Asking “Is Mercari Legit?” Buyer Beware? Our Thoughts

Are you considering becoming a Mercari seller? You’re not the only one!

Being a seller on an online marketplace like Mercari can be pretty lucrative. Glassdoor indicates that online sellers can make an average of $48,085 per year.

Yet, the Federal Trade Commission states that online shopping has the second highest cases of fraud reported in 2022, which might cause you to hesitate about this new endeavor.

This is why, today, we analyze everything you need to know about Mercari. Is Mercari legit? Can you make money off of it? Let’s find out!

What Is Mercari?

Mercari is an online shopping platform that anyone can use to buy or sell products. It’s a popular site for retailing second-hand items.

Using Mercari is simple. All you have to do is create a Mercari account and make a quick post. It’s free to use, and there’s no listing fee.

You do have to give 10% of your sales to Mercari, though.

Some use the app store to declutter unwanted items from their home. Others use it as a drop shipping site. Unlike Facebook Marketplace, you get more protection from the company as a buyer or seller.

As of 2023, more than 50 million people have downloaded the Mercari app. There are 350,000 listings made daily, and it even has a 4.7-star rating on Google Play!

How Does Mercari Work?

Learning how to sell on Mercari is easy as long as you have a smartphone. The app helps you post photos, add a detailed description, and set pricing.

Once you find a buyer, you slap the shipping label on, and the UPS store will deliver your products. You can sell any item that can withstand shipping, although there are a few prohibited items.

Once they receive your product, customers have three days to contact you if they encounter an issue. After this, you get paid in the app, or you could opt for a direct deposit to your bank!

You might want to consider this platform because the Mercari fees are fair. Plus, you get protection as an online seller so you don’t have to worry about the latest scam.

Common Questions to Understand

Here are some quick answers to your burning questions about Mercari.

Does Anyone Use Mercari?

Yes! Statista said there were 20 million active users on the Mercari marketplace in 2022. 

Mercari is one of the leading e-commerce platforms in Japan, and it’s growing in popularity in the United States.

This can be attributed to the rising number of consumers spending on secondhand items, which Mercari is popular for.

Why Is Mercari So Cheap?

Mercari is a popular site for secondhand retail, where a buyer can find products that are cheaper than brand-new ones.

The Mercari marketplace also has a $2,000 price limit on stuff that people can sell. If your item is worth more, you have to take extra steps to verify your account.

Aside from this, Mercari has a Smart Pricing feature that uses AI to keep fees low. Through this feature, Mercari can automatically lower product prices if they don’t sell within a certain period of time.

And if that’s not enough, considering shipping fee charges, sellers can get a 40% discount if they use Mercari prepaid labels.

All these factors contribute to the reason why Mercari is so cheap!

Are Items on Mercari Authentic?

Yes. There’s a scam-detecting feature that verifies the legitimacy of luxury goods and top-selling items on Mercari. It’s called Mercari Authenticate.

A third party inspects the serial numbers on jewelry, watches, handbags, shoes, and other products. If there’s a diamond symbol on an item, you can be sure it’s authentic!

Sellers can have their products authenticated within 48 hours for a $5 fee. Once verified, Mercari will give authentic items a boost on its marketplace.

Of course, scammers are all over the internet. You should still take steps to protect yourself from buying fake items, even on Mercari.

Never conduct business outside of the app, and watch out for misleading posts.

Is Mercari Legit?

Yes. Mercari is a legit website where people can buy and sell secondhand or brand-new products. Legitimacy means earning money through honest means is possible on the website.

The good news is you can expect to make $50 to $500 per month if you have a steady stream of items to sell. There are accounts from people who’ve made over $10,000 from selling items on Mercari.

Here are four more reasons why we believe Mercari isn’t a scam:

• You Get Shipping Protection: A buyer has 3 days to check their item before Mercari pays the seller. It allows you excess time to make complaints if you feel that you got scammed.
• There Are Many Satisfied Users: Over 20 million active people on Mercari as of 2022. Users have downloaded it 50 million times, and they rate it 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google Play.
• Mercari Authenticates Luxury Goods: Mercari has third-party inspectors who verify legitimacy. You can look out for the symbol that indicates an item is legit.
• It Has Features That Regulate Price: Mercari gives sellers advice on whether they’re overpricing or underpricing an item. It has an automatic price drop feature, and buyers can negotiate through the system.

Is Mercari Reliable?

Yes! For the most part, Mercari is a reliable way to have remote work in 2023.

There are plenty of people on the platform. This means there will always be a buyer for anything you have to sell. Mercari takes steps to boost your products and ensures they’re visible in a crowded market.

You can rely on Mercari to take care of your items as well. It has shipping protection for items up to $200 in case it’s lost or damaged during transit.

You might have some issues with the reliability of their customer service. Mercari uses automated responses and AI when handling complaints. Because of this, it may be hard to get in touch with a real person. 

Is Mercari Safe?

Yes, we believe that Mercari is safe to use as long as you conduct your transactions within the app. Never give out your personal information! This way you can save yourself from getting scammed.

Mercari keeps each potential buyer safe by banning certain items. You can’t get drugs, counterfeit products, vitamins, and stolen goods on its marketplace.

Another perk is Mercari takes care of the shipping to keep you safe from having to meet strangers.

Did you know that CNBC ranks Mercari as one of the best apps for selling home goods? That’s a reliable indicator that you’re in good hands when you use Mercari.

What Are Users Saying About Mercari?

Is it worth it to learn how to start an online business on Mercari? We searched for buyer and seller comments to find out. Here’s what people have to say.

