Mercari: How to Easily Sell and Different Alternatives

It’s easy to get hooked on online shopping, but eventually, you will end up with too many things. It’s time for a clear-out! Let’s have a look at some of the ways that you can sell on Mercari or dispose of your unwanted items in Japan. Whether your aim is making a bit of money or simply making some extra space at a lower cost, there will surely be a method here that suits you.

Table of Contents

1. How to sell on Mercari
2. How to use Loppi to post Mercari goods
3. Mercari Alternatives

How to Sell on Mercari

Mercari is a site not too dissimilar from eBay and the like. It’s very popular for buying and selling, where transactions are completed using a wallet. Simply make an account, add some money to your wallet (if you want to buy), and create listings for the items that you would like to sell.

Here’s how to sell your items on Mercari.

Make a listing

Be generous with the details, especially the item condition and the postage arrangements! Mercari will prompt you to select whether you or the buyer will pay for shipping. If you pay, the money will come out of the sales total. Items, where the seller pays for postage, are noticeably more popular than items where the buyer has to pay.

Await responses

You may well get some messages from potential buyers before you sell the item. Some might want a discount or to ask more questions. Being flexible will help here. Some prospective buyers might ask for a small discount.

Postage

There are many ways to post the item. The most convenient way is to use Mercari’s Yuupack service via a Lawson convenience store. Other methods include using a private courier or Japan’s national postal service. Although using Japan Post is cheaper, it’s less convenient due to opening hours and the likelihood of having a long, tedious wait in a queue. Before too long, your package should be delivered successfully! Money added to your wallet can be spent on the site, withdrawn to your bank account, or saved for later.

Caution: Mercari does come with fees, so it’s worth checking that you are not going to lose money on each sale. Consider the money obtained from selling an item, the postage (if you are going to pay), and the 10% Mercari fee that will be deducted.

Now that you know how to sell on Mercari, let’s see how to ship your items.

How to use Loppi to post Mercari goods

First, complete the transaction online. You will receive a QR code on your phone. Take this down to a Lawson and scan it on the Loppi machine. You can do this via the QR screen, but it also works via printscreen (so you can send it to a housemate to do if you are short of time!).

To scan the QR code, press the middle box (marked QR) on the Loppi machine, then put the QR code above the reader. Another window will pop up which you can close (閉じる). Finally, print out your receipt by pressing the print (発行する) button on the next window.

Once the receipt is printed, take it to the register. The cashier will hand you a selection of papers and a pouch to store them in. The cashier will stamp two of these. You will have several slips labelled A to D and some instructions.

Tear slips A to C and put them in the pouch (A at the top). Slip D is your confirmation, so take it home and keep it as a reference if there are problems.

Tear off the back of the pouch. (Watch out, it’s sticky!) You can now stick the pouch onto your package. Finally, hand your package to the shop staff and they’ll take care of the rest! Within a few days, you should have the money in your wallet, and a 5-star review!

Mercari Alternatives

Now, here are a few alternatives to Mercari!

How to Sell on Facebook Groups

There are several Facebook groups, depending on where you live, with people looking to buy and sell second-hand items. Try typing your area and “sale” into the search bar to get results. If you are looking to get rid of something quickly and don’t mind giving it away for free, you can also find “mottainai” (waste not) groups on Facebook. Make sure any posts you make are detailed, and remember that this method runs the risk of being stood up by the collector!

Recycle Shops

Shops such as Book-Off or Wattman are also convenient places to relieve yourself of unwanted items. For those in a rush and not worried about the financial return, research shops in advance to know which will take a variety of things. Smile Company, Wattman, and Book-Off Bazaar are far more accommodating than many others, but it doesn’t hurt to double-check to be sure that your items will be accepted. For example, the average Book-Off will deal solely with books, DVDs and some video games.

Recycle shops do not generally pay high returns for second-hand goods, so the main aim of selling to them would be not having to deal with unwanted items. For those with a little more time or who after more money, it pays to find specialist shops.

Where to get the best price

Hobby shops like Animate will pay more for figurines than a Book-Off, and independent stores that deal with clothes might make a better offer for clothes of certain brands and styles than a Wattman clothes department.

Always look out for the「買取」or「お売り下さい！」sign in or near a shop, as this tells you that the shop will buy your second-hand items. Incidentally, Book-Off is one of many varieties of similar chains in the brand, including Hard-Off (leisure and electronics), Mode-Off (fashion), and Home-Off (furniture). These places are a bit harder to come by though, so you are much more likely to find one of the Bazaars.

Need help with figuring out living in Tokyo? Our Tokyo 101 guides take the stress out of navigating life in Japan.

Features image by Indira Tjokorda on Unsplash