How to Sell on Mercari

You’ve seen dozens of apps to sell items from your phone, but have you ever wondered how to sell on Mercari for the best results?

Every so often I go through my house and declutter. Maybe it’s purging seasonal clothes, or toys the kids have outgrown, or just the idea of making more space in our house. But then the question comes up: what do we do with all this stuff? Trash it? Donate it? You know I am all about making money quickly and easily, so I’m here to tell you about one of my favorite apps and how to sell on Mercari.

How to Sell on Mercari:

Mercari has been around since 2013 when it launched in Japan. Since then it has caught on like wildfire and is known as a “flea market app” (their words, not mine!) with over 10 billion transactions worldwide every month.

I have been selling on apps like Poshmark and eBay for some time, and I have done really well. Mercari is a little different. While Poshmark is known for better quality, like-new, in-style clothing (and I teach you how to sell on Poshmark here), Mercari is more of an “if it ships, it lists” kind of vibe. It’s a legitimate way to make extra cash like eBay in that Mercari attracts lots of collectors and people looking for great deals. Unlike eBay, Mercari isn’t an auction site although there is a private chat feature that allows for buyers to ask questions and negotiate prices.

How Does Mercari Work?

Mercari is pretty straight-forward in getting started, and the app developers pride themselves on making the process of selling and buying as easy as possible. You can find Mercari on your desktop, or download the app from the Apple Store or Google Play. Once you enter your account details, you are ready to go!

1. 1. Find an item you want to sell (pretty much everything goes, but make sure it’s not illegal or prohibited),
   2. Take some good quality photos. You can upload up to 12 photos. I always recommend making sure the area is well-lit, natural lighting works best, and try to include different angles or views so the buyer knows what they are getting.
   3. Create a listing with lots of details. These will be keywords used when searching, so include information about any brand names, condition, size, color, if it works, etc.
   4. Check your messages in case a potential buyer is trying to reach you about questions or price negotiation.
   5. Once the item sells, you have three days to ship it with tracking. After delivery is confirmed, Mercari will release your money after a 48-hour hold. Pack items in the way you would like to receive something.
   6. Make sure you rate the buyer, and they will most likely rate you as well. Do your best to send items as described and pack items well so you have a good rating.

Mercari Shipping

Unlike Poshmark where the buyer pays the shipping, Mercari does take the shipping out of the seller fee. You’ll want to keep this in mind as you set your prices.

Even so, they make shipping really easy. You have two options: use one of their pre-paid shipping labels or purchase your own shipping with tracking. I recommend if you are a new seller, the pre-paid label is really convenient. You have the option to choose which carrier you want to use (USPS, UPS, or FedEx). All the rates are pre-determined based on package weight and include insurance up to $200. The pre-paid labels save you up to 30% off retail shipping prices which is a nice benefit.

If you don’t have a printer, no problem. You can take your items directly to a local UPS store and have them pack everything up, print the label, and ship it for you. Of course, this costs a little more, but it might be worth it if you don’t have a lot of boxes, packing material, are unsure how to pack it well, or don’t have a printer.

Mercari Selling Fees

Listing items is free on Mercari. So you don’t have to pay any fees until your item is purchased.

Earnings = The Listing Price minus the Selling Fee, Payment Processing Fee, & Shipping

Mercari is going to take a seller fee of 10% of your listing price. So if you are listing something for $20, they will get $2 as payment for using their service. There is also a payment processing fee of 2.9% + 0.30 for each payment received. This is pretty standard for different payment services like PayPal, Venmo, etc. So I wouldn’t worry about that too much; you really aren’t going to avoid it selling online. Similarly, there is a charge for transferring the money into your bank if the amount is under $10. I usually sell a few items or let the money sit until I transfer it and then the direct deposit is free.

Like I mentioned with the shipping fee, you just want to be smart and be aware of this. Plan to work these costs into your listing price and be aware if you agree to negotiate the price at all.

Selling on Mercari

Selling on Mercari is one of my favorite apps to help you sell just about everything in your house, get rid of extra clutter around your house and make some money at the same time. There are pros and cons to using Mercari as a platform. Poshmark is my favorite for better quality women’s clothing items, but Mercari is great for everything from baby stuff, kids clothes, electronics, and some household goods. I usually don’t sell a lot of big items through the app because packing and shipping can get expensive. However, you may like the safety feature of shipping and not meeting up with strangers you connected with on your neighborhood Facebook swap group.

To recap how to sell on Mercari:

1. Go to mercari.com or download the app and create an account
2. List some items by taking a variety of good photos, writing a detailed listing description, and setting your price.
3. Remember that the money you receive will be your listing fee MINUS any cost of shipping, payment processing, and seller fee.  So price your items accordingly.
4. Once your item sells, either print out a pre-paid label or purchase your own label with tracking, pack the item well, and ship it within three days.
5. After delivery is confirmed, your money will be released after 48 hours. You can leave it in the account for your own purchases or choose to transfer it to your bank. There may be a fee depending on if the amount is under $10 though.
6. Have fun!