In our previous article, we shared about how much fees Mercari takes from sellers. In this article, however, we are going a step further. We will do a comparison between two well-known online marketplaces. As you know both Poshmark and Mercari boast millions of users on a monthly basis and are targeted at people looking to buy and sell used and new items. However, if you’re just starting out and wondering what marketplace to list your items on, you’re in the right place. In this article, we will do a comparison on Mercari vs Poshmark and let you decide where you want to go.
Brief Introduction to Mercari
Right, so Mercari was launched back in 2013. Since then it has gained massive popularity in the world of reseller marketplaces. The process of selling on Mercari is very user friendly and streamlined. You can list your products by uploading clear images, write titles, product descriptions, prices, and add tags. As a seller, you can also browse products by entering a name or navigating to any category. Mercari also allows buyers and sellers to communicate between them and the payment, shipping, and delivery confirmation are all handled by Mercari. Pretty good, right?
What are the Important Features of Mercari
Easy Listing Process: Unlike many other marketplaces, Mercari makes the listing process pretty convenient. All you have to do is sign up, upload images, write title, description, and put a price on your item.
Various Payment Options: When it comes to payment options, you don’t have to worry about the most obvious ones getting excluded as Mercari supports major credit cards (Visa, Master Card), PayPal, and even bank transfers.
Shipping Management: Mercari also takes care of the logistic side of your business including shipping, handling, printing labels, and tracking your orders. Unlike some other marketplace, Mercari takes care of the logistics for sellers.
Brief Introduction to Poshmark
Poshmark was launched in 2011, two years earlier than Mercari. The platform is aimed at buying and selling used items by what they called “poshers” while also engaging with each other like a community. This social element of Poshmark encourages a sense of community and engagement among people and helps drive sales at the same time.
What are the Important Features of Poshmark
Social-Driven Selling: As stated earlier, Poshmark brands itself as a community marketplace for buyers and sellers, which allows vendors to host parties, follow other sellers, and build relationships. In short , it’s a perfect example of a community-driven marketplace.
Curated Closets: Sellers can create personalised storefronts and showcase their best and unique items for other buyers and even sellers. These are called curated closets by Poshmark.
Custom Recommendation: Poshmark also keeps a track of what users are interested in and then shows them personalised items based on their preferences.
Table Comparison Between Mercari and Poshmark
| Feature | Mercari | Poshmark |
| Selling Process | Simple and straightforward | Require additional steps and social-oriented |
| Listing Format | Text descriptions | Visual descriptions with hashtags |
| Shipping Logistics | Handles logistics and shipping etc | Sellers need to arrange shipping, handling, and labelling |
| Payment Options | Various payment options and accept major credit cards | Only support PayPal and Credit Cards |
| User Base | Looking for a wide variety of items in dozens of categories | Focus mainly on fashion and accessories |
| Social Interaction | Limited to messaging only and no social side | Social features like parties, following, liking listings, and making connections |
Mercari Vs Poshmark: Which Platform is Right for You?
Okay, so now the pressing question remains: Which one to pick. While you won’t go wrong with listing on either of the two platforms, it’s better to pick Mercari if you’re looking to sell a wide variety of items in various categories. However, if you’re more into the social side of this whole thing and want to only sell items in apparel and fashion categories, Poshmark will be ideal. Each platform has its own pros and cons but you can sell on both platforms at the same time by cross-listing items with just a few clicks using [NabPush](www.nabpush.com).
Fee Structure Breakdown on Mercari Vs Poshmark
Mercari
Listing Fee: $0 (Free)
Selling Fee: 10% of the final sale price.
Payment Processing Fee: It’s 2.9% + $0.30 of the final sale price.
As an example, if you sell an item for $200, you’ll pay only $20 in selling fee. Also, $5.86 in payment processing fee.
Poshmark
Listing Fee: $0 (Free).
Selling Fee: 20% of the final sale price under $15.
Selling Fee: 15% of the final sale price over $15.
