Is Mercari legit and worth selling on? Mercari reviews 2023 (2024)

If you want to make money on your unwanted items, there are literally thousands of options —but not all of them are created equal.

Mercari is one of the top online resale sites, having helped millions of people unload items they no longer want — everything from shoes to holiday decor. But is worth it? Here's what we think:

What is Mercari?

Mercari is an online consignment shop. The company bills itself as “The Selling App,” a place for users to list items for sale that they no longer want or use. The platform accepts most items, as long as they are capable of being shipped.

• Is Mercari legit?
• How does Mercari work? What sellers should know
• Mercari fees for sellers
• Tips for selling on Mercari
• Mercari reviews in 2023
• Sites like Mercari
• Is selling on Mercari worth it?

Is Mercari legit?

Launched in 2013, Mercari is a legit business with 2020 revenue of $636.8 million. With more than 644 customer reviews, the company has an A rating with the BBB. Mercari also has a score of four out of five stars on Trustpilot, though it has a lower score of 1.5 out of five stars on SiteJabber. So, is Mercari legit? Yes.

How does Mercari work? What sellers should know:

When you sell on Mercari, you can choose to sell on their traditional online marketplace, but you can also sign up for Mercari Local if it is available in your area.

If so, you’ll get a prompt during signup to opt in to Mercari Local, a subset of the marketplace that only displays your items to people within a certain radius of your home.

The process of selling on Mercari is similar to selling on Poshmark. All you need to do is createan account.

You can sign up using your Facebook profile or use an email and password, and then you can immediately get started.

To list an item, you’ll need to:

1. Click “Sell.”
2. Upload up to 12 photos of the item you want to list. Try to include photos of any damage.
3. Enter a title and description for your item. You should be as descriptive as possible.
4. Tag the item with hashtags that buyers might search.
5. Select a category for your item.
6. Enter the brand.
7. Select the condition of the item, from Poor to New.
8. Select the color for the item.
9. Enter shipping information (where you will be shipping from, whether you will pay for shipping, if you want to use Mercari Local).
10. Enter a listing price.

After your item sells, you will need to package and ship your item to the buyer. If you choose the local option, Mercari will schedule a day/time to pick up your item and deliver it to the other person (no packaging required).

In both cases, you’ll receive payment once the buyer rates your item.

Mercari also has a mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.

Here is Raven410’s experience as a new Mercari seller:

Signing up with Mercari was easy, but it took me about 30 minutes to create my listing, update my profile and get verified. Verification means you have linked your email, phone number, and submitted a government-issued ID (driver’s license, passport, or state ID).

You can also choose to link your seller profile to Facebook, but I didn’t want to do that. I prefer to keep that separate.

Since I signed up on my desktop computer, I had to download the app to verify my government ID. In retrospect, it would have been easier to sign up through the app. But, it’s nice to know I can use the app or my browser on my desktop to buy or sell on Mercari.

After I took pictures of my ID and a photo of myself through the Mercari app, it took about five minutes for my verification to be approved. Then, I got a Profile Verified badge. I figured that would add to my credibility.

I took seven pictures of my item (you can add up to 12), uploaded them and filled out the details.

Even though I signed up for Mercari Local, I decided to skip offering it on my listing because it costs $10.99. Since my item is not expensive it did not make sense to me to pay the $10.99 fee and it didn't seem reasonable to ask the buyer to pay it, especially with free shipping being the norm these days.

However, if I had a pricier item, I’d try Mercari Local. It seems like a hassle-free option, since you don’t need to pack the item or ship it. A Mercari driver picks it up from your home and delivers it on your behalf.

I liked that Mercari showed me how much I would make on the sale before listing the item. It helped me to price the item for what I was willing to sell it for. I also did a quick check for the item on Mercari and Amazon to make sure my price was competitive.

Who pays shipping on Mercari?

When you sell on Mercari, you can choose to pay for shipping or charge the buyer for shipping.

If you pay for shipping through Mercari, you can print the prepaid label and send your package; if not, you will need to purchase your own label. Note: If you provide your own label, you must provide Mercari with the tracking information so that they can track the status of the shipment.

If you choose to have the buyer pay, the cost of the label will be added to their total at checkout. A prepaid label will be created and sent to your email (or you can download it from the Order Status page).

Mercari protects shipments up to $200, unless you choose to ship with your own label.

How do you get paid on Mercari?

When a buyer confirms they’ve received your order and you both rate the transaction, money will be deposited into your Mercari account. There are a few things you can do with the money:

• Purchase items on Mercari
• Transfer the money to your bank account ($2 fee if amount is under $10)
• Transfer the money to your debit card via Instant Pay ($2 fee)

How much does the average Mercari seller make?

What you make on Mercari depends on the value, quantity, and quality of the items you sell. A 2021 Parade article reported ​​the average U.S. seller on Mercari makes $114 per month or $1,300 per year.

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Mercari fees for sellers

Listing an item on Mercari is free. However, when your item sells, there are Mercari fees to pay. Mercari charges 2.9% plus $0.30 for each payment received from the buyer. You will also pay a $2 fee if you choose to direct deposit a payment under $10 to your bank account and if you choose the Instant Pay option.

