Photos: Mercari, Bagus Hernawan/Unsplash

How to buy and sell things on Mercari

The Japanese online marketplace lets you search for limited-edition gems and second-hand goods – you can sell things, too

Thursday 8 September 2022

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Written by Kaila Imada

Associate Editor, Time Out Tokyo

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The online marketplace Mercari is a thrifter’s dream come true. You can often hunt down rare, limited-edition items, or pre-loved goods at a fraction of the cost they’d be in stores. Functioning somewhat like eBay – but without the bidding – Mercari is undoubtedly one of Japan’s most popular online shopping platforms.

Aside from shopping, Mercari is also a good place to sell unwanted items. While Tokyo is home to some great consignment stores, shops often take a big cut of your sale. Mercari is a great alternative if you want to make a bit more cash as the site only takes a ten percent listing commision. Plus, you can sell more than just clothes and accessories.

However, the website and app are completely in Japanese. Google Translate does a sufficient job if you’re using Mercari on desktop, but it gets a bit more complicated on the app. To help you out, we’ve compiled this handy guide on how to make the best use of Mercari.

RECOMMENDED: How and where to sell your second-hand and used clothing in Tokyo

How to buy on Mercari

1.

You must first register an account. To do this, you’ll need a Japanese phone number for verification, plus an address in Japan and a Japanese method of payment.

2.

Search for products by typing in the specific category or brand you're looking for. While you can often search for brand names in English, you might want to use Google Translate if you’re looking for a particular category. For instance, a dress in Japanese is called ‘one-piece’ (ワンピース). If you search for ‘dress’, your options will likely be very limited. After specifying your search, narrow it down further with filters including brand, size, price and condition.

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3.

After finding the item you want, you can read a detailed description of the product, including the seller, brand, product condition, shipping charge and delivery method. The product page also has a comment section at the bottom, where you can ask the seller questions. Sometimes, you may even be able to barter for a lower price. You can see how popular an item is by the number of hearts it has. ‘Liking’ a product is a good way to keep tabs on all the things you’re interested in.

4.

If you’ve decided to buy something, move on to the checkout stage. The big red button will direct you to the purchase procedure, where you can pay with credit card, bank account debit, convenience store payment or point payment.

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5.

After receiving the item, you must confirm that you've received it without any problems, and then evaluate the seller as either good (良かった) or disappointing (残念だった). In return, you will also receive an evaluation from the seller.

How to sell items on Mercari

1.

The first step when selling items on Mercari is to create a product listing. Once your account is made, click the ‘出品’ (exhibit) button. From there, you can enter information about your item as well as upload photos.

The most important step when creating your product listing is the title. This is what will get people clicking on your item, so you’ll want to provide as much information as possible. You should have details like the brand name, item type or model name, size, colour, material as well as measurements or dimensions.

If you’re wondering about pricing, you can search the app for the same or similar products to get an idea of what people are charging.

2.

Once your listing is uploaded, you may start to receive inquiries from potential buyers. The more detailed your product description is, the less likely you’ll receive questions asking for more information. If someone asks you for a price reduction, don’t be offended as it’s common to barter on Mercari. Usually, sellers are flexible and are willing to offer between 5 and 10 percent discount.

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3.

You’ve finally made a sale! The next step is confirmation and shipping. Mercari will automatically send you a notification of purchase. If you wish, you can send a quick thank you to the buyer and let them know that you will ship the item upon payment confirmation.

4.

After the payment has been confirmed, you can start to organise shipping. The easiest and cheapest method is through Rakuraku Mercari (らくらくメルカリ) and you can send the item from your local konbini or post office. All you need to do is wrap and box up your item and take it into the convenience store or post office. From there, they will scan the QR code in the app from the sale and a shipping label will automatically be printed. The final postage amount will be deducted from your sale price.

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5.

Once the buyer has received your item and evaluated you, you must also submit an evaluation of the buyer in return. When the transaction is complete, you'll see the total sale amount reflected at the top of your page. The amount can then be used to either shop on Mercari or transferred to your bank account.