Mercari removed seller fees in April 2024
I use Mercari for some of my listings. Ebay has been a bit too bot friendly lately and of course the fees are the fees. Mercari removed seller fees. All of them. They DO have a fee to withdraw funds.. a $2.00 flat rate. Its better to withdraw a lot of money vs a little (when is it not better?) Anyone else hear about this switch? Yes customers pay more but it is a nice feeling that someone is willing to try this to the benefit of sellers.
31 comments
luckythewinner
·2 years agoMercari just announced they have opened (or will open) a physical store on Melrose Ave in Los Angeles.
"Mercari has announced its first physical retail store on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, named “Mercari on Melrose.†This store will offer an interactive shopping experience and various curated items. The store will also follow suit with Mercari’s theme of being able to host DIY classes and events. Just like their website, there will also be ways for sellers to list their items and sell them. The first-ever physical store seems to be designed to fuse the experience of the online Mercari website with a physical space while offering a diverse selection that grows with a thriving community engagement.
Mercari is “excited to provide a place for people to experience the magic of Mercari in person.†He added, “Our new store on Melrose brings to life what millions of customers love about our marketplace. Our goal is to offer a look at the diverse selection of fashion finds available on Mercari and inspire ideas for what’s possible with resale, all through an immersive storefront with friendly and welcoming service.â€
So far I have read five online "news" stories that all quote the same press release and do not give much in the way of details about what the store is other than being "immersive" and "welcoming" and "inspiring".
None of the "reporters" seem to know what it actually is (or will be).
kimberliegregg
·2 years agoJust wondering how your selling is going on Mercari now that you have no fees for a few months now? Do you notice an item that usually would sell quick is taking longer to sell? As a buyer I suggest if they have slowed to sell your products on other platforms Poshmark, Facebook market place etc. Here is why I will tell you I was a daily shopper on Mercari spent over 40G on the site last year my husband wants to kill me but I am in the middle of building 2 houses I have to decorate and furnish and when I sent him a price list of new he was all of a sudden ok! Lol But I digress ….I will tell you that I left Mercari to never ever return. And I do know that I am not alone. From their return policy not being consistent and now passing fees on to buyers on top of taxes and shipping in this economy a few bucks is a few bucks. If Mercari needs money that bad they can take on advertising etc. there is other ways than to pass around fees to buyers and sellers. I am sure buyers would rather put up with a 30 second commercial than pay a 2.00 fee. So Mercari has lost a considerable amount of customers that will more than likely not return. Which is not helpful to sellers. But since sellers don’t pay anything anymore I’m sure they could careless if it takes longer to sell if ever. But as I said if it sits and sits try and post on another site. Wishing you the best in your selling adventure. Have a blessed day!
mam98031
·2 years ago@kimberliegregg
Likely for most sellers it isn't going well. Mercari just laid off half their staff. The future is not looking bright for the site.
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoMercari is predicating the success of this on sellers lowering their prices because we don't pay fees. It's just a shell game.
robbie31415
·2 years agoYes.
Love the alerts that i can NOW lower my costs because seller fees are gone.
Then what's the benefit of removing seller fees.
The funny thing is Mercari increased fees but they try and hide it under the 0 selling fees advertisement.
Seller fee is now paid by buyer ( service fee) no removal.
And slid in a $2 fee for every withdrawal request.
frankenhobbit
·2 years agoNothing more infuriating as a buyer (of anything, anywhere) than having 'fees' added. Just tell me up front what it costs. Shipping (to clarify, fair shipping) and Sales tax, sure, they are a fact of life and people expect those. But a fee? Come on now. Next places will be charging a 'rent recovery fee' for the shelf space the item took up before you bought it.
I cannot see that model succeeding. But I didn't get an MBA from Harvard.
cardsforauction
·2 years agoThat's what I think too. Buyers pay a sales tax and now extra fees? I guess if the fees were very low it would be decent, but with some companies you know the high fees they charge is ridiculous.
The way I see it, this is temporary for Mercari after a year once tons of sellers start selling their stuff there, they will go back to the previous model. For now, they will lure sellers with the no fee / low cost fees, then WHAM policy change, and if the seller has let's say 1000 items, Mercari will be automatically charging all those listing / final value, and other fees and sellers will be surprised when they get the invoices I'm sure when it happens. Nothing good lasts forever so sellers should be prepared to pay up, back to a normal fee schedule. For now, it's a sellers paradise. In theory, lots of money coming Mercari's way.
mam98031
·2 years agoThey are not paying extra fees. Those fees use to be built into the seller's pricing, so while the buyer didn't see them broken out like they do now, they are just paying the fees in a different way. But the fees were always there and buyers were always paying the fees in one way or another.
More sellers doesn't do any site any good if they don't have the buyers to support them.
cardsforauction
·2 years agoDo you really think sellers on Mercari are going to lower their current prices? I say no. They will stay the same and the sellers will make more money off each sale. The buyer on the other hand will pay more.
lakefor94
·2 years agoI wondered similar. This deal wont last too long. How in the world could a site need more sellers? Oh yeah, it is Mercari as they need more of everything. How long would one figure a site can charge buyers more and stay afloat?
Selling on AMZ and eBay, way too many sellers. The more eBay sellers Mercari gets the better for eBay sellers. Losing sellers will not effect eBay. Sellers are a dime a bushel here and on AMZ. EBay is trying to weed out lousy sellers. AMZ has been doing that for a long time.
