Is mercari safe: Every day seems to bring a new platform where you can sell your old clothes and other items for sweet, sweet cash. These platforms are slowly disappearing from the front. In fact, I’ve found that less than half of the platforms I’ve seen have any staying power after being a full-time reseller for over 4 years.
I am cautious about listing my listings on new platforms. If I’m going to do something, I give it my all. Imagine listing all your items on a platform and then finding out it doesn’t receive enough traffic to make sales. Or that it is a scam.
Mercari was not available to me when it first appeared. Nevertheless, I felt that diversification was in my best interests due to the changing environment at eBay.
Two years ago, I spent a few days crossposting almost 500 of my eBay listings onto Mercari. This was before ListPerfectly, so I manually did it. I was able to sell consistently on the platform because of the subsequent rush in sales and getting paid. Before we get into the details and my thoughts, many Mercari reviews reach the same conclusion.
Mercari is a legitimate company with annual sales of close to one billion dollars. Mercari is a legitimate business with annual sales of close to one billion dollars. Despite its low rating from the BBB (1.12/5 star) and other crowd-sourced review websites, Mercari still has an “A+” rating. The most frequent negative review of Mercari mentions that you can be scammed as either a buyer or a seller.
If you are thinking of selling or buying on Mercari, then you are in the right place. Sign up using my link on a mobile device to get $10 off your first order, and $20 extra when you sell your 100th item.
How Mercari works for sellers
Mercari functions just like any other platform. It’s easy to add or transition to Mercari if you have experience selling on eBay and Poshmark.
If you are new to selling products online, here is how it works:
- Download the Mercari App and create an Account. You can also create an Account on your browser.
- Take pictures of the item(s), you wish to sell. (Get item photography tips).
- Upload the photos, and give a title and a brief description.
- Post your item for sale. It is now searchable and can be viewed while browsing.
- You can print the Mercari label and attach it to the items you have packaged. Then, drop it off at the shipping center (post office, FedEx, or UPS).
- Once the item has been received, they will assign you a rating of 5 stars. You can use the funds to purchase items on Mercari or transfer them to your bank account.
- Continue ad infinitum
Although it may seem daunting at first, you’ll soon feel more comfortable and efficient after a few listings. Mercari makes it easy for sellers to join and will guide you through the whole process.
Is Mercari Safe?
You’ve probably seen some very angry Mercari reviewers online. This is true for any company’s reviews section. People who have had bad experiences tend to shout the loudest.
Mercari’s TrustPilot rating is 4 stars, compared to eBay’s 1.4 stars or Poshmark 1.6.
Because I believe Mercari is a fantastic opportunity that you should seriously consider, let us take a look at some of the common concerns I have seen in Mercari reviews. Here are some common themes I found in nearly 1,000 reviews:
1. Poor Customer Service
“Terrible customer support it’s nonexistent they don’t answer the phone and never return calls Customer service doesn’t work on their app so there is no way to contact them.”
Concern: Customer Service is difficult to reach, difficult to work with, and doesn’t provide adequate solutions.
Is this valid?
Yes, to a certain extent. Many customers have had problems with Mercari customer service and were dissatisfied by the results. It is rare to have problems that cost you money. In 300 sales, I dealt with customer service four times and never had an issue. It is better to contact them via their app than my phone if you have a problem. My issue was resolved in all cases and I received an email within 24 hours.
2. High Fees
“Fees, fees, fees. There was nothing left after I received my money. Why don’t they charge one flat fee, like everyone else?
Concern: High fees are charged in many ways.
Is this valid?
No. No. Most major selling platforms charge fees of less than 1%. Poshmark is a notable exception. Many complain about fees and decide to sell elsewhere or start their own website. Good luck! I’m willing to pay 10-15% to be able to sell my products to millions of hungry buyers looking for someone to lend them money.
Mercari doesn’t charge any listing fees. If you need it immediately, there are no fees for money transfer to your bank.
