Is Mercari Legit? (Know This To AVOID Getting SCAMMED)

Interested in buying or selling on Mercari but worried about being scammed? You’ve come to the right place! In this article, you’ll find out EXACTLY if it’s a legit platform or just a fraud – and what you need to watch out for before making any transactions there. So let’s dive straight in.

Is Mercari Legit?

Mercari is a reputable e-commerce platform for buying and selling items; however, there is no guarantee that both parties will be honest. To prevent this from happening, you should always verify if the person you’re dealing with is trustworthy by checking their feedback.

Although it may seem like a safe platform, anyone can end up being duped – not only by potential buyers but also potential sellers – so don’t hesitate to protect yourself.

In order to avoid scams, it’s important that you verify your buyer or seller and know the signs of fraud to watch out for before dealing. For now though, let me clear up one concern

What are the proofs that Mercari is a legit platform?

First of all, Mercari has been in business for five years now. If it weren’t a legitimate platform then chances are it would’ve already gone out of business by now.

Second of all, they don’t run their company anonymously; there is plenty of information about them available to the public. Finally, there are over 20 million people logging onto Mercari every month – so I guess we can say this app doesn’t suck.

Aside from that, their app has been downloaded over 1 billion times globally, of which 500 million are from the United States alone. It has also received an average rating of 4.8 out 5 stars on Apple’s App Store and 4.5 out 5 stars on Google Play.

In addition to this, their store has over 2 billion listings of products for sale, with 350K+ new products being offered every day.

So to conclude the question, is Mercari legit? I would say:

Although Mercari has been around for nine years, operates its business openly, is used by millions of people, and has a popular mobile application – it is worth noting that no online marketplace can be completely safe to use. This does not change the fact that most users seem satisfied with the service they receive from Mercari.

Then, How Safe Is Mercari For Buying And Selling?

To clarify this, you must understand that Mercari is not an online shopping website that sells its own goods – it instead operates as a sort of middle man between sellers and buyers.

1. Sellers sign up to Mercari and list their items for free.
2. Once a purchase has been made, Mercari will hold the seller’s money while also taking 10% of the item price as commission.
3. Now, the seller has 3 days to ship the item to the buyer.
4. Once shipped, the seller confirms the shipment.
5. Upon receiving an order, the buyer has three business days to confirm whether or not they would like to accept it or ask for a refund if the item is different than what was expected.
6. Until then, Mercari withholds the payment from both parties until either the order has been confirmed or cancelled by one party.

If the customer requests a refund for a justified reason (item not as translated, damaged, etc.), Mercari will provide them with one. However, if there is no such problem and the buyer can confirm they want the item after viewing it in detail then both parties rate each other- and payment is released to the seller.

Basically, Mercari provides a safe trading environment for both buyers and sellers. It also enables users to buy or sell through the app for some percentage of the transaction value.

Although Mercari provides safety mechanisms in place to ensure that either party can’t scam each other, there are still risks involved because sometimes users who don’t know what they’re doing may fall victim to scams.

However, this can be avoided through just one simple step – knowing the policies beforehand so you’ll know exactly what’s expected from you as a buyer or seller within Mercari.

This is why it’s important to always read every policy thoroughly before making any transaction on the app; otherwise, there might be some unforeseen consequences that could’ve been easily avoided had one taken a few minutes to do so beforehand.

7 Tips For Buyers To Avoid Scams

1. Ask For A Tracking Number

Always request a shipping number from the seller once you pay for an item. There are times, however, when the seller forgets to update shipping details after confirming shipment, so it is best to message the seller and ask for the shipping number of your order.

In the event that your seller confirms shipment but does not provide a shipping number, please allow 7 days for your order to arrive.

However, if your order hasn’t arrived even after 7 days, you are eligible to cancel your order and get a refund even if the item was sent by a seller. If your order has arrived

2. Never Buy If The Price Seems “Too Good To Be True”

One of the most common ways that people are tricked out of their money is through stores with unfairly priced items. After only a quick look, you may seem like you’ve found a bargain, but those are often scams. You’re handing over your hard earned money to criminals for what they might send back to you – nothing or something cheap and fake.

