Can you dropship with Mercari – many people like you search on the internet, yet there isn’t a full answer. This is why I took the opportunity to write a complete guide to sell on Mercari that will help to take your business to the next level.
Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. Well, I’m Xuvayer, a passionate blogger who aims to introduce the easiest way of dropshipping. And, with 250+ thousand new items listed every day, Mercari is a great place to sell products.
Over 20 million active users make Mercari the fastest-growing company in the USA. Its audience is also mounting dramatically. In this blog post, I’ll go thoroughly into how and why you’ll sell on Mercari and where to start.
Can You Dropship With Mercari? | How To Start Dropshipping on Mercari?
You can sell nearly anything on Mercari. Most of the taboo items are fairly clear like illegal items, weapons, drugs, etc. However, keep in mind you cannot dropship on Mercari, yet it doesn’t mean that it is impossible.
Instead, you can continue your dropshipping business on Mercari as long as you want. If;
- The products you selling are in your control.
- You can’t sell any sort of digital items like eBooks, downloads, etc.
- You can’t sell any “secret boxes” or anything where the objects included aren’t revealed.
As a result, you can dropship on Mercari by understanding how Mercari works and how to escape raising any red flags.
What is Mercari?
Mercari is a digital platform that aims to link buyers and sellers. Unlike other marketplaces that are all about selling fashionable items, Mercari emphases more on people that would like to empty their house spaces by selling off stuff that they no longer use or need.
In 2013, Mercari was first launched in Japan. Its success inspired its founders to also launch Mercari in the US and the UK. However, Mercari was closed in January 2019 in the UK.
Best-Selling Products on Mercari
“Sell or Buy. Almost anything”- this is the slogan of this popular digital marketplace Mercari. Indeed, on Mercari, you can sell almost anything. Selling on Mercari is a great way to get rid of some material from residences while making extra money.
Though, the best-selling products on Mercari are usually the same as the best-selling products on the other online markets. However, I’ll get you further deep here. My study and knowledge direct the best-selling products on Mercari include;
- Trendy/Designer Clothing.
- Electronics items including cameras, phones, speakers, etc.
- Video Games and Gaming Systems.
- Purses & Bags.
- Outdoor/Sporting Goods.
Mercari Requirements to Sell On Their Platform
Mercari only permits local shipping. Accordingly, if you live in Japan, you can only ship within Japan. You cannot sell to buyers in the US even if both countries have Mercari platforms. Also, Mercari wants all sellers to meet the following desires;
- Have an accordingly registered Mercari account.
- Be living in the US or Japan.
- Have a computer, tablet, or smartphone with a dependable internet connection.
How To Dropship with Mercari?
Get Ready
As I have mentioned, dropshipping on Mercari needs some tactics. So, before you get to registering, listings, and selling, do some groundwork to prepare yourself. Your groundwork includes;
- Pick a Niche/Item – Research & pick a niche as well as items to sell and assess whether they would do well on Mercari. Visit the See What’s Selling section on Mercari and have some insight into what items buyers are attentive to.
- Find a Dropship Supplier – Mercari only permits local shipping. So, confirm that you can find a local dropship supplier or one with a supply capacity in your region.
- Discover Images – Mercari does not permit the use of stock images. Your listings could also get a red signal for using images with supplier branding or watermarks. So you need to pick spotless images that will display the items you will be selling.
Register an Account
Get into the Mercari website and create an account by signing up. You must go through a verification process after the primary registration. It will reduce the chances of your account getting a red signal easily or being expelled completely.
Typically, the verification process includes;
- Sign in to your Mercari account.
- Click on your User Profile.
- Click on View Profile.
- Provide the requested particulars.
Start Item Listing Procedure
Get into the Mercari homepage, click on your Profile, and click on List an Item. This will send you to a form where you can fill in details about your item to craft the listing.
Put Item Details
You will need to put;
- Title of your Item.
- Description of your Item.
- Item category.
- Specify the brand, color, and condition of the item you want to sell here.
Don’t forget to use keywords as you make Item descriptions. It will raise the probability of your listings Item coming up when buyers search for an Item matching or allied to yours.
Also, you will need to upload a photo of the Item to show buyers what you are offering. It is a good idea to upload several images that showcase different angles or claims of the Item to fulfill buyers’ interest.
Provide Shipping Details
Now go to the shipping section and provide an address for where the Item you have listed will ship from. Confirm that the address you gave ties to your location and ties to the address you used to confirm your account.
Remember, using dissimilar addresses may draw excessive inspection. Additionally, confirm that you select to;
- Pay for shipping.
- Ship on your own.
The above options omit Mercari from all your shipping procedures. So your dropship supplier can distribute products straight to your customers without causing you any trouble.
Set Your Item Price
Mercari appeals to lots of customers looking to buy new or used items at a low price. So, set reasonable prices that let you make a suitable profit margin while offering customers value for money.
