Do you have a lot of unused stuff around your house? Mercari may be the perfect solution for you! Mercari is an app where people can buy and sell new or used items.
It's similar to sites like eBay and Poshmark, but the gimmick is that it's exclusively done through a phone app. You can Mercari anywhere and at any time. Since it's all done through the Mercari app, Mercari takes a 10% fee from each sale.
Mercari is a great way to declutter your home and make extra money simultaneously. It's also great to find deals on things you need or want. But is Mercari legit? We did some research to find out. Let's see what we discovered.
Is Mercari Legit?
Mercari is a legitimate company. It was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Seattle, WA. Mercari is available in the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom. In 2018, Mercari had $2 billion in GMV (Gross Merchandise Value) and processed 100 million transactions.
Many people are confused over whether Mercari is legitimate; the short answer is that Mercari is a safe and easy way to sell things you don't need anymore.
It's also a great way to find deals on things you want. Mercari is a legitimate company with millions of users and billions of dollars in GMV. You can buy and sell confidently, knowing that Mercari is a safe and secure platform.
According to Mercari's website, Mercari is "a community-powered marketplace that makes it easy to buy and sell anything. Millions of people have sold everything from phones to shoes, jewelry, and clothes with Mercari." This online marketplace is available through an app that can be downloaded on iOS and Android devices. Selling on Mercari is easy: Mercari allows you to sell just about anything with a few clicks.
When you open the Mercari app, you'll see the main Mercari page where featured items are displayed. You can also search for specific items or categories. When you find something you'd like to buy, tap on it and read the listing. Once you're ready to buy, tap on the "Buy" button and follow the order status page prompts.
To sell an item on a Mercari account, start by taking pictures of the things you want to sell. Next, add a title, description, and price. Finally, choose whether to ship the item or meet the buyer in person. The shipping protection program is available for items $50 or less. Once your listing is live, buyers can purchase your items, and Mercari will provide buyer protection and hold the money until you confirm that the buyer received the item.
How People Get Scammed on Mercari
Just like other online retailers, Mercari is not without its scammers. Various users have reported being scammed on the site. Here are some of the most common ways that people have been scammed through this online business:
Fake Listings
Some sellers create fake listings to get buyers to send them money without ever sending them the item they purchased. This is most commonly done by creating a listing for an item that is no longer available or does not exist. When buyers send them money, they disappear without ever sending the item.
Item Not as Described
This is one of the most common complaints about Mercari. Many times, buyers receive an item that is not as described in the listing. This can be due to the seller deliberately misrepresenting the item or simply because they did not provide an accurate description. In either case, it can be very frustrating for the buyer. The Mercari account may be shut down if too many complaints are received.
Shipping Issues
Another common issue with Mercari is that sellers often have trouble with shipping. It can include items taking a long time to arrive, being lost in the mail, or arriving damaged. This can be very frustrating for buyers, especially if they paid extra for expedited shipping. Direct deposit is also an issue that can cause a lot of problems.
Poor Customer Service
With any online retailer, customer service is essential. Mercari reviews about service are very bad and have been criticized for its poor customer service in the past. This is likely because it is a relatively new company and is still working the kinks. However, it can be very frustrating for buyers who have had a bad experience and cannot get help from customer service.
How To Avoid Getting Scammed On Mercari?
The best way to avoid getting scammed on Mercari is to be aware of the most common scams and to use caution when making a purchase. If you are ever in doubt about a listing or a seller, it is always best to err on caution and not make the purchase. You can also check out our tips for avoiding Mercari scams.
1. Check The Seller’s Feedback
One of the best ways to avoid getting scammed on Mercari is to check the seller's feedback before making a purchase. This will give you an idea of what other buyers have said about their experience with the seller. If there are a lot of negative reviews, it is probably best to avoid that seller. On the other hand, if the seller generally has positive reviews, then you can shop with confidence.
2. Read The Description Carefully
Before you buy anything on Mercari, be sure to read the description of the bundle items carefully. This will help you to know what you are getting and to make sure that it is what you want. If the description is not clear or seems to be inaccurate, you may want to consider avoiding that listing.
3. Don't Share Personal Information
You should never share your personal information with anyone on Mercari, including your full name, address, phone number, and bank account details. If a seller asks for this information, it is probably a scam. The only time you should ever share your personal information is when you are ready to make a purchase and use Mercari's built-in messaging system.
4. Use A Credit Card
Whenever possible, you should use a credit card or debit card to make your purchase on Mercari. This will give you additional protection in case you need to dispute the charge with your bank. You can use a service like an online bank account or PayPal if you do not have a credit card. The credit card company or PayPal will be able to help you if you have any problems with your purchase.
5. Don't Share Login Details
You should never share your Mercari login details with anyone. If you do, the person will have access to your account and could make purchases in your name. They could also change your password and lock you out of your account. A bad seller could also use your login information to leave negative feedback on your account, damaging your reputation.
6. Keep Your Receipts
Whenever you purchase Mercari, be sure to keep your receipts. This will help you to track your purchases and to have proof of what you bought in case you need to return the item or file a dispute. The tracking number on the receipt will also come in handy if you need to track your package.
7. Use Caution
If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Buyer beware of using caution when purchasing Mercari. If something seems fishy about a listing, it is probably best to avoid it. It is better to be safe than sorry.
