Instagram announces Checkout Feature, Will Charge Sellers a Fee

Mark Zuckerberg is not playing this 2019 (Not that he’s been playing since 2004, anyway).

On Tuesday, Instagram announced that it’s introducing a new feature “Checkout on Instagram.”

“When you find a product you love, you can now buy it without leaving the app,” Instagram said in a statement on Tuesday.

Checkout was launched in closed beta with more than 20 top brands in the US and more brands are expected to come on board in the coming weeks.

An Instagram spokesperson told TechCrunch, “We will introduce a selling fee to help fund programs and products that help make checkout possible, as well as offset transaction-related expenses.”

When asked how much the selling fee will be, the spokesperson said: “We aren’t sharing the specific number right now. We are testing a selling fee with businesses during the closed beta. It will not change the price of the items for consumers.”

On how it works, Instagram said:

When you tap to view a product from a brand’s shopping post, you’ll see a “Checkout on Instagram” button on the product page. Tap it to select from various options such as size or color, then you’ll proceed to payment without leaving Instagram. You’ll only need to enter your name, email, billing information and shipping address the first time you check out.

Once your first order is complete, your information will be securely saved for convenience the next time you shop. You’ll also receive notifications about shipment and delivery right inside Instagram, so you can keep track of your purchase.

Today, we're introducing checkout on Instagram. When you find a product you love, you can now buy it without leaving the app. ??https://t.co/o1L5WsfgVE pic.twitter.com/IlVJxOr10x

— Instagram (@instagram) March 19, 2019