Sell on Mercari
America's mobile-first marketplace for secondhand and resale goods
Overview
Mercari is a mobile-first marketplace headquartered in Japan with a major presence in the United States, serving over 20 million monthly active users. Founded in 2013, Mercari has become one of America's leading platforms for buying and selling secondhand goods, pre-owned items, and overstock inventory. The platform's simple listing process — snap a photo, set a price, and ship — has made it the go-to app for casual resellers and declutterers.
What distinguishes Mercari from competitors like eBay is its simplicity and mobile-native experience. Listing an item takes under 60 seconds on the Mercari app, and the platform provides prepaid shipping labels with major carriers (USPS, UPS, FedEx). Mercari's flat 10% selling fee is straightforward compared to eBay's tiered fee structure, making it easy for sellers to calculate profitability without complex fee math.
Mercari has expanded beyond its casual resale roots to support more serious sellers through Mercari Pro, offering analytics, bulk listing tools, and promotional features. The platform's Mercari Local feature enables in-person transactions with built-in identity verification, while Mercari Authenticate provides authentication services for luxury items. For resellers, flippers, and anyone looking to monetize unused items, Mercari offers the fastest path from closet to cash.
Top Categories
Seller Requirements
- 1Download Mercari app and create an account with email or social login
- 2Verify identity with government-issued ID for payouts
- 3List items with at least one photo and description
- 4Ship items within 3 business days of sale using Mercari prepaid labels or self-ship
- 5Maintain seller ratings above 4.0 stars to avoid account restrictions
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Simple flat 10% selling fee — easy to calculate profit
- List an item in under 60 seconds from your phone
- Prepaid shipping labels with USPS, UPS, and FedEx at discounted rates
- Built-in buyer protection with Mercari's rating-based release system
- Mercari Authenticate for luxury items builds buyer confidence
- No monthly fees or listing fees — sell one item or thousands
Cons
- 10% fee is higher than eBay for many categories
- Lower average selling prices compared to eBay or Poshmark
- Limited search and discovery tools compared to established marketplaces
- Buyer demographics skew toward bargain-hunters, making premium pricing difficult
- Customer support can be slow for dispute resolution
Selling Tips
Price items 15–20% above your minimum acceptable price — Mercari buyers frequently send offers, and the platform's "Make an Offer" feature encourages negotiation
Use Mercari Smart Pricing to automatically lower prices over time — this triggers notifications to buyers who liked your item and increases sale probability
Ship within 24 hours when possible — fast shipping leads to better ratings, and Mercari's algorithm favors sellers with quick ship times
Take photos in natural light against a clean background — since most Mercari browsing happens on mobile, clear and bright images are critical for thumb-stopping listings
Bundle related items and offer bundle discounts — Mercari's bundle feature lets buyers combine purchases, increasing your average order value and reducing per-item shipping costs
Frequently Asked Questions
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