3. Low-Quality Items for Sale
“… This is where you sell anything that’s broken, old or missing parts. You want the buyer to have the least control of their return.
Concern: Some sellers are not honest about the condition of their products and sell items that smell, are fake, or are damaged.
Is this valid?
Yes. However, this concern isn’t limited to Mercari. Bad actors are common on platforms. They are looking to make quick buck by scamming users or over-selling their products.
The return window for Mercari is very short, making this a particularly serious problem.
Scammers rely on buyers not rating them within three days, which closes the possibility of a return or not returning the item within ten days. Sellers can use their scam 100% without any consequences.
This is why I wouldn’t buy luxury or expensive items on Mercari. I am more comfortable selling expensive items on eBay than I am buying them. I’ve heard of many people receiving knock-offs from Mercari (which is also possible on eBay), but we have purchased dozens of genuine Louis Vuitton items via eBay and resold them with no problems.
You may also be subject to scams as a seller. People might return your item, break it and exchange it for their used item, or even swap your item with their existing item.
In such situations, Mercari will often side with the buyer (often without even contacting the seller). This is why I sell high-end items on eBay, where I feel I have greater protection.
4. Difficult Return Policy
“… Return was a nightmare. It was granted within three days. If I hadn’t, I would have been even more screwed.”
Concern: Returns are a problem for honest buyers, and can cause frustration for honest sellers.
Is this valid?
Yes. Yes. Because I don’t want to buy anything that could cause problems.
Many people (buyers and sellers) have experienced problems with returns on Mercari. You have a time limit to request a return (3 days), and to mail it (10 days), and you won’t be able to do so if you miss that window.
With Mercari’s after-thought-of-a-return-system does work I would make every effort to avoid using it as a buyer. If you need to return an item, you should stick with selling it on Mercari.
Do the negative Mercari Reviews also have merit?
They do. Mercari is a relatively new platform that has not been updated fast enough to keep up with the influx in users.
These issues are not significant enough to make Mercari unprofitable as a money-making platform, but they should change how you view it as both a buyer and seller. Let’s cut to the chase: be cautious.
The Benefits of Selling on Mercari (According to Me …)
After we have addressed some of your concerns about selling on Mercari we can return to the center to discuss the positive aspects of the platform.
- Less saturated than eBay. Let’s be honest, there are now more resellers than ever. You will have access to buyers through reduced competition if you jump on new platforms as they become available. I’ve sold items on Mercari within 24hrs of listing, which I wasn’t able to do on eBay for over a year.
- People love to use their Mercari balance to purchase stuff. Mercari balances are a great way to buy stuff, whether they’re hiding their purchases from their spouse or husband, or because it feels like “free money”. This means that I often get more for my items through Mercari than I would on eBay. Many people are able to sell gift cards on Mercari at a higher price than their face value because they can be used to purchase.
- Provides access to additional buyers. Different kinds of people use different platforms. Mercari gives you access to people who shop online but don’t want eBay or any other platform.
- This allows you to diversify your reselling business. eBay can change quickly and even drop in value from time to time. You won’t be left behind if you have another source of income.
- There are no restrictions on the items that you can sell. eBay now allows you to sell a variety of items through managed payments. They are all still permitted on Mercari but don’t be alarmed. If you are selling bullion or coins, tickets, and other items, it is okay to do so on Mercari. It’s time for you to sell on eBay.
Conclusion
Is Mercari safe? Yes! Do you want to sell your items on Mercari For sure! Do you trust them with your livelihood? Ehhh…better not.
I believe that Mercari can be a great platform to sell your used stuff. It would not be the best choice if you are just looking to get rid of a few old items. OfferUp or Facebook Marketplace would be my first choice.
If you are a reseller or someone who sells unusual items, or simply don’t mind shipping stuff, then Mercari is a great option. Mercari is a great addition to your arsenal.
This article was very brief on the ” How to Succeed on Mercari” topic. But don’t worry! We have many other articles on that subject! Let’s look at some other points people often wonder about and tell you where to find out more.