What Google Play Reviewers Liked About  Mercari

Over 450,000 people made reviews on Google Play. The average rating they gave is 4.7 stars out of 5 stars.

Here are some good points about Mercari:

• Good Deals: Buyers love that they can get exclusive items for cheap on Mercari. Many think that they can negotiate for fair prices on the site.
• High Earnings: One seller reported making $3,000 in a few months. People comment that the cashing out process is simple through instant pay.
• Fast Refund: Customers who encountered issues with their purchases say they didn’t have trouble with item refunds.
• Quick Updates: Users like that the app updates them whenever there’s a price drop on an item. Mercari also notifies sellers if someone liked or viewed their products.
• Reasonable Fees: Many complain about high Mercari shipping costs. Yet, they also commend the platform for its reasonable pricing.

What Apple App Store Reviewers Liked About Mercari

The Apple App Store has a whopping 1.5 million reviews of Mercari. Its rating averages at 4.9 out of 5 stars!

These are what people liked about Mercari.

• It Does All the Work: Mercari has smart pricing, which suggests a price for any item. Users say that it leads to faster sales.
• You Get Added Protection: The app protects buyers and sellers by blocking phone numbers and emails. Comments say that the 10% fee is worth it because of the added protection Mercari provides.
• Mercari Mediates Transactions: One customer loved that Mercari let her keep an item for free but paid the seller to settle a dispute.
• It’s The Best Second Hand Retail Store: Many say Mercari is the best online store to sell unwanted items. People claim that it’s better than Facebook Marketplace.

Why Are People Worried About Using Mercari?

Of course, no app is perfect. There are quite a few negative reviews about Mercari. Let’s take a look at some of them.

What Trustpilot Reviewers Worried About

Mercari received a 2.4-star rating out of 5 from over 18,600 reviews on Trustpilot. Many rated it highly, but 19% of reviewers gave it one star.

Here are what Trustpilot reviewers worry about.

• Fake Items: Some users worry about Mercari scam items. People claim they see fake makeup, clothing, and electronics on the website.
• Misleading Posts: Reviewers say that sellers make misleading posts. An item could look different from pictures upon arrival.
• Strict Sign-Up Process: One buyer complained he had to verify an email and phone number to create an account. The sign-up process takes too long.
• Inaccurate Reviews: Mercari gives sellers five-star ratings if customers don’t make a review within three days of receipt. Those with negative experiences say they can’t give an accurate review because of this.

What Sitejabber Reviewers Worried About

Mercari has a 1.34 out of 5-star rating from 2,000 customers on Sitejabber. This indicates a lot of dissatisfaction.

Let’s take a look at what people had to say.

• Poor Customer Service: Users complain about Mercari’s no refund policy after three days of receipt of an item. The return process is time-consuming as well.
• Credit Card Issues: Some people encounter credit card errors within the app. Others say if you get your credit card company to make a refund, Mercari could ban you.
• Phone Number Problems: Customers don’t like that there’s no available phone number to call. Mercari uses AI to handle issues instead of real people.
• Odor Disputes: A few reviewers claim that Mercari doesn’t do refunds for items with odors. That’s because they can’t verify the smell through pictures!

Mercari Quality & Guarantees

Mercari has a marketplace guideline that any seller or buyer has to adhere to. This is a way for the platform to guarantee the quality of an item.

To avoid fraudulent activity, a seller has to go through a verification process. Mercari asks for a government-issued ID here.

The Mercari shipping policy is simple. You need to ship an item out within 3 days. You can choose to ship via Mercari Local or UPS.

All defective items need to get returned within three days of receipt. Otherwise, the app won’t help you get a refund and may even give the seller a five-star rating!

Lastly, to avoid scam transactions, everyone on Mercari should follow its safety guidelines.

Does Mercari Offer Customer Service?

Yes! Many reviews say that Mercari’s customer service is fast and reliable. Yet, there’s an equal number of people complaining about the services.

Why is customer service hit or miss?

What we do know is Mercari uses a series of questions and AI technology to handle disputes. If your concern falls under one of the prepared categories, then your issue could get addressed immediately.

The process can turn frustrating if your complaint is unique. You may find it difficult to get into contact with a real person.

You can email the company about shipping or sale concerns, but it’ll take a while for Mercari to respond.

What Customer Service Options Are Available?

In 2023, Mercari launched Merchat AI, which is a virtual shopping assistant powered by Chat GPT.

It aims to provide better customer service by engaging a buyer in human-like conversations.

This AI can scour the marketplace and give you recommendations based on your needs. It’ll even ask you your preferred colors, styles, or brands.

You may ask Merchat AI what you should buy for Mother’s Day, or what you can wear to a party. It puts a fun twist on online retail shopping!

Frequently Asked Questions

These are the questions we get asked the most about Mercari.

Mercari Alternatives: Other Options to Try

Are you considering other online platforms to make extra cash? You may want to have a look at these related posts!

• Is DHgate.com Legit?: DHgate is a wholesale e-commerce platform in China with over two million users.
• Is Black Market Legit?: Established a year after Mercari, Black Market promises lower prices for refurbished items.
• Is SSENSE Legit?: SSENSE is an online fashion retail giant from Canada. You can buy and sell all sorts of clothing and accessories through its platform.

Wrapping Up

Is Mercari Legit? The quick answer is yes, it is.

Mercari is one of the top second-hand retail stores in America and Japan. It has millions of users that attest to its legitimacy.

You may find that Mercari is a reliable way to make extra cash without spending much on fees!

Did you find our Mercari review useful? Let us know what you think in the comments. Also, don’t forget to share our article with your friends!