Mercari Sell Almost Anything in Your Online Store

Mercari review quick take: A free marketplace offering just about anyone an opportunity to start their own store and sell products of their choice.

What is Mercari?

Mercari is an online marketplace where people buy and sell items. It has been around since 2009 and has become one of the largest e-commerce platforms in the world. It’s similar to eBay, Etsy, Amazon, etc. The difference is that it’s free to use.

Keep reading if you want to learn how to make money using Mercari.

How Mercari Seller Works

The e-commerce platform allows you to declutter your home and sell items you no longer need while discovering new items you want. You can also source items elsewhere to sell on Mercari.

Side Hustle Potential

You can sell anything on Mercari, from expensive items to handmade items. These include clothes, electronics, books, toys, furniture, home decor, jewelry, art, antiques, collectibles, cars, boats, motorcycles, tools, sporting goods, and more. Popular items tend to sell faster and at a higher price.

Many users have given high ratings for the platform claiming that they love Mercari and have shared they’ve made thousands of dollars in the last few years.

Mercari is Best For

Mercari is best suited for all kinds of users who want to sell unused items or buy new and used products at great prices. Buyers benefit because they can acquire quality products at affordable prices, while the sellers can get rid of unused items and get some money in exchange.

How to Sell on Mercari

The only thing you need to get started is a Mercari account. You’re then connected to thousands of potential buyers.

1. Easily add your items. With your mobile phone, take several photos of the item.
2. Provide product descriptions of the item. Specify the brand or manufacturer and other information about the product.
3. Set your sale price or let the system determine the price. If you decide to set a price, you can also choose whether to allow buyers to pay using PayPal or a credit card.
4. Schedule your listing to go live at a certain date and time.

As a Mercari seller, you have access to the Shipping Center along with shipping protection.

• Once you have a buyer, you package the product, print a prepaid label, and mail the package.
• It’s important to know you have 3 business days to ship the product.

Shipping is made possible through Mercari’s network of delivery service providers in the United States. For example, you can drop off the package at a UPS Store location.

Getting Paid

Mercari pays you after the transaction is complete. That happens once the buyer and seller rate each other. After that, the platform deposits the funds into the seller’s account. Sellers get payments sent to their debit cards or bank accounts linked to Mercari.

Key Features

• Free shipping worldwide. UPS Store, USPS, and FedEx. Mercari collaborates with various delivery service providers to streamline the shipping and delivery process.
• Fast delivery. A shipping label is available to sellers at a lower rate than other delivery service providers.
• 100% satisfaction is guaranteed with ratings. A buyer is required to rate the seller after a transaction to have the transaction completed. Sellers can also rate the buyer.
• Declutter and Purchase. Sellers can make money off items that they no longer need. And use this money to buy new items that they want.

Minimum Requirements

• You must have an account with Mercari to be allowed to trade on the platform.
• You need to provide information such as debit card number, routing number, and valid bank account details.
• The platform is currently available for users who live in all 50 States in the United States and users in Japan.

Fees

• No listing fee. You are not charged any fee for posting your listings on this platform.
• Selling fee. A payment processing fee of 2.9% plus $0.30 for each payment received from the buyer
• Shipping fee. Shipping costs vary based on the items being delivered.
• Cash-out fee. No fee for direct deposit over $10. A fee of $2.00 for amounts below $10.

Mercari Review: Sellers

Overall Mercari review: the marketplace is safe, not a scam and legitimate business. The platform is user-friendly, highly rated by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and rated as “Great” on Trustpilot.

Beware of Scammers on Mercari

It’s possible to get scammy buyers through any marketplace. Mercari has a team of people who monitor the platform 24/7 and ban users who try to do anything fraudulent or illegal. The robust rating system is also helpful in knowing whom you’re selling to.

The platform is committed to protecting buyers (Buyer Protection Guarantee) and sellers (Seller Protection), which involves providing guidelines concerning return policy, terms of use, and privacy policy.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Wide variety of products, both new and used
• Has millions of registered users
• No contact between the buyer and the seller
• Considerably lower shipping costs
• A streamlined process of buying and selling
• Huge discounts when using the platform’s shipping labels
• Insurance coverage for products shipped

Cons

• Sales fees can be high
• Charge a fee for requesting withdrawal under $10
• Negative reviews can impact your store

Mercari Alternatives

Mercari alternatives include Esty, another popular online marketplace for handmade goods, and eBay. To sell luxury goods and high fashions, alternatives include Poshmark and ThredUP. Want to sell tech gadgets? Check out Gazelle.