Is Mercari Legit or a Scam? Detailed Review

Mercari’s mobile app interface promotes secondhand deals at up to 70% off retail. I recently opened the Mercari marketplace app to buy and sell some items and to evaluate whether it lives up to its reputation or turns out to be a scam. It is a peer-to-peer marketplace that was founded in Japan in 2013 and launched in the U.S. in 2014. 

Since then, it has grown rapidly – according to one report, it has over 20 million active users each month. The platform has even expanded to the UK and is backed by major investors, which suggests it’s a legitimate company, not a fly-by-night scheme. I joined it to see how it works in practice, as both a buyer and a seller, and here is my first-person review.

What Is Mercari and How Does It Work?

Mercari is like a mobile-friendly version of eBay or Facebook Marketplace. Users can list new or used items (electronics, clothes, collectibles, etc.) for sale and browse items from others. Listing an item is free on it. Sellers simply upload photos and descriptions; buyers can filter by categories. 

When a buyer places an order, Mercari acts as an escrow: the payment is held by Mercari and only released to the seller after the buyer confirms receipt of the item. In my experience, this system was reassuring – I didn’t have to pay the seller directly, and I only handed over the money (through it) when I got the package and verified it was as described. italso provides prepaid shipping labels to sellers, making shipping easier. In fact, Mercari’s prepaid labels offer discounted flat rates (about 40% cheaper than standard carrier prices) for packages up to 100 lbs. 

Each label even includes up to $200 in shipping insurance, which gave me extra peace of mind when sending expensive items. Overall, the app is designed for convenience: you can list in seconds, bundle items for one-shipment discounts, and use features like Instant Pay to get your earnings faster. According to official info and tech sites, it is a publicly traded company with millions of downloads, so on the business side, it is not a scam site.

Buying on Mercari – My Experience

When I first tried shopping on it, I was impressed by the variety of deals. You can find brand-name items from Lululemon, Apple, and more, often at deep discounts (the app even advertised up to 70% off). The interface is straightforward: I could swipe through categories, add items to favorites, and message sellers. 

The checkout process was also smooth. It does add a small buyer protection fee on each purchase. For example, Mercari’s help center notes that buyers pay about a 3.6% fee on the item price plus shipping for each order. I saw this fee on the final checkout screen. It’s not a large amount (a $100 purchase adds only $3.60), and it goes towards Mercari’s protection system. After I paid, it held onto the funds. When the package arrived, I inspected it carefully before clicking “Confirm Delivery.” 

Only after I confirmed did Mercari release payment to the seller. This escrow-like system was helpful. For instance, Vendoo’s guide confirms that Mercari “withholds payment to the seller until the item is delivered and confirmed to match the listing description”. If there had been a problem (wrong item or damage), I would have had up to 3 days after delivery to file a claim and get a refund. (Onerep’s security analysis notes this 72-hour window too.)

In practice, I found that my first Mercari purchase went fine. I chose a well-reviewed seller and paid with my credit card through it. I tracked the shipment via the Mercari app. If anything had gone wrong, Norton’s blog advises buyers to keep everything on the app (no payments via email or other methods) and to check seller ratings beforehand. I heeded that: I only paid through Mercari’s system and checked that the seller had good feedback. Mercari’s own app interface even shows seller “Badges” for reliability, which helped me trust the deal. In the end, the item arrived as described, and I rated the seller. All felt legitimate.

Fees as a Buyer: As noted, the main fee I paid was the Buyer Protection fee (~3.6%). There was no separate payment processing fee on my purchase (it removed that in early 2025). Shipping cost was added on top, but I didn’t pay anything extra beyond the label price. Overall, the total cost felt fair for a protected transaction.

Selling on Mercari – My Experience

I also listed a few items on Mercari to sell. Listing itself was truly free (no fee until the item sells). I simply took photos of the items with my phone, wrote descriptions, and hit “list.” Within minutes, they were visible on Mercari’s marketplace. It promotes listings to millions of users, so items started getting likes and offers quickly. Mercari’s interface even encourages sellers with tools like “Promote” and “Offer to Likers,” which I experimented with to get more views.

Mercari advertises its app as “Designed for Seller Success,” highlighting easy listing and promotional tools. When an item sells, it automatically charges a 10% selling fee on the item price (plus any buyer-paid shipping). For example, on a $20 sale with $5 shipping, Mercari took $2.50 as the fee (10% of $25) from my earnings. This flat 10% is lower than some competitors (eBay used to charge more, though eBay has complex tiered fees). After the sale, Mercari asks sellers to ship within 3 business days.

