Overview

After experiencing a hack and a frustrating customer-service interaction on eBay, the writer moved to Mercari as an alternative marketplace. Despite higher prices and rising fees, Mercari online has become an enjoyable place to browse, and occasionally purchase collectibles.

Buying Experience

Pros:

• Fun to browse and interesting items.
• Occasional genuine bargains (e.g., a 1970s compact camera with flash for $16).
• Many sellers communicate well and act with integrity.
• Japanese-origin items and collectible pens appear frequently and sell quickly.

Cons

Prices have risen.
• Some sellers try to charge full retail.
• A few sellers cancel shipments if they feel they priced something too low.
• Scams exist, including counterfeit listings.

Buying and selling Experience

• Selling is possible but: maybe you should not expect to recover full retail value.
• Buyers and sellers sometimes overrate the condition of items.
• It’s safer to buy items listed as “New” or “Very Good” unless you trust the seller.

Why Use Mercari Instead of eBay?

• Better browsing experience and format.
• More interesting niche items.
• A sense of entertainment in watching prices and sales.
• A break from eBay’s security issues and customer-service frustrations.