The State Duma commented on the introduction of "tips" by one of the leading marketplaces.

      Marketplaces will reap millions in profits from tips intended for employees of order pickup points, Dmitry Tortev, a member of the Expert Council of the State Duma Committee for the Protection of Competition, told the EAN news agency.

      The expert believes that it is highly likely Ozon will introduce a 30% commission on tips. Another 5% will be deducted from the fees for processing the transaction.

      If that happens, it would indicate that the marketplace is not doing very well, the EAN interlocutor believes. "Ozon is not the first to try to 'fix' its financial model with voluntary contributions from customers," Dmitry Tortev says.

      According to experts, users of the marketplace place more than 100 million orders a month, and even if 1% of them include tips, Ozon will receive millions of rubles in net profit in the form of commissions, the deputy told EAN.

      A user can leave a tip for each order placed. Tip amounts start at 10 rubles. The default "No tip" order amount remains in place; the buyer sets the tip amount themselves.