Mercari selling fee: How much does Mercari take?

Among the Mercari fees is the selling fee. Mercari does take a cut of your sale once your listing is bought. This fee currently starts at 10% of the listing price.

As the seller, you must also cover any shipping fees to get your item to the buyer. You can choose to ship the item on your own, or purchase shipping through Mercari’s partnerships with USPS, FedEx, or UPS.

As you think about what to sell your stuff for, consider the Mercari fees you will be charged.

Selling on Mercari? 6 tips to be more successful

1. Be descriptive. When selling on Mercari, the more descriptive you can be, the more likely you’ll sell your item. Why? Because you remove any doubt in the buyer’s mind. Make sure your headlines, descriptions, and photos are very detailed. And if your item has any damage, include photos of it!
2. Include measurements and details about material. Buyers won’t buy an item if they’re not sure what it’s made out of or whether or not it’ll fit. That only makes sense! Whenever possible, include this information.
3. Offer free shipping. While not a requirement, offering free shipping will definitely increase the chances that your item will sell fast.
4. Add 10% to your listing price. If you’re listing an item that you’re confident will sell (and sell quickly) then consider adding 10% to your list price. This will help you cover your fees and shipping, meaning more money in your pocket.
5. Consider dropping prices. If you list an item and it doesn’t sell quickly, consider dropping the price. Some buyers only buy after an item is marked down. That’s another reason to list for higher at first: It gives you the opportunity to drop prices later without actually forfeiting much money.

Clearly document your items in pictures, including any damage. Clearly showing the damage to your item will help safeguard you from scammers who try to claim your item has unreported damage.

Can you get scammed on Mercari?

Mercari acts as an online marketplace that connects sellers with buyers. That means you can rest assured that Mercari is legit and is not a scam. That being said, unscrupulous buyers and sellers alike can be found on Mercari just as they can be found on other marketplace websites.

For this reason, Mercari has put in place a number of buyer and seller protections to reduce the likelihood of being scammed or taken advantage of.

Protection against scams on Mercari

If you are a buyer, Mercari protects you by not releasing your payment to the seller until you receive the item you have ordered and confirm that it meets your expectations. If you don’t receive the item, or receive an item that doesn’t match the description in the listing, then you can request a full refund within three days of receipt.

If you are a seller, Mercari recommends that you use their prepaid labels, as these include shipping protection up to $200 for items that are damaged, lost, or stolen in transit.

In order to reduce the likelihood that a buyer will request a refund, it’s important that you are very clear in your item’s listing/description. Mercari will always side with the buyer in cases where the item was not described correctly or contains undisclosed damage like a rip, etc. With this in mind, be as detailed as possible and if your item has any damage, try to include photos that highlight this damage to remove any chance of the buyer complaining in the future.

Avoid these common Mercari scams

If you feel a transaction isn’t on the up and up, involve Mercari customer service immediately. It’s important to act fast to get the best possible outcome.

Keep an eye out for the following known scams:

• False condition description of item – Always take time to read the description thoroughly. Words that attempt to hard-sell an item like “perfect” or “amazing” are red flags. Descriptions that sound too good to be true usually are. Look for realistic descriptions and lots of pictures from different angles.
• Selling fakes as a high-end brand – It’s OK to ask for more pictures or information if you suspect an item is misrepresented. But when in doubt, pass on the item and keep looking.
• Seller ships the wrong item but tells you you can keep it – If you receive a different item and the seller claims it was a mistake, but asks you to accept and keep that item while they ship you the correct one, refuse. Mercari will assume you got what you paid for if you accept it.
• Buyer wants to purchase your items outside of Mercari – Keep all buying and selling on the platform. Avoid giving out your personal contact information. Mercari offers no protection for buyers and sellers outside of the app.
• Buyer returns a different item – Some buyers receive an item but process a return and send back a different item. Unfortunately the burden of proof is on the seller. Check buyer ratings and refuse a sale if you feel uneasy. Some people make videos of opening returned packages for proof.
• Address changes during the shipment – Since Mercari allows flexibility in shipping, sellers can use whatever carrier they prefer. But keep an eye on the tracking information they send. If you notice that the delivery address changes during the shipment, that is a sign of a scam. They are likely shipping a box of worthless items or trash shown as delivered so they can claim you received it.
• Delayed resolution – If you have an issue with a seller, create a case so you can get customer service involved early in the process. Some scammers are trying to delay the response so that buyers will miss the three-day window to report an issue.
• Instant flagging of new listings – If your listing is reported as soon as you create it, it might be a competitor selling the same item who is trying to sell the same thing. Consider listing the item on another site because multiple flags will limit your selling on Mercari.

Mercari reviews 2023

Mercari reviews on BBB

Mercari has been accredited with the BBB since 2014, and has an A rating with the organization.

Mercari has closed a total of 4,806 complaints from customers in the past three years. The vast majority of complaints come from issues with product quality (i.e., the buyer was not happy with the quality of their purchase). Mercari has received more than 1,400 customer reviews, with an average score of 1.08 out of 5 stars.

