Mercari Review – Legit or Scam Marketplace for Buying & Selling

If you want to know whether Mercari is legit or scam, this comprehensive review will come very handy.

It reveals a lot about this e-commerce marketplace for buying and selling and whether it can be trusted or not.

It also answers some of the pressing FAQs people have about this marketplace.

 

What is Mercari?

Mercari was first started in 1991 as a Japanese e-commerce company, with offices in the US.

They launched their major product, the marketplace app in 2013 and have since grown exponentially to become the largest marketplace and community in Japan. It is said to process as many as JPY 10 billion transactions in a single month.

Mercari expanded within few years to US in 2014 and to UK in 2016.

The Mercari app is one of the most downloaded buying and selling apps in the world. It has been downloaded by over 100 million users as of 2017.

eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Etsy, it’s time to move over because there’s a new sheriff in town who has been getting a lot of attention lately.

More and more sellers and buyers have started to turn to Mercari due to its ease of selling and lower fees.

If you’re looking to sell or buy household items, buy or sell jewelry online, crafts, games, or clothing, then Mercari might just be where it’s all at for you.

During the 2021 Super Bowl, a Mercari ad was aired, and that is when things really started to skyrocket for Mercari.

First, you probably want to know if Mercari is legit or if you need to watch out for it. We will answer that, along with some other FAQ in this article …

 

Is Mercari Legit?

Yes, of course, Mercari is legit, and we can expect that since we watched the ad during the Super Bowl.

Mercari is actually a reliable e-commerce marketplace. Both buyers and sellers are real people – there are no over-priced retailed here.

Of course, since there are actual people selling on Mercari (just like on eBay and Amazon), there is no guarantee that the people who are selling on Mercari are legit.

When it comes to buying and selling on Mercari, you just have to use some common sense sometimes.

For example, if you come across the latest iPhone that is selling for $50, you will want to grab it up because the price is just too good …in fact, that price is just too good to be true.

When it comes to deals like this, you should be on the skeptical side.

You should also keep in mind that some of the sellers on these sites aren’t going to show you the downside of the product in the listing, so it will be hard for you to know if the product is in good condition or not.

According to Mercari, they do not release payments to the seller until the buyer has received the items and have confirmed and rated the seller.

Then, you have times where buyers receive the item and claim that it is not as described in the listings, and Mercari wouldn’t help during these situations.

For those of you who plan on buying something from Mercari, only deal with those sellers who have uploads a photo of the actual item and stay away from those who do not upload photos of the items they’re selling.

Other than the above, we feel that some people have got scammed solely because of their own mistakes.

You may be wondering “What do you mean by this?” So, that is the topic we are going to discuss next.

Also See: Ways to Save Money from Wages and Ways to Lower Household Costs.

 

How People Get Scammed on Mercari?

Just like Mercari, eBay, and other retailers come with possible scams attached, but if you understand how people are being scammed, you can stay clear of those type of people.

Most of the time, scammers will have a fresh account or a profile with no review and then they jump right in and add the unbelievable price of an item.

Like we mentioned above, if you see the latest iPad going for $50, you should probably avoid that seller.

We also mentioned that Mecari does not release the funds to the seller until the buyer has left positive feedback and confirmed that they have received the item, so you may be wondering how it’s even possible to scam someone.

When you’re buying stuff on Mercari, you may have the seller ask you to contact them through another platform, like WhatsApp, Facebook, or via a phone number.

When you deal outside of Mercari, chances are, you’re going to be scammed!

You see, dealing outside of Mercari is against their guidelines, and they are not responsible for it.

So, whether you’re a buyer or a seller, don’t ever take things outside of Mercari or you could end up regretting it.

 

How to Avoid Getting Scammed (8 Tips to Help)

On other online marketplaces such as Amazon, not just Mercari, it is important that you take time to research not only what you are buying but also who you are buying the item from.

There are many times where fraud takes place because someone just doesn’t know the warning signs they should watch out for before they deal.

Here’s how you can avoid being scammed when buying and/or selling on Mercari:

1. Never Go Outside Mercari App

If a seller (or a buyer) asks you to go outside of the Mercari platform, don’t do it.

The minute you go outside of Mercari, you will lose all protection and this step could put you at risk.

2. Avoid Sharing Personal Information

Don’t give out personal information, including your email address, phone number, and your social media account.