Of course, there will be some deals on here from time to time, it just so happens that if something seems way too good to be true – it usually is.

So even when someone offers a deal for an item below its market value in Mercari and checks out as safe seller – don’t buy anything from them unless you’ve thoroughly vetted them first! Once you find one store with reasonably priced goods then go ahead and start shopping around there instead.

3. Check The Product Photos

One of the most important things to remember when buying online is checking for photos. It’s essential that you buy from sellers who’ve uploaded pictures of their items at various angles and it appears they are genuine.

 

4. Always Checkout with PayPal

Mercari accepts PayPal, but paying via PayPal provides an extra level of protection for buyers. If the transaction turns out to be fraudulent (you didn’t receive your item or it isn’t as described), they’ll reimburse you through PayPal’s Buyer Protection program and cover any credit card charges associated with this purchase.

After you’ve paid for an item via PayPal and the seller has shipped it, make sure that these steps are completed:

5. Carefully Read The Description

Scammers try to fool buyers with oversimplified or ambiguous descriptions that leave potential buyers questioning what they will actually receive in the package.

Don’t bother looking at auction sites where sellers don’t offer detailed descriptions of their products; this leaves the buyer unsure of what they’ll end up receiving.

Okay, so you found an item that’s being sold at a price too good to be true – but the pictures look okay and it has all the information you need. What do you do now?

6. Verify The Seller

To verify a seller, here’s what you should look out for:

• Reviews and sales
• Seller Badges
• Profile verification

As the first thing, you should take a look at the seller’s profile and if there aren’t any reviews – this may indicate that the person has never sold anything before.

If there are positive reviews, you can determine how he or she treats customers by reading them; but if they’re all negative then it may not be worth purchasing from them.

It is my opinion that you should buy products only from sellers who have at least 50+ reviews and 5-star ratings, the higher the better.

Next, check whether the sellers have earned any of these badges:

Fast responder – Sellers with this badge are always quick to respond. They receive it once they reply to chat messages from customers within an average of 12 minutes after being sent.
Quick shipper – Sellers with this badge have items shipped within 24 hours, excluding weekends and holidays. This badge is awarded when tracking scans are confirmed to show that an item was delivered in the allotted time frame.
Reliable – Sellers will earn the badge if they fulfill all shopper’s orders at a higher rate than those who cancel more than 10%.

Sellers who meet the criteria are awarded these badges which show buyers how hardworking and reliable they can be.

Consequently, we recommend purchasing from a seller who has earned all of the following badges:Finally, check if the seller’s profile is verified and if they have been on Mercari for at least 1 year.

Now that you’ve confirmed the seller and are ready to make your first purchase, there are some tips for buying things online.

7. Confirm Your Order Within 3 Days

Mercari emphasizes that its users should always be cautious when using it’s service. For example, if you receive an item that doesn’t match the description or isn’t what you ordered then you have 3 days to request a return.

Otherwise, your order will automatically be accepted by Mercari and they’ll release your payment to the seller without question.

By following these simple tips below – both buyers and sellers alike are less likely to run into trouble on Mercari’s marketplace.

It is vitally important for all members of this website including buyers and sellers alike to carefully review their Marketplace Guidelines as well so everyone can stay safe while using this platform.

3 Tips To Sell Safely & Avoid Scams

1. Never List Items Prohibited By Mercari

Listing any of the items that are on Mercari’s Prohibited Items List can result in major repercussions. When a seller lists a prohibited item, it is against their Terms of Service and this is done even if they didn’t do so intentionally.

If Mercari determines that a listing violates their TOS, then they will punish sellers with penalties such as cancellation of listings, cancellation of related transactions, removal of privilege to post new listings, cancel all privileges indefinitely or suspend your account altogether.

