Introduction

My first true “eBay vs Mercari” moment happened in 2021 after a bins trip where I pulled a pair of Nike Air Max 270s (men’s size 13). I listed them on Mercari first. Nothing for 5 days—not even a like. Out of curiosity, I uploaded them to eBay using the exact same photos. They sold in seven hours at full price.

That was the day I realized eBay and Mercari don’t compete directly—they serve different kinds of clothing buyers with completely different buying habits. And if you’re a semi-pro seller like me—someone who lists consistently, knows your brands, and sources weekly—choosing the right platform can mean the difference between a fast sale and a dead listing.

And here’s where it gets interesting… once you understand how each platform behaves with denim, sneakers, athleisure, vintage, and everyday mall brands, you stop guessing which platform to list on. You just know.

Let’s break down everything I’ve learned in the most practical, honest way possible.

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eBay vs Mercari: The Real Seller Breakdown

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Audience Differences 

Mercari Attracts:

• Impulse buyers

• Bargain seekers

• Athleisure lovers

• Shoppers who want simple listings

• People who buy fast and scroll fast

Mercari feels like the “Amazon of resale.”

eBay Attracts:

• Size-specific shoppers

• Sneakerheads

• Vintage hunters

• International buyers

• Collectors

• People who compare prices before committing

eBay behaves more like a search engine.

Personal Anecdote #1

In 2022, I listed a pair of Levi’s 501s (men’s 38x32). Zero interest on Mercari. On eBay? Eight watchers in 48 hours and sold on day 3 for my asking price.

Opinion

Mercari wins speed. eBay wins specificity.

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Selling on Mercari vs eBay 

Mercari Benefits

• Fastest marketplace for clothing

• No auctions

• Simple app (list → wait → sell)

• Fewer returns

• Buyers decide quickly

Personal Anecdote #2

My fastest flip ever: a $12 Nike Dri-Fit tee from Goodwill sold in 12 minutes on Mercari.

Honest Limitation

Mercari’s buyer base is price-sensitive. You rarely get above-market prices.

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eBay Benefits

• Higher average sale price

• Better for niche sizes

• International reach

• Auction option for rare items

• Buyers search more precisely

Honest Limitation

Returns happen. A lot. Especially in clothing (fit issues are real).

Failure Admission

In 2021, I underestimated how picky eBay buyers are. I had three returns in one month—all “item didn’t fit.” I almost quit selling pants on eBay.

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How to Sell on Mercari

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Selling on Mercari is simple compared to eBay.

Mercari Workflow

1. Take 6–12 photos

2. Write a short description

3. Pick category

4. Set price

5. Choose shipping

6. List

That’s it.

Tips for Selling on Mercari

• Use keywords like “Lululemon Define Jacket, size 8, black”

• Price slightly above your bottom line

• Enable Smart Pricing only if you’re fine with fast flips

• Ship quickly (learn your USPS weights)

• Respond fast—Mercari buyers drop off quickly

Parenthetical Aside

(Smart Pricing once dropped a pair of Adidas joggers from $28 to $19 overnight. My fault.)

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How to Find a Seller on Mercari 

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Because Mercari hides usernames more than other apps, here’s how it works:

You can find a seller by:

• Clicking their profile on any listing

• Using “Search by Seller Name” in messages

• Navigating from past purchases

• Hearting an item and following through notifications

There is no way to manually search usernames like on eBay.

Common Question I See

“Can I find a Mercari seller by name?”
Not really. Mercari is designed around items—not sellers.

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Mercari Fees vs eBay Fees 

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Mercari Fees

• 10% selling fee

• 2.9% + $0.50 payment fee

• Shipping label (buyer or seller pays)

eBay Fees

• 10–15% category dependent

• $0.30 per order

• Shipping labels vary

• Optional promoted listings (extra cost)

Real Example: $35 Lululemon Leggings

Mercari payout:

• Selling fee: $3.50

• Payment fee: ~$1.52

• Net before shipping: ~$29.98

eBay payout:

• Fees: ~$4.60–$5.00 (depends on category)

• Net before shipping: ~$30–$30.40

Opinion

Fees are similar enough that the platform differences matter more.

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What Sells Best on Mercari 

Mercari’s strongest categories for clothing:

• Nike Dri-Fit

• Lululemon

• Levi’s jeans

• American Eagle

• Aritzia basics

• Running shoes

• Basic sneakers

• Hoodies & pullovers

Personal Anecdote #3

In 2023, I sold 21 hoodies in one month on Mercari. Same hoodies took 2–5× longer on eBay.

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What Sells Best on eBay

• Niche sizes (men’s 13+ shoes, tall sizes)

• Rare sneakers (Air Max, Jordan, limited editions)

• Vintage denim

• Jackets

• Outdoor brands (Patagonia, Arc’teryx, Columbia)

Parenthetical Aside

(I once sold a Patagonia Synchilla on eBay for $78 that sat for months on Mercari.)

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Shipping Differences: eBay vs Mercari

Mercari Shipping

• Buyer usually pays

• Simple choices

• Weight-based

• Seller can use a prepaid label or their own

Limitation

Underestimating weight can cost you money.

Failure Admission

I once shipped a bundle of jeans thinking it was under 2 lbs. It wasn’t. I paid an extra $7.12 out of pocket.

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eBay Shipping

• Tons of options

• USPS, UPS, FedEx

• Seller sets shipping

• Buyer pays or seller pays

• Global Shipping Program (huge advantage)

Honest Limitation

Too many choices overwhelm new sellers.

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How Long Does a Seller Have to Ship on Mercari?

Mercari expects shipping within 3 business days, but buyers expect faster.
Same-day or next-day shipping increases sales dramatically.

Personal Anecdote #4

When I switched to next-day shipping in early 2023, my Mercari sell-through rate increased 32% in the next 30 days.

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eBay vs Mercari Sell-Through Speed

Mercari is faster for:

• Basics

• Athleisure

• Mid-tier mall brands

• Casual sneakers

eBay is faster for:

• Rare sneakers

• Unusual sizes

• Vintage

• Jackets

• Anything with international demand

Parenthetical Aside

(International buyers love vintage Levi’s.)

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Comparison Table — eBay vs Mercari

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People Always Ask Me: “Which platform should I list on first?”

Here’s the honest answer:

List on Mercari first when selling:

• Nike tees

• Lululemon leggings

• Hoodies

• Running shoes

• Basic denim

List on eBay first when selling:

• Anything size-specific

• Vintage denim

• Rare sneakers

• Jackets

• Premium brands

Uncertainty Admission

Sometimes an item surprises you. A $14 Adidas tee once sold on eBay in 3 hours. No idea why.

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Worth Reading

As I compared eBay vs Mercari’s speed and audience, I kept thinking about the pricing psychology guide inside the Closo Seller Hub—the section that breaks down why Mercari buyers jump on mid-tier clothing while eBay buyers hunt for specifics.

And when I was managing 200+ cross-listed items in 2023, the inventory syncing walkthrough helped me keep listings organized between the two platforms without losing track of which item sold where.

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Conclusion

Both eBay and Mercari are fantastic for clothing and shoes, but they serve completely different buyers. Mercari dominates in speed and simplicity, especially for basics and athleisure. eBay wins for rare sizes, niche sneakers, vintage denim, and international interest. As a semi-pro seller who sources weekly, my best results always came from cross-listing instead of choosing one platform over the other.

My honest recommendation: test every category across both and let the data guide you. And to save time managing multiple platforms, I use Closo to automate my listing flow—it reliably saves me about 3 hours weekly, especially when my sourcing volume spikes.