8. Report Scammers
If you do come across a scammer on Mercari, be sure to report them to customer service. This will help to keep other buyers from getting scammed and will hopefully get the seller removed from the site. Contact the Mercari support team by going to the listing and tapping the "report" button.
Is Mercari Safe For Both Buyers And Sellers?
We all know that online purchases can be a bit scary sometimes. The business bureau has logged over 1,200 complaints against Mercari in the last three years. But we can assure you that most of these complaints were due to Mercari not being able to mediate a dispute between a buyer and seller.
When we say that Mercari is safe, we mean that the platform itself is not a scam. The marketplace guidelines are obvious and do a great job protecting buyers and sellers.
If you're looking for a safe place to buy or sell items online, Mercari is the way to go! With over 100 million items sold and a user-friendly interface, it's no wonder that Mercari has become one of the most popular selling apps!
Like Facebook marketplace and OfferUp, Mercari is a platform where people can buy and sell items locally or ship items to one another. It's great for those who want to declutter their homes or earn extra cash by selling unwanted items. The instant pay option is also a great feature, as it allows users to get paid for their items immediately after they are sold.
This legit site is also an excellent option for those looking for hard-to-find or vintage items, as Mercari offers a wide variety of items for sale. Mercari charges a 10% selling fee, which is a bit higher than some other selling platforms, but the site does offer free shipping for items that are sold for over $50.
The protection that Mercari offers its users makes it a safe and reliable option for buying and selling items online.
Tips For Buying And Selling On Mercari
Now that we've established that Mercari is a legitimate website let's review a few tips to help you get the most out of your experience on the site.
Don't Ignore The Reviews
One of the most important things to do when buying or selling on Mercari (or any online marketplace) is to pay attention to the reviews. You should look for sellers with a good rating (4 stars or higher) and avoid those with a poor rating. Checking out the reviews will also give you a good idea of what to expect from the seller regarding communication, shipping time, etc.
Be Wary Of Low Prices
While it may be tempting to go for the sellers with the lowest prices, beware that this could mean you're getting scammed. If an item is being sold for significantly less than its market value, there's a good chance that the seller is trying to scam you. To avoid this, make sure to do your research on the item you're interested in before making a purchase.
Watch Out For Suspicious Activity
Like any other website, watch out for suspicious activity when using Mercari. This includes things like sellers who refuse to give you their full name or contact information, those who are offering items for an unreasonably low price, or those who are asking for payment through an unusual method. If you encounter any suspicious activity, report it to Mercari so they can take appropriate action.
Don't Sell Prohibited Items.
Mercari has a list of items prohibited from being sold on the site, which you can find here. The list includes alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and firearms. Selling any of these items on Mercari will result in your account being suspended, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the list before listing any items for sale.
Provide Shipping Protection
If you're selling an item valued at $50 or more, Mercari offers shipment protection to buyers and sellers. This means that if the item is lost, damaged, or stolen during shipping, Mercari will reimburse you for the cost of the item (up to $500). To qualify for this protection, you must ship the item through a qualified shipping provider and include a valid tracking number when you list the item for sale.
Ensure The Listings Are Accurate
When listing an item for sale on Mercari, it's essential to ensure that your listings are accurate. Include clear and detailed photos of the item and an accurate description of the condition. Also, mention any flaws or damage in the item, as this will help avoid misunderstandings or issues after the sale.
Communicate With The Buyer
Once you've sold an item on Mercari, communicate with the buyer to arrange payment and shipping. Mercari offers a built-in messaging system that you can use to communicate with buyers, so be sure to take advantage of this feature. If you have any questions or concerns, you can also contact Mercari's customer support team for assistance.
Pros And Cons Of Mercari
Every online marketplace has unique pros and cons, and Mercari is no different. Let's look closely at some key pros and cons of using Mercari.
Mercari Pros
Free Listing
Mercari does not charge you anything for listing an item on their platform. With many other online marketplaces, you have to pay a listing fee every time you want to sell something, which can quickly add up, mainly if you regularly sell items.
No Membership Fees
You also do not have to pay any membership fees to use Mercari. Again, this is in contrast to many other online marketplaces that will charge you a monthly or annual membership fee.
Shipping Is Easy
Mercari makes it very easy to ship items that you have sold. You print out a shipping label from their website and then drop the item off at your local post office. In addition, Mercari offers free shipping on certain items, which is a nice touch.
Get Paid Instantly
One of the great things about Mercari is that you get paid for your items as soon as they are sold. So there is no waiting around for weeks or even months to receive your payments like on other eCommerce marketplaces.
Mercari Cons
Inactive Sellers
One of the downsides of Mercari is that there are a lot of inactive sellers on the platform. This means that it can sometimes be challenging to find the items that you are looking for. In addition, with so many inactive sellers, the marketplace can feel overwhelming and cluttered.
Customer Service Could Be Better
Another downside of Mercari is that its customer service could be better. Of course, this is expected with any large online marketplace, but it is still something to keep in mind.
Not as Popular as Other Sites
Mercari is not nearly as popular as other online platforms like eBay and Amazon. Unfortunately, this leaves a smaller pool of buyers to choose from. That said, once your item sells, you can snowball that with reviews to help you make more money.
Conclusion
To conclude, is Mercari legit? The answer is yes. Mercari is an excellent option for selling unwanted items. It is safe and easy to use. You can make some good money by using this app. There are some risks involved with using Mercari, but overall it is a legitimate way to earn some extra cash. I hope this helps answer the question "Is Mercari Legit." Happy selling!