To keep things fair, you should never sell anything that isn’t approved on Mercari. In addition to this, here are some more tips:

To view a full list of Prohibited items, click here:

• Counterfeit and fake or replica goods
• Items in violation of a copyright
• Digital items such as e-books
• Anything illegal such as drugs
• FDA-restricted products such as foods
• Weapons such as firearms or parts
• Alcohol and Tobacco such as cigarettes
• Identity theft such as user login information
• Age-restricted products such as license
• Gambling such as mystery purchases
• Financial items such as insurance
• All live animals such as dogs and cats
• Regulated financial products and services
• Human body parts such as blood
• Pornographic or sexually related item
• Items not in your possession such as dropshipping
• Things that are a safety hazard
• A computer virus, malware-type items

2. Ensure Your Product Listings Are Accurate

When listing an item, make sure all details in your listing are accurate such as:

1. Photos
2. Description

It is important to use photographs of the product in natural light so that buyers can understand the exact shade it will be when they receive it.

It is also crucial to accurately describe your products to shoppers before they buy them, letting them know what they’re getting and if there are any flaws or damages which may have occurred during shipping.

• What will be included in their order
• The exact size, colors, prints, measurements, etc.
• Describe if there are any drawbacks to your item.

If you don’t fulfill these obligations, no matter what your intentions were- the customer can raise a dispute against you and claim that the product was not how they had ordered it.

In this case, Mercari will likely withhold the payment (paid by the customer for your item) from being transferred to you. There is also much higher chance that the customer will receive a full refund because their Refund Policy states:

If the item is not as described, buyers are eligible to open a dispute and get a full refund (more details later). So before listing anything on Mercari make sure that your listing details are completely accurate or else there may be consequences.

3. Keep These Things In Mind Once You Made A Sale

Got a sale? Here’s what you should keep in mind:

• Package the item with care
• Ship within 3 business days
• Provide a valid tracking number to the buyer
• Confirm your shipment

First and foremost, ensure the safety of your shipped item when shipping to prevent disputes over damage. Then, ship within 3 business days of purchasing the product or else allow the buyer to cancel their order.

However, if there is a delay due to good cause, communicate with the customer and request additional time before cancelling their order.

Once you have shipped the item and confirmed the shipment, you must provide a valid tracking number to the buyer within 1-7 business days.

Otherwise, buyer will be eligible to cancel the order even if it was sent by you. Providing valid tracking details are also important in case the buyer opens an unnecessary dispute against you because they claim they haven’t received items when in fact they were delivered.

In this scenario, Mercari will first check the tracking information to see if the package was sent out and then they will release funds back to you instead of making you refund it.

If needed, we’ll provide you with these details so that you can give them to your customer. When listing an item for sale, simply select whether or not you want us to do all the delivery work for you.

If you decide to ship on your own and get the tracking information from your courier or shipping service provider, you can provide this information to the buyer.

If instead of providing this information yourself, you choose Mercari Prepaid Labels where they will send it directly to your inbox with tracking details included in the app and website – then all you need to do is wait until they arrive at their destination.

That’s it for sellers!

Keeping these tips in mind is crucial for you to sell safely and avoid getting scammed. However, both sellers and buyers should carefully read their marketplace guidelines and policies as well to prevent other potential issues. For example, if someone has a history of scamming others then they may be banned from using eBay or Amazon because they are preventing them from selling items on those sites too.

Mercari Guidelines To Be Aware Of

Their first marketplace guideline you should keep in mind is to:

1. Never Deal Outside of Mercari

Selling outside of Mercari violates their regulations. If a customer pays for an item or the seller sends goods to the customer who has violated these rules, then Mercari does not take responsibility for any issues that may arise from such transactions.

In order for all transactions or shipments to be processed and protect both parties, they need to go through Mercari. Secondly, both buyers and sellers should do the following:

2. Treat Each Other with Respect & Honesty

In order for buyers and sellers to treat each other with equal respect and honesty, it is important for both parties to remember some common practices that are often considered wrong:

• Never create multiple listings of the same item
• Never list items glorifying violence or associated with hate groups
• Never provide false information in listings or messages
• Never abuse, threaten, troll, degrade, or harass your buyer or seller
• Never the buyer to rate before he or she received it
• Never encourage buyers or sellers to deal outside of Mercari
• Never send items directly from the manufacturer (avoid drop shipping).
• Never provide an invalid tracking number
• Never ask for personal information no matter whether you are a buyer or a seller
• Never provide false information for tax-related inquiries
• Never open a dispute against a seller without any fair reason

In the event that you engage in any of these prohibited conducts, your account may be suspended or terminated. For more details, check out their full list of Prohibited Conduct page.

