AuctionBytes Blog
Covering auctions, collectibles and marketplace selling.

AuctionBytes Blog The AuctionBytes Blog has been giving a voice to online merchants since its launch in 2005. Named one of the world's top 30 blogs in 2008 by "Blogging Heroes." Weigh in with your thoughts on the joys and pitfalls of selling online.
Mon Sept 26 2022 21:51:05

Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard

By: Ina Steiner

Sponsored Link

Shopping marketplace Mercari is raising payment-processing fees on November 1, 2022, making it less profitable to sell low-cost goods through its platform. It also made it clearer that it does not accept cash with new language added to its Terms of Service.

Mercari is keeping the payment processing rate at 2.9%, but it's raising the payment processing transaction fee from 30 cents to 50 cents per sale. That disproportionately impacts low-cost goods - and that's an area where buyers may not be willing to pay higher prices, especially with shipping costs constantly on the rise.

Mercari sent the following notification to sellers:

To our Mercari community,
We're updating our Terms of Service for all customers on November 1, 2022.

Here's what you need to know:

- Effective November 1, 2022, the payment processing fee for all transactions will increase from $0.30 to $0.50 per sale when an item sells. The payment processing rate will remain the same at 2.9%.

- Our Terms of Service have been updated. Learn more.

- We are also updating related articles including Payment Processing Fee and Fees on Mercari.

There's no action needed on your part, we just wanted to let you know of these changes, so you're always informed.

As always, on behalf of all of us, thank you for being a part of the Mercari community.
Team Mercari

Sellers discussed the issue on a Reddit thread, with one seller explaining their approach to rising marketplace fees: 

"Mercari's fees are now higher than eBay's. But that's fine, every time a platform raises their fees I raise my prices by the same amount, and as I cross post the result is that I'm less likely to sell my items on the one with the highest fees, and more likely to sell them on the others, so they lose out in the end."

Mercari added language to its Terms of Service to make it clear it disdains cash, including the following:

"Mercari does not accept or dispense cash."

"We do not accept or check as a payment method."

"We do not dispense cash or issue checks as a method of withdrawal."

The marketplace also clarified that customers may only register for and maintain one account *per User.* And it added language to make it clear it may request additional information to verify users' bank details, including the following: "You may be asked to update or verify this information from time to time so Mercari may continue to service your account."

Is it still possible to sell low-priced goods online with current payment and shipping fees? Do marketplaces do enough to make it easy for buyers to purchase multiple low-cost goods from you? (Postcard sellers, we're looking at you!)



Share

Comments (13) | Permalink

Readers Comments

Perminate Link for Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard   Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard

by: Shanna This user has validated their user name.

Mon Sep 26 22:05:35 2022

Mercari's fees are not higher than eBay's because Mercari does not charge you a fee on the shipping, if you use their shipping, and nothing on the tax charged. Mercari's shipping rates are significantly better than eBay's as well, with 2 pounds shipped anywhere for $7.99.

Perminate Link for Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard   Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard

by: HappyOne This user has validated their user name.

Tue Sep 27 09:10:28 2022

As a hobby seller Mercari sales has been good for me. There is no listing fee. I have moved items from Ebay and Etsy that have not sold in over a year to have them sell within a week. To keep it simple only whole $ amount selling  prices are allowed. So I will raise my prices $1 on a fifth of my listings to counter the 20¢ increase. This an easy to use site but multiple item sales are difficult - seller has to put up bundle listing for ''buyer'' . Variation listings are not available; there is no sell similar. Total fees are less than Ebays since NO FVF on tax or shipping (using Mercari's shipping). Fees are about the same as Etsy's except no pesty 20¢ listing fee every 4 months or after a sale on a variation listing.

Perminate Link for Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard   Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard

This user has validated their user name. by: The End

Tue Sep 27 12:16:47 2022

Ya, we need a nice, stable American selling venue.
None of this nonsense.

Perminate Link for Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard   Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard

by: pace306 This user has validated their user name.

Tue Sep 27 20:55:20 2022

This is Mercari TRYING to become "a real marketplace", but its not.

Theres no real people to talk to (eBays real people are BAD but at least they exist), you cant list multiples of an item in 1 listing, and now the continued drive towards higher fees.

The green haired, nose pierced people who dont know what selling is about just keep on raising fees because they can.

Each of these sites starts out as the ANTI of the other, but then flal into the same GREED trap and they all end up becomming the same.

eBay was the anti-Amazon. It was a promising vision of some dope with a broken laser pointer, who later became a billionaire on the backs of others. Along the way, all the GOOD parts of the vision were trashed and what was/is left is the same corporate BS that Amazon does to its sellers.

