I still remember the specific Saturday in 2021 when I decided to purge my "doom pile"—that corner of the bedroom where impulse purchases go to die. I had a stack of unopened Funko Pops, a gently used Keurig coffee maker, and a pair of Nike Air Maxes that pinched my toes.
I listed the Nikes on Poshmark. Crickets. I listed the Funko Pops on eBay. The fees were going to eat 13% of my profit. Then, I downloaded Mercari. I snapped three photos of the Keurig, guessed a price of $40, and hit "List." It sold in 14 minutes.
That was my "aha" moment. Mercari isn't just another selling app; it is the digital equivalent of a massive, well-organized garage sale where people are looking to buy everything, not just designer clothes. From used electronics to half-empty perfume bottles (yes, really), Mercari has a buyer for almost anything.
If you are looking at your clutter and wondering how to sell on mercari, you have arrived at the right place at a fascinating time. With their recent—and controversial—shift to a "0% Selling Fee" model, the platform has fundamentally changed the math for resellers. But getting paid isn't as simple as posting a picture. You have to navigate shipping weights, haggling buyers, and the 3-day shipping clock.
The "Everything" App: What to Sell on Mercari?
When people ask how to sell things on mercari, they usually assume it's just for clothes. This is a mistake. Poshmark is for fashion. eBay is for collectibles. Mercari is for the rest of your life.
What Actually Sells:
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Electronics: Old gaming consoles, calculators (I sold a TI-83 Plus from high school for $50), and headphones.
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Toys: Lego sets, anime figures, and Squishmallows.
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Beauty: Unused skincare and perfumes.
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Home Goods: Coffee makers, decor, and even tools.
My Honest Failure: I once tried to sell high-end designer jeans on Mercari. They sat for six months. I eventually moved them to Poshmark, where they sold in a week.
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Lesson: Mercari buyers are looking for a deal. They aren't usually looking for luxury investment pieces. Save the Gucci for The RealReal; sell the Gap hoodie on Mercari.
Opinion Statement: I believe Mercari is currently the best platform for clearing out "hard goods" (stuff that isn't clothes) simply because the listing process is faster than eBay's cumbersome forms.
The Setup: Download Mercari and Start
The barrier to entry is non-existent. You don't need a business license. You just need a smartphone.
1. The Listing Flow
Once you have the mercari application installed:
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Photos: You can take up to 12. Use them all.
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Title: Be boring and descriptive. "Nintendo Switch" is bad. "Nintendo Switch V2 Neon Blue/Red with Dock and Cables" is good.
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Description: Mention flaws immediately. "Has a scratch on the screen" prevents returns.
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Delivery: Choose "Ship on your own" or "Mercari Prepaid Label." (Always use the prepaid label when starting out).
2. The Price Strategy
Here’s where it gets interesting... Mercari has a "Smart Pricing" feature. You set a floor price (e.g., $20) and a starting price (e.g., $25). The app slowly lowers the price to attract buyers.
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My Advice: Turn this OFF. It often drops the price too fast. Control your own pricing manually.
I use Closo to cross-list my electronics from eBay to Mercari—saves me about 3 hours weekly—because manually copying descriptions for 50 video games is a task I refuse to do twice.
How to Sell Stuff on Mercari: The Shipping Trap
This is where 90% of new sellers fail. You list a heavy winter coat. You guess it weighs 1 lb. You select the "1 lb" shipping label because it's cheaper ($7.99 vs $12.99). The coat sells. You ship it. The post office weighs it. It is 2.2 lbs. Mercari charges you for the overage, often deducting the difference plus a penalty from your earnings. I once sold a blender for $20 and ended up making $4 because I messed up the shipping weight.
Weigh Everything
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Tool: Buy a cheap kitchen scale (Accuteck is a good brand) and a tape measure.
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Process: Weigh the item inside the box you plan to use.
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Selection: Mercari offers labels for USPS, UPS, and FedEx. UPS is usually cheaper for heavy items (over 5 lbs); USPS is king for light items (under 1 lb).
The Clock is Ticking: How Long Does a Seller Have to Ship on Mercari?
You made a sale! Now the anxiety sets in. How long does a seller have to ship on mercari? The official rule is 3 business days.
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The Reality: If you don't ship by day 3, the buyer can request a cancellation.
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The Risk: If the buyer cancels on day 4, and you already dropped it in the mailbox but it hasn't scanned yet, you lose the item and the money.
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My Routine: I ship next-day. It builds trust and gets me "Fast Shipper" badges on my profile.
(Parenthetical aside: Mercari's tracking integration can be laggy. I always take a photo of the drop-off receipt at the counter. It has saved me twice when USPS lost a package and Mercari tried to claim I never shipped it.)
The "Zero Fee" Revolution (and the Catch)
In 2024, Mercari did something radical. They removed selling fees. Previously, they took 10% + 2.9% processing fee. Now, the seller pays 0%.