Mercari Dropshipping Policy & Prohibited Products
Mercari does not permit any form of dropshipping. It lists dropshipping practices, for instance, shipping products straight from a manufacturer is a “Prohibited Manner” in its marketplace policy.
Mercari bans the listing or sale of any product that is in its prohibited products list. If a seller lists prohibited products, it will be thought of as a violation of its Terms of Service anyway of whether the seller does it purposely or not.
If Mercari defines any item as in abuse or is else wrong Mercari may, at its choice, take away the item and cancel any related dealings up to and with termination or holdup. See here the prohibited items on Mercari.
Key Benefits to Sell On Mercari
Low Fee
Unlike many other marketplaces, Mercari has a low fee on all sales, a flat 10% not changing. For example, if you sell any item for $30, they’re taking $3. So you can set your item price more reasonably.
Easy Shipping
Mercari has 3 well-defined shipping choices without any complex billing methods or unseen fees. However, it is better to use shipping options that let you handle the shipping instead of via Mercari. It also helps you to hide your dropship.
Easy to Use
The Mercari user dashboard is very user-friendly. Such as, you only need to put the obligatory details in their particular fields when listing the item or handling orders. Additionally, some of their forms even offer ideas when selecting product categories and a few other details.
Easy to list
Mercari is one of the easiest platforms to list products. It’s very frank and fast.
Some Drawbacks of Selling On Mercari
No Pushing Feature
There’s no easy way for a shopper to shop for the numerous items you have listed. An option around would be that they can certainly contact you and you can make a distinct listing for them of the items they looking for.
Mostly Lower Selling Prices
Most people shop on Mercari as they are looking for a cheap price. So it is a bit tough to sell any luxury item on Mercari, yet possible.
Huge Volume Is Hard to Manage
There’s no easy way to search for an item you listed. So if you want to remove or resist any item, it can be boring to find that item just by scrolling over your listed items.
Waiting For Rating to Get Paid
Until the product is received by the shopper and they leave a rating, you don’t get paid. Yet, if they don’t leave a rating within 3 days, your funds get released. So if you want your money rapidly, Mercari may not be the right place for you.
Things You’ll Need to Sell on Mercari?
You surely don’t need much to sell on Mercari, but here is what I advise;
- Postage Scale– This is crucial as you can weigh your products to pick the right shipping label in Mercari.
- Printer– So that you can even print off your detail if you don’t have a computer.
- Half Sheet Labels– It will help you to peel and stick the label on your package. You may also use recycled and recyclable poly mailers which are cheap, eco-friendly, and fit most clothing or small items you want to ship.
- Free USPS Priority Supplies– You can use their boxes for a heavy items that you ship via USPS Priority Mail.
Best Tips to Avoid Mercari’s Anti-dropshipping Software
The Mercari software scans various factors. Here are some ways to stay out of its radar;
Don’t Copy-Paste Your Item Descriptions
Copy-pasting an item description signifies that you and other sellers may end up with the same descriptions and suppliers. Meaning you may not be selling your items. So be better to edit or paraphrase item descriptions instead of copy-paste to even make them more fascinating.
Make Sure Your Supplier Ships On-Time
Mercari wants sellers to ship products within 3 days and on time inform clients if there are any delays. Otherwise, the buyer can cancel the order, claim a refund, and give you a low rating. Finally, this activity draws high scrutiny to your account. So it is vital to avoid them by selecting a reliable supplier.
Avoid Returns
If a purchaser claims a return, better to just fulfill it. Then, say sorry, ask them to keep the product, and give a refund. Letting them mail the product back may raise red flags because the return address may not tie to the one you gave on Mercari.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mercari Good for Dropshipping?
Yes. Certainly, Mercari does not allow dropshipping. However, if you look outside that, it is clear that Mercari offers plenty of benefits to make its red tape justifiable.
Who Pays for Shipping on Mercari?
You can choose whether you or your buyer will pay for shipping. Further, if you agree to pay for shipping you can decide if you want to ship with a Mercari label or ship on your own.
How Do I Get Paid On Mercari?
Normally, you get paid on Mercari after the product is received & leave a rating by the customer. However, if they don’t leave a rating, then Mercari will release your payment after 3 days. Then you can request a direct deposit into your bank account which may take around 5 days.
How Can I Bypass the 5-digit Code “Ships From”?
The easiest option is to pick a supplier with a fulfillment center in your region. This way, even if you provide your address, the tracking number that your supplier provides will show that the shipment was sent out from the same region.
Can You Dropship With Mercari? | The Verdict
Officially, you cannot dropship on Mercari as it excludes sellers from selling items that are not in their control. But, this does not mean that it is impossible. You can run your dropshipping business up as long as you realize how Mercari works and how to escape raising their red signals.