Mercari: Buy and Sell App

Abstract

Mercari is a peer-to-peer shopping app for buying and selling second-hand and new items, from clothing and household goods to electronics and collectibles. It suits people clearing out unwanted possessions, bargain hunters, and collectors looking for items that may be difficult to find through ordinary retail channels.

Buying on Mercari

The catalogue covers everyday goods as well as specialist categories such as Japanese brands, blind-box collectibles, and other niche items. Buyers can search for listings, save searches, and receive price-drop notifications. The app also provides access to items from the Japanese marketplace, which may be useful to collectors seeking products not commonly available locally.

Higher-value purchases have an additional verification option for eligible luxury goods. Independent appraisal and a verification badge are intended to give buyers more information when assessing expensive listings, though buyers should still review each listing’s description, photographs, condition, and seller details.

Selling and fulfilment

Sellers can create listings from a phone using photographs and item details, then manage offers from interested buyers. The “Offer to Likers” tool lets a seller send a time-limited discount to people who have shown interest. Mercari also supports prepaid shipping labels from major carriers, with shipping protection of up to $200 on eligible transactions.

Seller earnings can be used through the app’s balance system, with an instant-pay option available. As with any marketplace, the final experience depends on the accuracy of listings, communication between users, shipping arrangements, and the applicable transaction terms.

At a glance

• Category: Shopping
• Developer: Mercari, Inc
• Rating: 4.70 from 597,825 reviews
• Installs: 10,000,000+