If you sell things online, you might be wondering if it makes sense to use Mercari. After all, selling things you no longer need might be a fantastic way to earn additional cash. But it is crucial to be aware of the dangers and safeguard yourself against con artists before you get in.
“Is Mercari legitimate?” are the questions that many vendors have. Purchasing used stuff with a few clicks appears handy – unless a rock arrives in the mail instead. Learn about popular Mercari scams and how to recognize them.
These pointers can help you stay secure and ensure that you have a good selling experience on this well-known marketplace, from being aware of the platform to knowing what to watch out for.
Is Mercari Legit or Scam? Anyone interested in selling on Mercari must first understand its legitimacy and identify potential scams. Whether you want to make additional money by decluttering or become a full-time reseller, Mercari is one of the most popular online selling platforms.
What is Mercari? (A Brief Guide)
Mercari was founded by Shintaro Yamada in 2013 as a mobile marketplace to buy and sell used items. It quickly became the top reseller app in Japan and then expanded into the US in 2014. After a brief stint in the UK from 2016 to 2018, Mercari focused on growing in the US and Japan.
The company went public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2018 and raised over $1 billion. Mercari has become a major player in the online resale space with features like Mercari Local for in-person transactions, quick payments, and premium item verification.
Mercari US, a subsidiary of Mercari Inc., a major Japanese e-commerce company, has grown significantly since 2013. Mercari became the first pre-IPO unicorn in Japan, with a valuation of over $1 billion.
Mercari is a peer-to-peer online marketplace that acts as a virtual space where individuals can communicate and trade various items. Unlike traditional retail stores or online giants like Amazon, Mercari connects individuals, like a virtual yard sale or flea market.
Mercari differs from other similar sites like eBay, Poshmark, and Depop with its user-friendly design, mobile-first approach, and focus on fast and simple transactions. Listing an item is very easy, and the mobile app is praised for its seamless navigation and design.
Mercari’s fee plan is to deduct a $0.50 processing fee and 12.9% selling fee from each sale. Sellers have some control over shipping; they can either set up their shipping or use Mercari’s partnerships with major shipping companies like UPS, FedEx, and USPS.
Mercari’s Legitimacy and Superiority
To dispel any doubts, Mercari is a legitimate business. The platform has an A+ rating and is fully accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which attests to its dedication to ethical business practices and transparency.
It is crucial to keep in mind that even though Mercari is a legitimate platform, this does not mean that users will have a completely scam-free experience because, like any online marketplace, it is vulnerable to fraudulent activities committed by individual users. Because of this inherent risk, buyers and sellers must exercise caution and take preventative measures.
Why Is Mercari So Cheap?
Although Mercari does not impose listing fees on its products, it does retain 10% of every sale. Some people are suspicious of cheap product listings for things that look high-quality, so you might be wondering: Why is Mercari so cheap?
Customers should always use their best judgment while making purchases. Although sellers have the final say over listing costs, there are instances when low-cost listings seem too good to be true.
While some may appear inexpensive, others are priced at or above market value. Many vendors lament that consumers are also frugal and try to acquire goods for significantly less than what is advertised.
Will Mercari Refund Me if I Get Scammed?
According to Mercari’s website, they will reimburse you if you are defrauded. According to Mercari, “If a goods arrived damaged or defective, we offer returns and reimbursements.” They also guarantee a safe and secure marketplace.
Items with defects or damage not specified in the description, accidentally acquired counterfeit goods, and transportation costs incurred in the event of an accident involving Mercari transportation are all eligible.
Mercari has expanded its tactics to guarantee that the buyer receives their purchases safely. This entails using AI to identify term infractions, requiring identification verification, and having a committed customer support staff on hand to assist. According to Mercari, you will get your money back if you are duped.
How Do I Know if a Seller Is Legit on Mercari?
There are steps you can take to help you avoid scammers, but you can never completely protect yourself from them. Before everything else, look at the seller’s ratings. Your first warning sign is if they have no ratings or very few.
There is a risk that the seller could not have the item anymore if the listing was made more than a month or two ago. You can also look at a seller’s badges, Mercari Authenticate, and profile verifications to determine whether they are legitimate.
Is Mercari a Legit Site to Sell or Buy Online?
Choosing which platforms to sell on can be intimidating if you have never sold anything online. Mercari is less well-known than sites like Poshmark and eBay, even though it is by no means a brand-new or obscure platform. Naturally, we take caution when faced with unfamiliar situations.