I used the provided prepaid label – it printed with the exact address, tracked by USPS. The label included $200 shipping insurance, so I wasn’t too worried about loss or damage in transit. Once I shipped, I updated the status in the app. Then Mercari still held the funds. Only after the buyer confirmed delivery did I receive my money into my Mercari balance. In fact, Vendoo’s guide notes that it “releases funds upon delivery confirmation or within three days if the buyer fails to acknowledge receipt”. (Sure enough, if a buyer simply never clicks anything, Mercari auto-finalizes the sale after about 3 days.)

Cashing out was easy, too. I linked my bank account and did a Direct Deposit. Mercari allowed one free withdrawal per day (with no fee after Jan 2025). Alternatively, I could have used Instant Pay for a $3 fee per transfer, but I didn’t need it. Overall, selling on Mercari felt smooth: listing was free, shipping was convenient, and I got paid reliably. Crosslist notes that Mercari has a “reputable customer service team” to help if issues arise, though I didn’t need to contact support in my cases. If I had, I could have opened a help ticket in the app or emailed their support.

Fees, Payments, and Shipping

• Listing Fee: $0 (no charge until sale).
  
• Selling Fee: 10% of the sale price (including buyer-paid shipping).
  
• Buyer Fee: ~3.6% of total (item + shipping) as a “Buyer Protection” fee.
  
• Payment Release: Funds are held by Mercari and released after item delivery confirmation (or auto-released after 3 days).
  
• Payment Methods: Buyers can pay by credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Venmo, etc.. Sellers get paid via Direct Deposit or Instant Pay (instant has a $3 fee).
  
• Shipping: Mercari’s prepaid labels average ~40% cheaper than retail rates and include up to $200 insurance. Carriers like USPS, UPS, and FedEx are supported. For very heavy items (>100 lbs), I had to arrange shipping separately. If a return is approved for a large item, the seller is responsible for return shipping.
  

Overall, Mercari’s fee structure is transparent. As a seller, I pay the 10% fee, and as a buyer, I see the 3.6% added. These fees are how Mercari makes money (unlike a scammer, it profits when legitimate sales go through, so they want transactions to succeed).

Also Read: MovieReviewer Review: Scam or Legit?

Safety, Scams, and Red Flags

Mercari itself is a legitimate company, but like any large marketplace, it attracts some bad actors. Norton’s security blog explicitly states, “Mercari is a popular online marketplace… While the platform is legitimate, scammers prowl on Mercari”. 

In other words, the platform is real, but you still need to be vigilant. I didn’t personally encounter any fraud, but I read up on common issues. Astrill’s blog and other resources list typical scams: counterfeit items, “empty box” shipments, bait-and-switch, where the delivered item is of poor quality, and fake tracking numbers. For example, one buyer might see a designer handbag listed at a great price, pay for it, and then receive a knockoff or an empty box. Other scams include buyers claiming an item never arrived to trigger a refund.

Mercari does have some safeguards. For instance, Mercari requires sellers to verify their identity, and it shows ratings for each user. Mercari also enforces an escrow payment system (holding funds until delivery). According to Onerep’s analysis, Mercari’s protections include ID verification, a user rating system, product monitoring for counterfeits, escrow-style payments, and a 72-hour claim window for buyers. These all help reduce fraud, but they’re not foolproof.

In my own use, I took several precautions: I only completed purchases within the Mercari app (never through an email link or outside payment), as Norton warns that paying off-platform means you won’t qualify for buyer protection. I always examined seller profiles: I looked at their star ratings and number of past sales. I avoided listings with just stock photos or vague descriptions. And I never agreed to ship or pay outside the app. By keeping communication and payment on Mercari, I stayed within the rules that trigger Mercari’s guarantees.

Buyer Protection: Mercari explicitly holds my money until I receive and confirm the item. If the item arrived damaged or misrepresented, I could open a claim within 72 hours of delivery. In fact, Vendoo notes that Mercari “withholds payment to the seller until the item is delivered and confirmed” and promises refunds for nondelivery or misrepresentation. I never needed to use this feature, but it’s comforting to know it’s in place.

Seller Protection: As a seller, Mercari recommends shipping only after marking the item sold. Norton advises sellers to only accept payment through Mercari (to avoid check or outside-payment scams) and to take detailed photos of the item before shipping. I followed that advice: I photographed my item from multiple angles. Mercari also protects me by giving the buyer only a limited time (72 hours) to report issues. If a buyer attempts a fraudulent return claim, Mercari’s case team (in theory) will investigate. I didn’t have such a dispute, so I can’t comment on response time, but knowing these policies made me feel safer.