Furthermore, sellers should avoid listing items that are on Mercari’s prohibited items list. Now that you know their marketplace guidelines, let’s get to know their policies.

Mercari Policies To Be Aware Of

When engaging in commerce on Mercari, there are two policies that one should always keep in mind if they want to avoid future complications.

1. Cancellation Policy
2. Returns and Refunds Policy

Cancellation Policy

Let’s start by understanding Mercari’s differing cancellation policies. Both buyers and sellers can initiate cancellations, but they are handled differently between the two parties

Cancellation Policy For Buyers

As a buyer, you are able to request for orders to be canceled before the seller ships them out. It is up to the seller whether they choose to honor your cancellation request or not. If they agree and Mercari verifies that the order has not been shipped yet, then you will receive your money back.

On the other hand, if they deny the customer’s cancellation request, then there is nothing that can be done about it.In the event that the seller does not respond to a buyer’s cancellation request within 24 hours, Mercari will automatically refund said buyer.

If the seller confirms shipment but doesn’t provide tracking information to the buyer after 7 days of purchase, they can immediately cancel their order from their Order Status page. This was all about buyers’ rights – now let’s talk about sellers’.

Refund and Return Policy

For customers who feel unhappy about a purchase and wish to contact the seller, there are certain requirements which need to be met in order for them to do so.

Firstly, they must contact the seller within three days from when the product was delivered; secondly, these requests will only be honored if this first deadline has not been missed by either party; thirdly (and finally), buyers will also receive refunds under certain circumstances where it is due – such as when the items were lost or broken during transit or never delivered at all.

• Item not as described
• Item is prohibited
• Not authentic or counterfeit
• Item is damaged or doesn’t work
• Item is incomplete
• Received the wrong item

However, Mercari will deny the buyer’s request for reasons like:

• Change of mind
• Mistakenly selected the wrong size and color
• Bought it offline and don’t need the item anymore

For valid reasons, can request a return from their item’s Order Status page.

Once submitted, Sellers are given 24 hours to give feedback and/or agree to the buyer’s return request. If the seller doesn’t respond to the buyer’s return request, Mercari will refund them.

If the seller accepts the return but doesn’t provide feedback for it, Mercari handles all disputes between both parties when reviewing evidence from both sides.

If the buyer is at fault for not reading the description or asking questions about an item before purchasing it, their team will deny their request to return it.

If the seller is at fault for selling an item they know isn’t worth it and they take responsibility, they’ll be fine with accepting a return – though buyers have three days after getting approval from them to send back what they bought.

Cancellation Policy For Sellers

Sellers may need to cancel an order if they find themselves unable or unwilling to complete it. They can do this by choosing from one of these two options:

• Unable to ship
• Item is damaged/defective
• The item is on hold for someone else
• Item not available
• Change shipping options
• Accidental purchase by the buyer
• Bundling items for buyers
• Incorrect buyer shipping address

However, Mercari may charge you a cancellation fee of 5% of the item price (maximum of $25) to cover the transaction fees or shipping labels.

Note: Cancelling too many orders can result in account suspension, termination, restrictions, or drops in your listing’s ranking; this is why it’s important to take care of every order until its completion.

Mercari FAQs

Conclusion

While Mercari is undoubtedly a reliable online marketplace for buying and selling items, it does not guarantee that every member of its community is also trustworthy. Furthermore, one has to take into account that Mercari only acts as an intermediary between buyers and sellers; therefore you may encounter some obstacles along the way. Despite this, Mercari offers buyer protection as well as seller protection to mitigate potential harm from scams or violation of their policies.

By knowing how to buy and sell on Mercari, you’re less likely to be scammed or experience any other difficulties. Obviously, by not taking these precautions there will likely be scams and other unfortunate events – which is why it’s important for me to warn you about them! Got any questions about my experience with this app? Let me know below!