Mercari reviews on Reddit

While you can find discussion threads on Reddit talking about Mercari, it is important to note that many of them are at least two or three years old. Be sure to check dates when you read Reddit, as some of them may be outdated opinions. That being said, you’ll find a mix of positive and negative reviews on Reddit about Mercari. Sellers especially have left very positive reviews about the website.

Mercari reviews on Trustpilot

Mercari has an average rating of 2.8 stars out of 5 on Trustpilot, based on a total of 18K+ reviews. 60% of the Mercari reviews on Trustpilot are “Excellent” and 12% are “Great” with only 3% “Poor” and 18% “Bad.”

Is Mercari legit FAQs

Is Mercari a good place to sell?

Short answer: Yes! If you have clothing, shoes, or handbags that you no longer wear or use, selling them on Mercari can be a great way to bring in some extra cash that you can use to pay down debt, fund your emergency savings, or treat yourself to a new outfit that you actually want.

Is Mercari safe to purchase from?

Yes, Mercari is a safe platform to use. It offers the following protections:

• Escrow payment system (money is not released until buyer receives item and rates seller)
• Buyer and seller ratings
• Secure payments and protection of user data
• Automatic detection of use violations
• Dedicated customer service team to resolve buyer and seller issues
• Fraud detection

How do I know if a Mercari seller is legit?

Check the seller’s profile before making a purchase. Legit sellers have good reviews, are verified, and will accept and answer questions without a hassle.

Also, if the listing seems too good to be true, it probably is. Avoid items with rock-bottom pricing and vague or hard-sell descriptions that push for a fast sale.

Will Mercari refund me if I get scammed?

It depends. You are eligible for a refund as long as you:

• Keep your transaction within the Mercari app
• Create a return request within three days of receipt if you have an issue
• Don’t rate the seller (rating the seller completes the transaction)

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3 sites like Mercari

There are lots of other sites like Mercari to sell your unwanted items. Here are a few:

eBay

eBay was one of the first online marketplaces to buy and sell unwanted items, and it still remains the industry gold standard. eBay boasts an A+ accredited rating from the Better Business Bureau, though customer reviews are less favorable.

eBay chargers sellers 12.9% of the sale price or lower, plus $0.30 per order. Combined with Mercari’s transaction fee of 2.9% for sellers, their fees are the same. However, eBay doesn’t require buyers to rate their items before paying its sellers. If you sell on eBay, your payment will be directly deposited into your checking account once the buyer submits payment and you ship the item. You can choose from a daily, weekly, biweekly, or monthly payout schedule. Mercari holds the money in your Mercari account until you spend it on the site or initiate a transfer.

Poshmark

Poshmark and Mercari are similar in many ways. Both websites act as an online consignment shop designed to connect buyers with sellers. Both are fairly straightforward to use. Both accept clothing, jewelry, and other items.

But there are certain key differences. While both Poshmark and Mercari are legit businesses that have been around for years, Mercari has much more favorable reviews, and a higher BBB score than Poshmark, implying that both buyers and sellers are happier with Mercari than Poshmark.

Poshmark charges 20% of the list price of a sale — twice what Mercari charges. That being said, for that fee Poshmark handles all transaction fees, shipping, and customer service, while selling through Mercari will require the seller to provide shipping at their own expense or request the buyer pay for shipping.

Poshmark review

Thredup

thredUP is different from Mercari and other online consignment shops for a couple reasons: 1. thredUP is exclusively a resale site for clothing and accessories, while Mercari’s marketplace includes clothing, electronics, decor, and other items. 2. thredUP sells your items for you.

When you want to sell with thredUP, you send in your items, and they professionally photograph and list them on their site, setting the price they think your items will sell for on the site.

Because they “do the work for you,” thredUP fees are much higher, ranging from 20% to over 90% of the selling price depending on the price of the item (the higher the price of the item, the lower the commission fee).

thredUP has an A- rating from the Better Business Bureau, slightly lower than Mercari’s A rating, and customer reviews on the BBB and Trustpilot are slightly less positive.

Thredup review

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Bottom line: Selling on Mercari, is it worth it?

Based on its mostly positive reviews, low commission fees, and an A Better Business Bureau rating, selling on Mercari is worth it as long as you take precautions to avoid scam buyers, which you should do on any online consignment site.

Mercari is a great option because:

• It’s easy to get signed up and list an item for sale
• You can choose how you want to ship or deliver the item(s), choosing from Mercari Shipping that offers a discounted prepaid shipping label for purchase, Mercari Local delivery for $10.99, or shipping the items with your carrier of choice (costs vary)
• You can sell on the app or on your computer
• If you choose SMS notifications, you’ll get a text message when your item sells
• You get paid once the buyer confirms receipt of your item and you both rate the transaction
• You have a choice of instant pay (verified profiles with a linked debit card), direct deposit, or you can use your balance to purchase items on Mercari

Mercari is a legit site to make money selling your unwanted clothing, electronics, and other goods.