- With its headquarters located in Tokyo, Japan, Mercari has been in operation since 2014. Shintaru Yamada, a Tokyo businessman and serial entrepreneur, started it initially and continues to lead this international enterprise.
- Because it is also accessible in the US and the UK, it has performed well enough to be able to enter new markets.
- Mercari has the support of significant investors and has been funded by some of the most reputable venture capital firms in the world, such as Itochu Technology Ventures, Global Brain Corporation, and World Innovation Lab (WIL).
- As of March 2025, the e-commerce site had more than a million monthly active users and handled more than $10 billion in sales in the previous year alone. Over 100 million+ downloads of their app have been documented.
- The reputation of Mercari’s customer service staff is well-established. Having dependable customer service representatives on hand around the clock helps guarantee that every transaction proceeds without any problems, even if thousands of transactions are performed every day throughout all of its areas.
What conclusions can we draw from the information above to help us determine whether Mercari is Legit or a Scam?
If they were scammers, it is quite improbable that they would have more than 100 million app downloads, be accessible in several countries, have investors and seven successful investment rounds, or remain open and honest for more than nine years.
We can state with confidence that Mercari is a legitimate website. You can read our most recent in-depth Mercari review for more reading and actual seller review samples.
Also read about StockX Legit or Scam?
Is Mercari Safe For Online Shopping?
As long as you take a few steps to avoid scammers, buying and selling on Mercari is safe. Before you begin selling, make sure to read the Mercari Terms of Service and educate yourself on the various frauds that frequently occur on the platform.
Use the Mercari messaging system when speaking with a buyer to ensure that your exchanges are secure and that you have receipts in case something goes wrong.
As with any platform, the following are a few of the most prevalent Mercari scams:
1. False Profiles
Using stolen credit cards or other illicit means, some purchasers fabricate profiles and use them to buy products on Mercari. You should only deal with verified purchasers because of this.
2. Phishing Emails
Via phishing emails, buyers may get in touch with vendors and request payment details, like Social Security numbers, PayPal accounts, or bank account numbers, to finish a transaction.
3. Making Lowball Offers
In an attempt to secure a fantastic deal from unwary sellers, buyers may try to negotiate prices well below the quoted price, just to back out of the sale and waste your time.
4. Unpaid Products
Buyers will occasionally accept deliveries of products but neglect to pay for them after they are received.
5. Inaccurate Returns
It has been reported that customers who attempt to return defective goods to Mercari wind up receiving their reimbursement without ever sending the item back to the seller.
A similar strategy is when a seller pretends to be a customer to buy your high-quality goods, only to return them with their own damaged item since they have a similar item in worse shape. After that, they charge more for your stuff.
Is Mercari Legit or Scam? 10 Steps to Protect Yourself As a Seller
Mercari sellers must be mindful of the possible frauds that may take place on the site. The following advice will help you defend yourself:
1. Detailed Description and Images
By increasing the transparency of the products being sold on Mercari, thorough descriptions and crisp images contribute to the development of trust between buyers and sellers. In the end, this results in happier clients who come back for more purchases in the future.
Including in your description any damage or missing pieces that are not visible in the photo will help prevent issues with returns in the future. An example of a concise listing description with all the pertinent details a buyer could need is provided below.
2. Get Insurance or use Mercari’s Prepaid Label.
You can either buy insurance or utilize their prepaid label if you are selling on Mercari. Since it is the simplest way to ship your things, and you are assured of payment if your item is lost or damaged in transit, we advise utilizing their prepaid label.
If you decide to buy insurance, you are insured up to $200, but you will have to contact Mercari to make a claim if your item is lost or damaged.
3. Establish a Solid Reputation As a Seller
Establishing a solid seller reputation is crucial if you sell on Mercari. This can assist you in drawing in customers and deterring scammers, who often target inexperienced and unsuspecting sellers. The following advice can help you establish a solid reputation as a vendor on Mercari:
- Provide reasonable prices for high-quality Products.
- Items should be shipped as soon as they are sold.
- Respond quickly to inquiries and issues from customers.
- Give customers who buy from you positive reviews.
4. Upon Receipt, Ask for a Signature.
It is crucial to be mindful of the possibility of fraud while selling anything on Mercari. If you are unable to provide proof that the delivery was delivered successfully, buyers may attempt to claim they never received their things and request a refund.
Asking the buyer to sign the document upon receipt is one technique to keep yourself safe. By doing this, the buyer is guaranteed to have gotten the item and cannot later claim not to have received it.
