Alibaba Hikes Fees for Global Members

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May 5 – China’s biggest e-commerce company, Alibaba, has announced that it will hike fees by as much as five-fold for its international members starting June 15.

The new annual fee is priced at US$2,999 and will give members the same pricing and level of service that local domestic exporters receive.

The new package is aimed at attracting new members looking for a better platform to sell their products. The company said that members outside of China will only pay the current yearly fee of US$589 and access the upgraded level of service if they sign up before June 15.

Alibaba follows a business-to-business model where registered small-business buyers and sellers link online. Last year, it cut membership fees for greater China exporters by a huge 60 percent in an aggressive move to add more traders. Last quarter profits plunged by 35.4 percent from the preceding quarter and the company expects modest profit margins for the rest of the year.