3. Don’t Give Out Your Login Details

Of course, you should never share your Mercari login details with anyone, and this includes third-party sites.

4. Make Your Password Strong

When you create your login on Mercari or any other platform, you should make a strong password that no one would be able to guess.

We recommend changing your password once a month to make sure no one will get into your account.

5. Walk in with a Skeptical Mind

It never hurts to double check people. You should never purchase a product without you check out the sellers reviews and read the description word for word.

6. Confirm the Order Within 3 Days

Once you receive the items you ordered, you will have three days to confirm if it was damaged or not as described.

If you have any problem with the item, you will have three days from the delivery date to report this and request a return.

7. Use a Credit Card Over a Debit Card

No matter how careful you are, there is always a risk of fraud lurking around.

If you have the option to use a credit card over a debit card, choose the credit card, because credit cards tend to come with additional protection.

8. Avoid Selling Prohibited Items

If Mercari finds out you’re selling prohibited items, they will suspend your account and cancel all of your transactions.

Those are some important points you should keep in your mind in order to make sure you never get scammed on any platform.

Also See: Norwex Cleaning Products Review.

 

 

Is Mercari a Safe Platform for Buyers and Sellers?

The short answer to that question is yes.

Mercari is a safe place for both sellers and buyers, but in order for it to remain safe, you will need to follow their guidelines and know what to look for before doing business with any buyer or seller.

You can sell new or even used items safely on Mercari.

Talking about used items, check out the following for more tips on selling some of your used stuff to get extra money:

• Where to Sell Used Car Tires
• Where to Sell Used Appliances
• Where to Sell Wood Pallets
• Where to Sell Used Car Batteries
• Where to Sell Used Laptops Online

 

Is your Personal Information Secure on Mercari?

When it comes time to put in your credit card information, you’re probably hesitant.

However, Mercari is a secure website and it appears to be just as safe as any other retailer online, so you don’t have to worry.

As a seller, the items you list will show your real name as well.  So, when you see a seller on Mercari, you see their full name.

Mercari protects your account messages on their platform, as well as your login information.

You just have to make sure you take responsibility of securing your Mercari account and keep your login information private so that no one else has access to it.

They collect the same information that most online marketplace collect. This includes personal data like your phone number, name, address, email address, tax ID number and your birth.

They may also collect your credit card information for payment processing purpose and receive the information about who you communicate with, accessing logs such as OP address and device names as well as your locations.

Keep in mind that Mercari is a secure site, but no personal data is 100 % safe with Internet transmission and if you were to get hacked (Mercari isn’t responsible for that), the hacker could get your personal information.

 

3 Helpful Tips for Buying Safely on Mercari 

There are numerous things you can do in order to protect yourself when you’re buying items on Mercari.

 

1. Don’t Ignore the Seller Reviews

Before you make a purchase from the seller, make sure you check out their reviews and see what everyone is saying about them.

Before you even contact a seller, look at the photos the seller has posted on the product, the angle the photos are taken and the negative reviews that may have been left by previous buyers.

There are some sellers that have the badge “ID Check by Mercari.” When a seller has this, that means that there are verified and trusted.

Also See: Best Online Thrift Stores and how to get Carters Coupons and Free Coupons.

 

2. If the Price Looks too Good to be True, It Probably is

As we previously mentioned, if the item is way below the market price, then you are probably staring at a scam that you should avoid.

Don’t get us wrong, you can find some supergood deals on Mercari, but if you see a drone sealed in the box going for $40, then you may want to steer clear of it because it could be a counterfeit product or the seller might not have the item in the first place.

 

3. Be on the Lookout for Misleading Information

Some sellers can be misleading – they include vague or misleading descriptions and their photos just aren’t on key.

They take pictures in a manner to make the item look better and the descriptions aren’t always accurate.

Just make sure you pay attention to the product description and if you have any questions whatsoever, feel free to send the seller a private message with those questions.

 

Conclusion

Yes, Mercari is an amazing online marketplace where, as a buyer, you can find some amazing deals, and as a seller, you can make a good amount of money just by selling unwanted items you have around your home.

However, as with any online retail platform, you have to lookout for scammy people who just aren’t as honest as they should be.

Overall, from my personal perspective, I have had a good experience with both buying and selling on Mercari.