5. Only Provide to Confirmed Buyers
You have the right to cancel a transaction if the buyer is new to the site, buying an expensive item, or if the seller has received negative feedback from past customers.
Before confirming an account, Mercari will verify each account holder’s identification and payment details, so keep in mind that selling to an unconfirmed customer carries a significant risk.
6. Make Open Communication a Priority
To prevent future confusion or misunderstandings, be truthful with purchasers about the item’s condition and provide thorough details about any flaws or defects.
Responding quickly to inquiries from purchasers will also help to establish confidence between the buyer and seller before any transactions take place.
Buyers may become frustrated and decide not to complete the transaction if you wait too long to reply, or they may believe you are hiding something.
7. Obtain Payment in Advance
Always ask for payment before shipping out goods sold on Mercari (or any other online selling site) to guard against fraud or non-payment.
Buyers may attempt to persuade you to accept a pay-on-delivery arrangement, however, this is a simple way to deceive someone by taking the products without paying for them.
You may steer clear of buyers searching for a fast and simple fraud by requiring upfront payments. To eliminate any doubt regarding the status of payment, do not forget to include an online PDF invoice as well!
8. Verify Payment Cleared Before Shipment
Make sure that the buyer’s selected payment method is safe before shipping out items purchased through Mercari by verifying its status online (for instance, PayPal payments should display “Completed/Verified” following processing).
You should keep an eye out for warning signs, including requests from customers to pay with gift cards or other ways that could lead to fraudulent activity in the future. If something seems off, you should take note.
9. Carefully Packaged Orders
All items sold through Mercari should be securely packaged using newspaper or bubble wrap around breakables (like glassware) and plenty of packing tape around boxes to prevent damage during transit. This will also save both parties trouble if something goes wrong during delivery.
For added peace of mind in case something goes wrong during transit, make sure that tracking information is posted prominently on the top of each package. Additionally, no one wants to receive a delivery that looks sloppy, so make an effort to be tidy right away.
10. Preserve Your Receipts
If you need to dispute a matter with Mercari, record all your transactions and all supporting paperwork.
You can contribute to a seamless and secure Mercari transaction by following these safety measures. For a thorough explanation of how to sell on Mercari, see our blog if you are just getting started with the concept.
Conclusion
So there you have it: “Is Mercari legit or scam?” Mercari is a unique platform to connect buyers and sellers, but sellers need to be aware of the risks that come with online selling. You can protect yourself from any possible fraud or scams when selling on Mercari by following our tips.
They will also help in keeping your stuff safe at every stage. Now you know how to have a successful selling experience if you want to sell any of your unwanted items on Mercari. Yes! Mercari is a real marketplace to buy and sell.
FAQs
Is Mercari Legit or Scam?
Yes! Mercari is a reliable marketplace for buying and selling. Actually, among Vendoo users, it is among the most well-liked. Mercari has been operating since 2013. After launching in Japan, it swiftly made its way to the US and became a favorite among both buyers and sellers.
Is it Safe to Buy From Mercari?
Is Mercari a legitimate website? Indeed, Mercari is a genuine online store and marketplace. According to the organization’s website, Mercari has an A rating and is an accredited business.
What is the Scam on Mercari?
The user is taken to a fake Mercari website after clicking on an advertisement. These deceptive commercials typically promote products with absurdly low costs.
Why is Stuff on Mercari so Cheap?
Mercari offers no listing costs and simply takes 10% of the item price as a commission. They are less expensive than eBay because of this.
Is Mercari Stuff Fake?
Although Mercari has policies that forbid the selling of replicas, counterfeits, or any other type of false goods, it is the sellers’ primary responsibility to ensure the items’ authenticity. Unfortunately, some Mercari dealers try to offer and sell counterfeit goods.
How Long Does Mercari Take to Ship?
To ensure that your item arrives on time, we require vendors to ship items within three business days of the transaction. After the vendor ships an item with a Mercari prepaid label, it will typically take 3 to 4 days for it to reach your door.
Does Mercari do Returns?
Except for the payment processing fee, which in certain circumstances may not be reimbursed, you will get a reimbursement for a completed return in the original method of payment or Mercari credit.
How to Tell if a Mercari Seller Is Legit?
Examine a Mercari seller’s ratings and reviews, look for Seller Badges (Reliable, Fast Responder, Quick Shipper), and be cautious of vendors who ask for payment outside of Mercari or have incomplete profiles without any reviews.