My guess is Mercari won't make it another year without being bought out or more likely shutdown.
mam98031
·2 years agoI've voiced that before myself. Mercari can only enforce that on listings still active on the site before the change of March 27th and they are. Any seller with active listings created before March 27th that did not lower their price by what the selling fees were, are still responsible for paying selling fees, the buyers won't be charged separately for the fees.
dorleday-0
·2 years agoThat is not true at all. I'm not sure where you got that information, but it is false. I've been selling on Mercari since it was in Beta. When they changed the policy, I still had numerous items listed. I did not change the prices on any of them - not because I'm greedy but because I offer free overnight or 2 day shipping. I have promoted a few items, but I did not lower the prices on all items. I have sold many items since the policy change, and I have not been charged a fee on any of them.
mam98031
·2 years ago@dorleday-0
Hey, I only told you what their policy says. If you have an issue with it, take it up with Mercari, well if you can get anyone to answer. They did just lay off half their staff.
I never called you or anyone else "greedy".
Seller Fees
Effective March 27, 2024 at 8:30 AM ET, the selling fee for new listings will be 0%
Note: Listings created before 8:30 AM ET on March 27, 2024 will be subject to a selling fee of 10% of the item price when a sale is completed unless the listing has been updated on or after March 27, 2024.
https://www.mercari.com/us/help_center/article/169/
tobaccocardyahoo
·2 years agoMercari's US operations are failing.
The fee gambit is a Hail Mary play hoping that it will increase sales on the US site,
Opinions differ on whether it will.
It is a tiny player in the US with a limited selection of merchandise types. If your merchandise fits the site, you can try it. My merchandise does not.
slyders_finds
·2 years agoI tried to sell on Mercari once. On my first listing, overnight I had a scammer try to target my account and Mercari shut them down. To me was not a confidence builder so I pulled my listings down. BTW, I thought the $2.00 fee is if you want to withdraw under $10 balance?
mam98031
·2 years agoYes, as of March 27th, they are charging Buyers the fees they use to charge to sellers. It is Mercari's position that sellers should lower their prices to reflect that they no longer have to pay the fees. However it is my opinion that many sellers won't be doing that much to Mercari's dismay.
It is doubtful this is going to turn out like Mercari wants, which is to revitalize the site.
ebarr
·2 years agoYeah, I used to buy from Mercari, now not as much, the fees are just like double taxing
mam98031
·2 years agoI have to admit I find this funny. Buyers often do not respect the fact that sellers pay fees for the sites they sell on. But now on Mercari the buyers are seeing the fees that the sellers use to have to pay and many do not like it. I'm hopeful it will bring more buyers here and with a renewed respect for sellers and the fees we have to pay.
heloise155
·2 years agoI hope the low ballers get lost. They are the problem. Mercari might be trying to close shop and make money before that. The fees are higher than i expected for buyers. Not good.
cardsforauction
·2 years agoYes, bought a few items there too. Thought it was a good place to buy stuff, but now the fees scare me off. The seller is suppose to pay listing and FVF's not buyers. Just a gimmick for Mercari to get more sellers to list more items there. I guess it will work for sellers, but buyers beware.
mam98031
·2 years agoNot a "gimmick". And there is no rule that says sellers have to pay the fees. It is just what you are use to. when the seller pays the fees, they just increase the price of the item to cover the fees along with the other costs of selling the item. So you have always paid fees. It is just now on Mercari they are showing you the fees you will be paying and the sellers are not suppose to be marking up their products to cover fees, because they don't have any except when they want to get their money out of Mercari.
Even here, sellers pay selling fees to Ebay. We have to mark up our products to cover those fees, so even here you do pay fees, it is just included in the price you pay the seller.
cardsforauction
·2 years agoOn Mercari, previously sellers paid the fees. Now, Mercari reversed it and make buyers pay the fees. Sellers don't pay the fees. Why Mercari change it? They created a gimmick to lure sellers. Most likely, they will go back to the previous fees for sellers. I don't see how buyers will be buying there and be happy with this new arrangement.
mam98031
·2 years agoI understand what Mercari is doing. It started on March 27th.
No they need buyers. They are betting once buyers get use to this that more will come. Just like on Ebay, we need more buyers. Sellers are plentiful.
This is a new thing and way too soon to tell if it is going to work or not. Will Mercari survive? Only time will tell and enough time hasn't passed yet. Mercari did this because they needed to do something to increase sales on the site. They are literally banking on this drastic change to do that for them.
The nature of people is to resist change. It is just part of who we are. In time buyers will get use to it and only in time will we see if buyers will accept it enough to keep Mercari a viable site.
lakefor94
·2 years agoAlways thought it as a last ditch effort before selling out and or closing the doors. Just a matter of time.....
Hopeless at this point.
funfactorychannel
·2 years agoI got like a bigger increase in sales since the change eventhough prices are the same here and there.
The buyer fee are a lot less than seller fees, so its not apples to apples. I think they are trying to make more fees by selling volume to make it up a seller selling an item here and there.
The biggest impact I think is the shipping cost between mercari, poshmark and ebay. Overall cost is a factor and biggest draw is lowered shipping cost. Especially at the 2 to 3lbs area. Which right now Ebay if you did not pass the discount or set flat shipping is a lot higher than the other 2 stores.
heloise155
·2 years agoIve been selling on mercari for years now. I bought something for my daughter because i have an account. The item was $5 but final cost almost $10. We were surprised and now I might have to find another platform. For now I have lowered prices and offered some free shipping. It is a problem now.
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoYou need the Mercari subreddit.
azazel_2014
·2 years agoHello. I just wanted to reply because I was looking at this issue after being shocked by how much the price of an item went up after I went to accept an offer. The reason I wanted to comment on your response is that I'm a substance use and mental health counselor and I have that same quote closing my work email. Seeing this made my day. Thank you.
valueaddedresource
·2 years ago@think-unique Lots of discussion about the recent Mercari changes over on this thread:
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Another-Competitor-Makes-Some-Big-Changes/td-p/34373213