Tips to Stay Safe on Mercari

To summarize the precautions I take, here are some safety tips I follow (and that security experts recommend):

• Stay On-Platform: Always communicate and pay within the Mercari app. If a seller asks you to pay via another method, it’s almost certainly a scam.
  
• Check the Profile: Look at the seller’s rating, number of sales, and any badges. A high-volume seller with good reviews is much more trustworthy.
  
• Ask for More Photos: If anything seems off (like stock images or blurry photos), ask the seller to send additional pictures before you buy. Scammers will often refuse or delay sending real photos.
  
• Beware of Unrealistic Deals: If a deal seems too good to be true (e.g., a brand-new iPhone for 90% off), it usually is. Norton’s guide specifically warns against being suspicious of extremely low prices.
  
• Don’t Rush Your Rating: Never mark a transaction complete (or leave feedback) before you’ve received and inspected the item. Mercari’s system ties up your money until you confirm, so only finalize when you’re satisfied.
  
• For Sellers – Document Everything: Take clear, timestamped photos of your item’s condition before shipping. Use Mercari’s prepaid shipping (for tracking and insurance) and don’t refund outside Mercari, as that voids your protections.
  

Following these guidelines, I was able to use it confidently. I never had to open a scam report, but I know Mercari’s support (per one reviewer) does take claims – they may refund or relist a buyer’s payout if fraud is proven.

Pros and Cons of Mercari

Pros:

• Legitimacy & Scale: It is a real, established company (Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed with millions of users). Its longevity (since 2013) and funding back it.
  
• Ease of Use: The mobile app is intuitive. I was able to list items in under a minute, and buyers can easily browse deals on the go. Bulk listing and cross-posting features also exist (via tools).
  
• Low Seller Fees: A flat 10% selling fee is competitive for peer-to-peer markets. There are no listing fees or hidden charges beyond that.
  
• Buyer Protections: The escrow payment system and refund window mean buyers can shop more safely than on some marketplaces.
  
• Convenient Shipping: Prepaid labels with affordable rates and $200 insurance make shipping simpler than coordinating with third parties.
  
• Range of Items: From everyday goods to niche collectibles (Pokémon cards, vintage fashion, etc.), it
• ’s categories are broad. I found unique items that big retailers don’t carry.
  
• Global Reach: Sellers can ship internationally (and it even offers direct shopping from Japan), expanding the market.
  

Cons:

• Buyer & Seller Fees: Buyers pay a ~3.6% fee and sellers pay 10%. These fees add up, so small transactions feel less profitable.
  
• Scam Risk: Despite protections, you still may encounter fraudulent users. My own precautions averted problems, but I know others have reported issues like fakes or empty boxes. This risk means you must stay alert.
  
• Payment Delay: As a seller, I had to wait several days before I got paid (pending buyer confirmation). It holds funds for ~3 days, which is longer than an instant payout would feel.
  
• No Cash Out from Credits: It gives credits/promotions, but they can’t be converted to cash. I found this annoying when I had store credit that I couldn’t withdraw.
  
• Support Turnaround: I haven’t tested it myself, but some reviews mention that customer service can be slow or insist on evidence. If a dispute happens, resolving it might take time.
  
• No Local Pickup: Unlike some marketplaces, it is strictly shipping-based (except for their special same-day delivery in some cities). This is fine generally, but if I wanted to avoid shipping hassle for big items, it doesn’t do easy local meetups.
  

Overall, the advantages (low fees, ease, protection) outweighed the downsides for me. I learned to use it as I would any market: carefully but optimistically.

Mercari.com Technical Scoring System

Verdict:
Mercari.com scores 86/100, which makes it a legit and trusted platform. The only caution is user-to-user scams, so buyers and sellers must follow safety practices.

Conclusion

In my experience, Mercari itself is legit. It’s a large, established marketplace that stands behind buyer/seller protections. The real question is not “Is Mercari a scam?” (it isn’t), but “Can users get scammed on Mercari?” (they can, if careless). By following best practices—using the app for all communication, checking users’ ratings, and shipping with the provided labels—I was able to buy and sell successfully. 

As Crosslist aptly concluded, it is “most definitely a legit site” based on its track record. My own buys and sells went smoothly, and I would use it again for decluttering or hunting bargains. Just remember: stay alert for the usual online market red flags, and it can be a safe, convenient way to buy and sell goods online.