You’re probably familiar with eBay and the idea of making money by selling things there. Maybe you’ve also heard of Poshmark?
But there are other platforms that are starting to pop up, like Mercari and LetGo.
If you’re interested in learning more about Mercari (from a seller’s perspective), I’ll tell you all about it, including showing you how Mercari works, how you can sell on Mercari, and I’ll also share some tips to help you make more sales.
Okay, so what is Mercari?
Mercari is a platform like eBay that lets you sell things like clothes, toys, accessories, and other items to other individuals.
While Mercari might not be as popular as eBay or Amazon, it has grown significantly the last few years.
It’s been downloaded over 50 MILLION times, and there are over 350,000+ items listed daily.
This is definitely a platform you should consider if you’re thinking of selling something online!
So… How does Mercari work?
For the most part, Mercari works like other selling apps. You get your item, take some photos, create a listing, sell the item, and ship it to the buyer.
But there are a few things that Mercari does a bit differently, so I’ll go into detail about the entire selling process:
Create Your Account
The first thing you should do is create an account on Mercari.
You can create an account on their website, but I highly suggest doing it through either their Android or iOS app (since that’s what you’ll use for listing items for sale).
Verification
To help build trust with potential customers (and decrease fraud), you might be asked to provide some personal information so that Mercai can verify you.
To verify your profile completely (and earn a verification badge), you will need to verify your email, phone number, and provide a picture of your government ID.
You can read more about verification here.
List Your Item
After you’ve been verified, you’re ready to list an item!
Since you’ll be adding pictures to your listing, it might be easier to just use the Mercari app on your phone to do the listing (so you can take pictures and upload directly from your phone), but you can use the website to list items.
The first thing you will add is up to 12 photos. Make sure to photograph any flaws in the items and anything special that will be included.
Next, you will give your listing a title and a description.
You also can add up to 3 hashtags to help customers find your item.
Next you will select a category for your item. The category options are:
- Women
- Men
- Electronics
- Toys & Collectibles
- Home
- Beauty
- Kids
- Vintage & Collectibles
- Sports & Outdoors
- Handmade
- Other
After picking a category you will then add the brand of the item, and then you will pick what condition the item is in (New, Like New, Good, Fair, Poor).
Then you will put where the item will be shipped from and if you want to pay for the shipping or make the buyer pay for the shipping.
And before you officially list your item, you will put in a price.
Finish Your Listing
Before you hit that list button, make sure you double-check to make sure you have all the necessary information and that everything is correct.
Sell The Item
Here’s where Mercari is a little different from other platforms. It’s actually encouraged to negotiate or haggle on the price.
So once your item begins showing up in search results you may start getting “offers” on your item – basically offers are people asking if you would be willing to take a different price for your item.
You can accept or reject these offers.
You may also get some questions from potential buyers about your items, make sure you take some times to answer, it could help you make a sale!
Package and Ship
Once you’ve accepted an offer or if your item was bought for the full price, it’s time to pack the item and ship it to the buyer.
If you chose a prepaid label during the shipping process, you will be sent a prepaid label to use on the package.
If you did not choose a prepaid label, you will need to purchase shipping yourself and input the tracking number / shipping information into Mercari.
Get Paid!
Once the item is received by the buyer, they have 3 days to “accept” the item. The buyer just needs to confirm that they did receive the correct item and they will also give you a rating.
Once that is complete you will get the money in your account.
If for some reason the buyer doesn’t give you a rating during the 3-day period, you will automatically be given a 5 star review and your money will be released to you.
You can get your money through direct deposit or through PayPal.
Mercari Selling Fees and Payment
Every platform is going to have fees.
Yeah, even Mercari!
To list an item, there is no fee.
If the item sells, there will be a flat 10% fee.
There is also a payment processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30 for payments made on your sold items.
Once you’re ready to withdraw your earnings, you might have to pay a fee.
If you withdraw your earnings using direct deposit and the deposit will be over $10, there is no fee. If the deposit is under $10, then you will be charged a $2 fee.
All PayPal withdraws have a $2 fee (but they are instant!).
How to Make More Money On Mercari
Here are some tips to help improve your Mercari listings so you can make more sales:
Product Photos
- Mo’ Pictures Mo’ Money: Mercari lets you add up to 12 photos, so don’t be stingy. Show customers all the angles you can!
- Neutral! Try to use a neutral background on your photos so the item your selling stands out.
- Let there be light! Use natural lighting for better-looking photos (and so the colors of the item looks more true-to-life).
- Au Naturel: Try to show photos of the ACTUAL item you’re selling, not just stock photos.
The Devil is in the Details
- Measurements: This is especially important if you’re selling clothes, but this is important for almost any item. Try to take measurements and add them to the listing. Just because something is size “S” doesn’t mean it fits like a small!
- Material: Add the type of material that the item is made out of to your listing. You could get people that are searching for that specific material, or some people might be actively avoiding a certain material.
- Brand: If you know the brand or manufacturer, add that to your listing too!
Sneaky Tricks to Secure the Bag
- Increase the Price – Since sending offers and negotiating is common on Mercari, when you first list your item, add 10% – 15% (so you can take a lower price).
- Free Shipping – This one works for eBay too. People loveee free shipping! Consider offering free shipping (you can roll the shipping costs into the listing price).
Be Everywhere!
This is a bit of a bonus tip, but you don’t have to only list your items on Mercari.
You can crosspost! You can list the same items on eBay, Mercari, LetGo, Poshmark and other platforms that you use. Just make sure when the item sells on one platform that you actually remove the other listings!
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for another place to sell items for extra cash, Mercari is a good alternative to eBay!
FAQs About Selling on Mercari
Is it worth it to sell on Mercari?
I think it’s worth it to sell items on Mercari! It’s an active, legitimate platform with 350,000+ of items listed daily.
How do you get your money on Mercari?
Mercari lets you withdraw your money using PayPal or direct deposit.