Mercari sits between eBay's complexity and Poshmark's simplicity. It's the "digital yard sale"—a place to move mid-range inventory to price-conscious buyers without the overhead of eBay's item specifics or Poshmark's social features.
After a turbulent 2024 (remember the zero-fee experiment?), Mercari has stabilized. Here's how to use it effectively in 2025.
2025 Fee Structure
Mercari's fee roller coaster has settled. The platform eliminated seller fees in 2024 to boost supply, then reversed course in early 2025 when the model proved unsustainable.
Current rate: 10% on the total sale, including item price and shipping costs paid by the buyer. Payment processing is included—no additional 2.9% + $0.30 charges.
On a $50 item with $8 shipping, you pay 10% of $58 = $5.80. Your net: $44.20 from item price.
This positions Mercari between Depop (lowest fees) and Poshmark (highest fees). See our platform comparison for the full breakdown.
Shipping Options
Mercari offers more flexibility than Poshmark's fixed system:
Prepaid labels: Mercari provides USPS, UPS, and FedEx options at negotiated rates. Select based on package weight and dimensions. Buyer pays at checkout.
Ship on your own: Calculate your own shipping costs, buy labels outside Mercari, keep any savings (or absorb any overages).
Local pickup: Available for bulky items. No shipping fees, but requires coordination.
Most sellers use prepaid labels for simplicity. The rates are competitive, tracking is automatic, and it removes shipping headaches.
Understanding Mercari Buyers
Mercari's buyer demographic differs from eBay or Poshmark. Understanding this shapes your pricing and listing strategy.
Price Sensitivity
Mercari buyers expect deals. They're comparison shopping, and they'll message asking for discounts. This isn't lowballing to be rude—it's the culture. Build negotiation room into your prices.
Casual Buyers
Many Mercari users aren't dedicated resale shoppers. They're clearing clutter themselves and browsing opportunistically. Impulse purchases happen, but buyers also ghost more often than on Poshmark.
Category Breadth
Unlike Poshmark's fashion focus, Mercari buyers shop across categories. Toys next to home décor next to clothing. This works in your favor if you have diverse inventory.
Best Categories for Mercari
Toys and games: Mercari moves toys faster than eBay for mid-range items. Parents shopping for birthday gifts, collectors looking for specific pieces.
Video games: Strong market for used games, consoles, and accessories. Not as specialized as eBay for rare items, but good for common titles.
Home décor: Giftable items, seasonal décor, small furniture. The visual browse experience helps home goods.
Mid-tier clothing: Not designer (use Poshmark) or vintage (use Depop), but solid everyday brands. Think Target brands, J.Crew factory, standard mall fare.
Clearing inventory: Items that don't fit neatly into eBay or Poshmark categories. The "everything store" nature of Mercari absorbs miscellaneous finds.
Listing Strategy
Photography
Mercari's app-first interface means buyers browse on phones. Clean, well-lit photos matter more than elaborate setups. Use all available photo slots. Show any flaws clearly—Mercari's return policy is more buyer-friendly than it used to be.
Pricing
Check "sold" listings for realistic pricing. Mercari buyers will see comparable items; price too high and you'll sit. Price 10-15% above your minimum acceptable to leave room for offers.
Offers and Negotiation
The "Make Offer" button drives Mercari activity. Respond to reasonable offers quickly. Counter-offers work better than outright rejections. The goal is moving inventory, not winning negotiations.
Smart Pricing Feature
Mercari's "Smart Pricing" automatically lowers your price over time within a range you set. Useful for items you want gone but dangerous if you're not paying attention—it can drop prices faster than you'd like. Use sparingly.
Common Mercari Mistakes
Ignoring the Mobile Experience
Most Mercari traffic is mobile. Long descriptions get truncated. Photos need to pop on small screens. Test how your listings look on a phone, not just desktop.
Overpricing Based on eBay Comps
Mercari prices run lower than eBay for the same items. Don't copy eBay pricing—check Mercari's own sold listings. Buyers here know what things cost on Mercari.
Slow Response Times
Mercari's buyer base is more casual. If you don't respond to messages or offers within hours, they've moved on. Keep notifications on and respond same-day.
Not Rating Buyers
Mercari's rating system is mutual. Funds release after both parties rate, or after a delay. Rating promptly keeps cash flow moving. Don't let it sit.
Mercari in Your Platform Mix
For most resellers, Mercari is the third platform—after eBay (for hard goods and collectibles) and Poshmark (for fashion). It fills gaps:
Use Mercari to clear items that don't fit eBay or Poshmark categories, move mid-range inventory that won't command Poshmark premiums, list overflow from other platforms, and quickly turn items where speed matters more than maximizing price.
Consider cross-listing tools if you're managing inventory across multiple platforms. Mercari integrates with Vendoo and List Perfectly for synchronized listings.
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