, so a small lot at 5% may not repay the work.
- Decide whether to charge more for harder jobs, such as mixed loads that need sorting, or less for simple ones.
- Propose a rate and explain it. A client who understands what the percentage covers is less likely to dispute it.
If you are hiring:
- Estimate how many hours the work would take you, what those hours are worth and what the commission would be.
- If the commission would be a large share of a small lot, consider doing it yourself.
- You can start with one lot to see how it goes. ScrapTrade's own advice is the same.
Five things to check before you confirm
- The percentage. Keep 5% or set your own. You cannot change it after confirming.
- What it applies to. A listing, one transaction or a period of work. The agreement should say which.
- What it is calculated on. Which amount the percentage applies to, and which charges sit outside it.
- What happens if the deal does not complete. How cancellations, refunds, returns, disputes and failed payments are treated, and when the commission becomes payable. Ask this before you confirm. We could not verify it from the fee page.
- Your breakdown. You should be able to see the calculation, payment status and settlement for your part of the deal.
Fees and commission may attract tax. Ask a tax adviser how they apply to you.
How to explain your commission
Say it in plain words, early. For example: "My commission is a percentage set in the agreement before we start, from the 5% default. It is deducted from your proceeds when the sale settles, and you can see it in the payment breakdown." Do not promise a price or a sale. See How to Become a Scrap Agent: Step by Step for the whole job.
Where to go next
- ScrapTrade home
- Marketplace
- Live scrap prices and calculator
- Hire a scrap agent
- Become a scrap agent
- Create a free account
For the five ways to earn on the platform, read How to Make Money on ScrapTrade: 5 Routes. scrap.trade describes itself as a global marketplace, and we cannot confirm availability in every country or that your country's law allows a given deal.
What we could not verify
- Typical commission rates. None are published.
- How failed deals are treated in the commission.
- Platform fee percentages.
Frequently asked questions
What is the default scrap agent commission?
5%, set by the hirer before confirming. It can be changed until then.
Can the commission change after we agree?
No. Once confirmed it is locked. A change needs a new agreement.
Does the commission include platform charges and taxes?
No. They are separate and shown in the payment breakdown.
Who pays if a buyer hires the agent?
The buyer, on top of the purchase price. The seller's price is not reduced.
Sources
- ScrapTrade, Scrap agent fees and commission, How hiring a scrap agent works and Hire a scrap agent to sell your scrap, as read in October 2026.
The 5% example is arithmetic, not a price guide; the 8.5% and 7.5% examples are the illustrations on the fees page. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. ScrapTrade operates a scrap marketplace and has a commercial interest in the scrap trade.