How do they make money? They charge the buyer a service fee (variable, usually 5-10%) and a payment processing fee.
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Pros: You keep the sticker price. List for $50, keep $50.
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Cons: Buyers are more hesitant because the checkout price jumps up.
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The Hidden Fee: If you want to transfer your money to your bank, there is now a $2 direct deposit fee.
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Strategy: Wait until you have $100+ in your balance before cashing out to minimize the sting of that $2 fee.
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Mercari Selling Tips: Mastering the Algorithm
To truly succeed, you need to understand how the feed works. It is chronological.
1. The "Promote" Button
If your item hasn't sold in a few days, hit "Promote."
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Public: Drops the price by 5% and boosts it to the top of the feed.
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Private: Sends a lower offer only to people who "Liked" the item.
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My Strategy: I list high on Monday. I send a private offer on Thursday. I do a public price drop on Sunday night (when everyone is on their phones).
2. Reverse Engineering Success
If you want to know how to find a seller on mercari who is crushing it, look at the "Sold" listings.
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Search: Search for the item you want to sell.
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Filter: Toggle "Sold."
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Analyze: Look at the photos and descriptions of the ones that sold for high prices. Mimic them.
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Follow: You can follow power sellers to see when they list. I follow a guy who sells vintage cameras just to see how he prices them.
Avoiding the Scams: How to Sell Safely
Mercari is generally safe, but scammers exist.
The "Text Me" Scam: You list an item. Immediately, you get a message: "Hi, I'm interested. kindly text me at 555-0199 for payment." DO NOT DO IT.
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The Scam: They want to take you off the app to steal your info or send a fake payment email.
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The Rule: Keep all communication and payment inside the Mercari application. If you leave the app, you lose all seller protection.
The "Return" Scam: A buyer claims the item is damaged. They return a box of rocks.
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The Protection: Mercari holds the funds for 3 days after delivery. The buyer must rate you to release funds. If they open a return, Mercari mediates. Always photograph expensive items as you pack them (including the serial number) to prove condition in case of a dispute.
People always ask me...
"Is Mercari better than eBay?"
Common question I see. It depends on the item.
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For Casual Sellers: Yes. The listing process is 10x faster.
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For Fees: Yes. 0% seller fees beats eBay's ~13%.
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For Traffic: No. eBay has way more buyers. Items might sit longer on Mercari.
"Can I sell locally on Mercari?"
People always ask me this. Yes, Mercari has a "Mercari Local" feature (powered by Uber/DoorDash).
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How it works: A driver picks up the item from your porch and delivers it to the buyer.
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My Opinion: It’s convenient for heavy items (like a microwave), but the delivery fees can be high for the buyer, killing the deal.
"What if the buyer never rates me?"
This is the best part.
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The Rule: If the item is delivered and the buyer ghosts you, Mercari automatically rates you 5 stars after 3 daysand releases your funds. You will get paid. You just have to be patient.
Conclusion
Learning how to sell on mercari is one of the lowest-risk ways to start a side hustle. The app is intuitive, the lack of selling fees is a massive financial incentive, and the ability to sell almost anything makes it versatile.
However, success requires diligence. You must weigh items accurately to avoid shipping overages. You must ship within 3 days to keep your ratings high. And you must accept that while you pay 0% fees, your buyers are paying extra, so your pricing needs to be competitive.
My advice? Go find three things in your house you haven't touched in a year. Download Mercari. List them today. The dopamine hit of that first "Item Sold" notification is real, and it might just pay for your next coffee run (or rent).
If you are ready to expand your reselling business, check out our guide on The Best Cross-Listing Apps for 2025. And if you want to dive deeper into the fee structures, read our comparison of Mercari vs. Poshmark Fees to see which platform puts more money in your pocket.
FAQ
Here's something everyone wants to know: Is it free to sell on Mercari?
As of the latest policy update, yes. Mercari has eliminated selling fees for the seller. This means if you sell an item for $50, you keep the full $50 listing price. However, there is a $2 flat fee for direct deposit withdrawals to your bank account, and buyers now pay a service fee on their end.
Common question I see: How does shipping work on Mercari?
You have two main options: "Mercari Prepaid Labels" or "Ship on Your Own." Prepaid labels are generated by the app; you print them, tape them to the box, and drop them off. This offers the best protection. If you ship on your own, you must manually enter a tracking number. Sellers must ship items within 3 business days of the sale.
People always ask me: How do I find a specific seller on Mercari?
Mercari doesn't have a robust "Search for User" bar. The easiest way is to find an item listed by that seller, click on their username on the listing page, and then hit "Follow." You can also search for their unique username hash (e.g., @username) in the main search bar if you know it exactly, but browsing via item listings is more reliable.