Mercari became the anti-eBay. Quick, simple easy to use and less fees/hassles. Today its become what eBay is - trashy, poor customer service, high fees for doing nothing but run a website - but at least it doesnt block categories/brands (yet?).

What ever the NEXT one is, will be the same .... it gets tired of writting about the same topics over and over.

Perminate Link for Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard   Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard

This user has validated their user name. by: toolguy

Tue Sep 27 22:17:52 2022

I bought 2 items on Mercari this week.

33 items over the past year

I like buying on Mercari, but never sold there

Perminate Link for Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard   Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard

by: 4yourinfo This user has validated their user name.

Wed Sep 28 12:34:46 2022

@Shanna 7.99 shipping depends on the size of the box 2lbs for a small box.. they factor in dimensional weight. Unfortunately the site is not set up to sell volume very few options for listing info etc. - its a glorified offerup  

Perminate Link for Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard   Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard

by: Shanna This user has validated their user name.

Wed Sep 28 17:47:10 2022

@4yourinfo,

You are correct, but things are getting better there, you can't say that about eBay. When someone wants multiple items, I just create a new listing for them and send them a link. And the $7.99 shipping is for anything less than a cubic foot, which is pretty big to me.

Perminate Link for Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard   Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard

by: Chicago48 This user has validated their user name.

Thu Sep 29 05:47:53 2022

I have no problems with these fees.  Over time, all the platforms will inch up, increase prices so we have to get ready for it.

Perminate Link for Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard   Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard

by: Runs.With.Scissors This user has validated their user name.

Thu Sep 29 10:30:07 2022

C'mon, Mercari ... how hard is it to make a "quantity available" field, then subtract
quantity sold for each sale, leaving the remaining available quantity intact?
I got so tired of repeatedly making new listings on your site
(due to that shortcoming of your software), that I seldom sell on it anymore.
Bonanza and eCrater are way better than Mercari, for that and other reasons.

Perminate Link for Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard   Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard

by: Whatever This user has validated their user name.

Thu Sep 29 13:48:52 2022

Pros and cons of Mercari
Pros - I do sell - over $25,000 in 18 months (although I seemed to have hit a
         snag right now)

         Ridiculously easy to list - takes me less than 60 seconds

         No listing fees

         Automatic feedback and payout when buyer doesn't leave any
         Improved listing characters (over old)
 
         Unlimited inventory space (1 at a time)
     
         Auto relist of like items

Cons: No live customer service although emails seem to be speedy

         Photo format sucks since you can not easily move items (copy-Paste)
         from ebay requiring all new photos

         No search bar for buyers within your own store making listing 3000
         items useless since no one will scroll thru 1 item at a time

         Not all you items appear in general search (their hidden) it might be a
         server space problem?

         Here's a biggie: Mercari will advise perspective buyers they should offer
         you up to 50% off off their purchase. HUGE mistake. As a seller I list my
         items competitively and when I refuse to accept offer of 50% off the
         buyer becomes agitated and often nasty. Good news is they have a
         simple "block" button so you don't have to listen - it not a good format

         Not alot of education for buyers on how to bundle or if there is they can't
         read

I'm  in the process of paring down my inventory and trying other venues. I understand the economy is slow - not abandoning the site for sure just no point in having 3,000+ items there. If I get a search bar within my shop I'll add 10,000 items!

Over-all it's been good for me - 1,000 times better than eBay
 

Perminate Link for Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard   Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard

by: Whatever This user has validated their user name.

Thu Sep 29 13:50:56 2022

sorry about the spacing - not sure what happened

Perminate Link for Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard   Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard

This user has validated their user name. by: toolguy

Fri Sep 30 11:27:35 2022

@Whatever

Mercari only allows me to offer 25% off the listed price.

How do I offer a seller 50% of their asking price?

Perminate Link for Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard   Mercari Fee Hike Hits Low-Cost Goods Hard

by: Whatever This user has validated their user name.

Thu Oct 6 22:27:23 2022

toolguy - I didn't even know about this at all - my cousin was staying with me for awhile and I put her onto buying on Mercari - she was shocked and made me look at her phone. I didn't believe it myself but I saw it with my own eyes. Can't remember what precisely she was looking at and it could be item specific? but it was right there. She asked me how in the world do I make money. I myself don't buy because 1 - I have a whole house full of stuff I don't  need 2 - I'm kinda broke between food and gas



Login is required to post comments.
To sign in to leave a comment, fill in the form below. If you have not yet signed up for AB Verify, or if you'd like more information, go to the Registration Page.

Login for AB Verify
Be sure and use your email address and password to log in.
 
Email:
Password:
 
 Forgot Your Password?
 Even though you are signed in with the AuctionBytes Blog, you will have to sign in to the EcommerceBytes blog. But you can sign in with your existing AB Verify info.