Mercari Selling Guide

The simple, low-effort marketplace

Mercari is the "easy button" of reselling. Lower fees than Poshmark, less work than eBay, and a casual buyer base that moves quickly on deals. While you won't get eBay's reach or Poshmark's fashion-focused audience, Mercari's simplicity makes it perfect for cross-listing and moving general merchandise fast.

๐Ÿ“Š Mercari Quick Facts

Active users20+ million
Seller fee10%
Payment processing2.9% + $0.50
Title limit40 characters
Photo limit12 photos
Best forGeneral items, quick sales, beginners

Understanding Mercari Fees

Mercari's fees are straightforward but often misunderstood:

Fee TypeAmountNotes
Selling fee10%On sale price
Payment processing2.9% + $0.50On total (price + shipping)
Direct depositFree$10 minimum, weekly payouts
Instant Pay$2Same-day to debit card

Real Fee Calculation

Example: $50 item with $8 shipping

Sale price$50.00
Selling fee (10%)-$5.00
Processing (2.9% of $58 + $0.50)-$2.18
Your earnings$42.82

Effective fee rate: ~13% on most transactionsโ€”lower than Poshmark's 20%, comparable to eBay's 13.25%.

Shipping Options

WeightLabel CostCarrier
Up to 4 oz$4.99USPS First Class
4-8 oz$6.49USPS First Class
8 oz - 1 lb$7.99USPS First Class
1-3 lbs$11.49USPS Priority
3-5 lbs$13.99USPS Priority
5-10 lbs$17.99UPS Ground

โš ๏ธ Weight Accuracy: If your item exceeds the prepaid label weight, Mercari charges the difference to your account. Weigh items accurately before selecting shipping tier.

Smart Pricing

Mercari's Smart Pricing feature automatically lowers your price over time to attract buyers.

  • Set a minimum price โ€” Your absolute floor
  • Mercari gradually lowers the listed price โ€” Triggers buyer notifications
  • Best for: Items sitting 30+ days, commodity items with competition
  • Skip for: Unique/rare items, new listings (give them time first)

๐Ÿ’ก Pro Tip: Set your initial price 20% above your minimum, enable Smart Pricing, and let Mercari do the discounting. Price drops automatically notify interested buyers.

Listing Optimization

The 40-Character Title Challenge

โœ— Too Long

"Nike Air Max 90 Running Shoes Men's Size 10 White"

โœ“ Optimized (39 chars)

"Nike Air Max 90 White Mens 10 Sneakers"

Formula: Brand + Type + Key Detail + Size. Skip condition words (put in description).

Description Tips

  • First line = hook โ€” Key selling point immediately
  • Include all details โ€” Size, measurements, condition, flaws
  • Keywords help โ€” Description is searchable
  • "Price firm" or "Open to offers" โ€” Sets buyer expectations

Promotions & Offers

Promote Your Listing

Mercari offers paid promotion that boosts visibility. Worth testing on slow-moving items, but track whether the extra cost converts to sales.

Handling Offers

  • Respond quickly โ€” Offers expire in 24 hours
  • Counter lowballs โ€” Don't just decline, give them a number
  • Bundle offers โ€” Encourage multi-item purchases

What Sells Best on Mercari

CategoryPerformanceNotes
ElectronicsโญโญโญโญโญGames, phones, accessories
ClothingโญโญโญโญCasual buyers, good for basics
Home goodsโญโญโญโญDecor, kitchen items
Toys/GamesโญโญโญโญVideo games, board games, kids toys
BeautyโญโญโญMakeup, skincare

Common Mercari Mistakes

  1. Wrong shipping weight โ€” Leads to fee adjustments
  2. Ignoring offers โ€” They expire; respond quickly
  3. Poor photos โ€” First 4 show in grid, make them count
  4. Not using Smart Pricing โ€” Free automation for stale items
  5. Slow shipping โ€” Ship within 3 days for good ratings
  6. Forgetting processing fee โ€” It's 2.9% + $0.50, not just 10%

Mercari vs Other Platforms

FactorMercarieBayPoshmark
Total fees~13%~13.25%20%
Effort levelLowMediumHigh (sharing)
Audience sizeMediumLargestFashion-focused
Best categoriesGeneralEverythingFashion
Buyer typeCasual, deal-seekersSerious buyersFashion lovers

โ„น๏ธ Cross-Listing Strategy: Mercari is perfect as a secondary platform. List on eBay first for maximum exposure, cross-list to Mercari for additional reach with minimal extra effort.

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