♡ 1. Have patience! Use “save search” to save a search if you are unable to find what you want immediately. In most cases, items you see in stores now are not going to be on Mercari in mass quantity, so you may have to wait a few months before you can purchase the item.
♡ 2. Use broad searches and keywords. Many people do not use elaborate details that you may be thinking of.
- VS PINK Eyelash Lace Bralette Maroon Color XS NWT ❌ Many people do not specify the color or size of their items in their size or description, nor do they go into detail about the type of lace it is.
- VS PINK Lace Bralette ✅ From here, you will modify your search using the filter tab to adjust size, condition, and category. This will keep your search open instead of automatically throwing out ones that could be a match for what you’re looking for because you got too descriptive.
♡ 3. Do not lowball sellers! This can get you blocked.
- Offering $11-$19 on a $20 item depending on condition, brand, and reasonability of the original price ✅
- Offering $11-$19 on a $20 item when the item is NWT and retails for $60+ or if they specify that price is already firm ❌ Though you may be able to offer something less, be very careful about how you ask. You may get blocked anyway.
- Offering $3-$10 on a $20 item ❌ This goes into the territory of lowballing as you’re asking for more than 50% off when their original price is likely already much less than retail. Mercari takes 10%, and you want 50% off, so their total profit on your $10 offer would be $9, more than half off their intended price. Many times they will see it as not worth the gas money or packaging time to take this offer.
- In general, asking for more than 50% off their asking price ❌
♡ 4. Understand Mercari selling percentages. They take 10% from each sale, so if you notice that your seller has listed an item at $12, it is because they likely really want that $10.80 instead of the $9 they would get on the $10. This usually explains why prices may look “odd”, like selling an item for $13 instead of $10 or $15.
♡ 5. Be polite when asking questions and do not pester sellers.
- “any flaws” 2 min later “HELLO” 1 min later “I’ll do $3 free ship regardless” ❌
- “Hello! Are there any flaws?” 24 hours later “Just wanted to know if you had received my above question yet. I am very interested.” ✅
♡ 6. Do not ask sellers for free shipping if their item is under $10 or is under $20 and heavy.
- “Free ship?” On a pair of $20 jeans ✅
- “Free ship?” On a $3 shirt ❌
- “Free ship?” On a $7 bra ❌ PARAPHRASE to “Could you do $10 free shipping?”
- “Free ship?” On a $75 duvet cover ✅
- “Free ship?” On a $20 bed in a bag set ❌
- and of course you should not just say “Free ship?”, you should say, “Hello, would you offer free shipping for this item?”
♡ 7. Rate your seller as soon as you get your item and make sure that it is as described. If you make your seller submit a buyer rating request, you will likely get a “good” or “bad” rating which will drop your score to an average of 0-3 stars.
♡ 8. Check your seller’s ratings before purchasing. If they have more than 15% combined of good or bad ratings without descriptions, do not purchase from them. If they have only a few good or bad ratings out of hundreds or thousands of great ratings, read those good/bad ratings and make your decision from there. If someone complained of an item smelling heavily of smoke and you are allergic to smoke, don’t buy from the seller.
♡ 9. Keep an eye on if the seller is confrontational or not. If they respond to every “good” or “bad” rating in their profile description personally and with hostility they are likely not a seller you want to buy from in case you have any issues arise.
♡ 10. If you have an issue with your item, address your seller first. Do not go to Mercari first unless it turns out that your item is something like a stolen iPhone or has a nasty note written to you in the package. Most sellers are happy to help out if you have an issue.
♡ 11. Understand Mercari’s return policy. They do NOT accept returns based on size. Your responsibility as a buyer is to ask questions to clarify, which may mean asking for measurements or if it is true to size (TTS). If your seller won’t answer you, don’t buy from them. And never assume that a used item will fit you because it is a brand size you know well. Many used items have shrunk in the wash, which is why they are being sold, and many sellers will not tell you about this until you ask.
♡ 12. Do not hold off a rating for more than a day if you can help it. This is essentially keeping the item for free as you are likely using the item without releasing payment to the seller (sellers don’t receive payment until both parties have paid, even if the money has been deducted from your account).
♡ 13. If you had a problem with the seller that they refused to address or a bad experience, say this when you rate them! This protects other buyers. When you rate “great” or “good” without an explanation out of pity or being non-confrontational more people will continue to buy from them without knowing if they are truly a bad seller or not.
♡ 14. Write a nice note on their rating page if you liked the item/seller! This will make you look like a good buyer and in return make them look like a good seller.
♡ 15. Most of all, use common sense and ask questions! If an item has an obvious bloodstain present in the item photo and the seller says “no flaws”, you shouldn’t take their word for it unless they have a better explanation, like there being a spot on their camera or that being a piece of fuzz, not a stain.
