Whenever you hear about people who make money by reselling goods, you might be thinking, “How the heck can I do that?” There are folks who make major side incomes using Poshmark or from the buying and selling app Mercari.
Other venues where people create side businesses by purchasing and reselling goods include Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and eBay, where they can make a sizable profit. So, how do you actually succeed as a seller on platforms like Mercari and develop into a power seller? We looked into it.
What Is It? How Does It Function?
Both the iTunes Store and Google Play both include the free app Mercari. It may just take a few minutes to list an item, and after it sells, the seller receives an email with a printable shipping label (no meetups).
A flat 10% selling fee is charged once the deal closes, but listings are free. A vast variety of products, including apparel, toys, accessories, and collectibles, are available for purchase or sale. The app has been downloaded by more than 45 million users, and more than 100,000 new goods are uploaded every day.
Is the Mercari App Legitimate?
Mercari, which is sometimes likened to eBay as a selling app and marketplace, is legitimate. Selling an item is simple; once listed, it may be shipped anywhere in the country, giving you access to a wider market of possible purchasers than if you had only placed it locally on Craigslist.
Selling on Mercari
In order to receive her top advice for secondhand sellers on Mercari, we directly consulted digital and broadcast journalist Anna De Souza, a fashion and beauty lifestyle specialist who works as Mercari’s Chief Stylist. These are them:
What to Offer
What is available for sale online will astound you. What is considered trash by one person may be treasured by another. In reality, products in fair or bad condition on Mercari typically sell more quickly than items that are brand new. Also, Mercari users only need three minutes on average to make a listing. So, dive in!
When to Sell
Always offer seasonal items; don’t sell swimsuits in January. Black Friday and the back-to-school shopping frenzy are excellent times to sell. Consider them as retail binge hangovers. But, the times that follow those significant peaks can be just as profitable for second-hand goods merchants.
Places to Sell
Based on an item’s size, price, or rarity, different markets are suitable for different types of goods. Do you wish to market to a national audience or do you believe you may find a local buyer? Are you comfortable meeting a stranger to trade a product for the money? There are no meetups on Mercari and everything ships anywhere in the United States.
Help Buyers Picture It
With lots of crisp, well-lit images, your listing will stand out. Place your subject alone, in front of a plain background, and take many shots. Flash should be avoided since it usually causes more harm than good. Use the portrait mode on your phone’s camera if it has one.
Your listing doesn’t have to be extensive, but it should contain the kinds of information a prospective buyer would want to know. What about sizing, if it’s clothing? How much memory does a smartphone have, if that’s the case? Don’t lose customers by leaving out crucial details (including any imperfections). In search, brands and product names are crucial!
What Have We Here?
Tell Us a Story
Is it only an XL red wool sweater for men? Or is it really Uncle Bobby’s iconic “Frank Sinatra sweater,” which has been spotted there every year since 1994 at Christmas gatherings? Please share the backstory of your item! Your listing will be noticeable among the competition.
Set a price to sell
A common error made by new sellers is setting an item’s price too high. You do want to earn as much money as you can, no doubt. But spend some time figuring out what people will actually pay. Try looking for similar things on Mercari, where you can see current listings, asking prices, and sold items along with their actual sale prices.
Simplify shipping
Listings that include delivery as part of the sale price typically sell more quickly than those that demand payment from the buyer. Mercari partners with USPS, FedEx, and UPS to provide simple, inexpensive shipping choices.
Read more:What Is Unruggable? A Complete Guide In 2023!
Get Paid
Get Payment Processing and payment times differ between marketplaces (and many have you do an in-person handoff). Only Mercari’s marketplace enables merchants to get paid faster than Instant Pay’s five-day turnaround time.
Take Action
Everybody values a little check-in. When you receive confirmation that your buyer has received your item, take a minute to thank them and inquire if they have any other questions.