Shipping Fee: $7.11 for orders under 5 pounds of weight
As an example, if you sell an item for $20, you’ll be charged $4 in selling fees and $7.11 in shipping fees.
As you can see, Mercari is slightly on the cheaper side for sellers and its fee structure is simple too. However, you can sell high end items on Poshmark as the fee percentage gets lower for items over $15.
Table Summarising Fee Structure Differences Between Mercari Vs Poshmark
| Feature | Mercari | Poshmark |
| Listing fee | Free | Free |
| Selling fee | 10% | 20% (under $15), 15% (over $15) |
| Shipping fee | Depends on weight of item | $7.11 for orders under 5 pounds |
How to Start Selling on Poshmark:
1. Sign up for an Account: Go to Poshmark’s website or download its app and follow the on screen instruction to create an account with your email address.
2. Payment Method: Link your payment method that will be used to receive payments. They support PayPal or any credit card.
3. List Items: Once you’re done with the basics, start listing your items by uploading your images, adding a title, pricing, description of the product, and you’re good to go.
4. Share Closet: You can engage with other users (or poshers) by sharing your closet and liking other sellers’ closets.
How to Start Selling on Mercari
Create an Account: Download the Mercari app or create an account on your PC. You’ll need a valid email address for this purpose.
Identity Verification: Mercari may also ask for identity verification to unlock any additional features and increase trust.
List items: Once you’re ready, start listing your item by uploading images, adding title, pricing, and writing clear description. Check all the required fields and once done, hit publish.
Promote Listings: You can promote your listings on social media and use Mercari promotional tools to increase visibility.
Poshmark Vs Mercari Availability in Different Countries
| Feature | Mercari | Poshmark |
| Availability | United States, Japan, Canada, Australia, France, Germany | United States, Canada |
| Monthly Active Users (MAU) | 120 million (2023) | 37 million (2023) |
Tips for Selling on Mercari and Poshmark
Regardless of the platform you choose, follow these tips to increase your chances of success on Mercari and NabPush.
Clear and Accurate Descriptions: As a seller, your goal is to convince a buyer to buy your item. You can do so by accurately describing what your item is about and how it can benefit the buyer.
High Quality Images: Make sure your images of the products are high quality and taken professionally so a buyer knows what he’s getting.
Pricing Strategy: Pricing your items on both Mercari and Poshmark is important. Make sure you know what the market rate is for your items and then adjust accordingly.
Customer Service: As a seller, you should be available to respond to queries promptly. This ensures trust and decreases the time to complete a transaction.
Packaging/Shipping: Once a buyer orders an item, you should pack the product in a secure package and go on to ship it as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Which platform is better for selling high-end items?
While you can use both platforms to sell high-end items, Poshmark has a slight edge as it’s more geared toward luxury items in apparel and fashion categories.
Which platform is better for selling items quickly?
Both platforms require time and commitment to become a successful seller. If you have some items you want to sell quickly, Poshmark gives you more visibility since it has this social and curated closet features. You can also cross list items on both platforms quickly and see where you sell first.
Which platform is better for new sellers?
Both Mercari and Poshmark are ideal for new sellers. You have to be patient after listing your items and consider listing on both platforms manually or using NabPush. Also, don’t forget to share your items for greater visibility.
Which platform offers the best shipping option?
Mercari will handle the logistic side of your business, including shipping, handling, and labelling etc. Poshmark, however, lets users arrange everything themselves. It means you’re free to choose whatever shipping method you use. In our opinion, Mercari is a better option when it comes to shipping options.
Which platform is best for selling electronics and collectibles?
Mercari is the best platform to sell a wide variety of items in different categories. You can sell various items such as electronics and collectibles on Mercari. Poshmark on the other hand is more focused on apparel and fashion items.
Conclusion
So there you have it: a comprehensive comparison between Mercari Vs Poshmark. There are some clear differences between the two marketplaces in terms of user base and items that you can mainly sell. If you’re a newbie, we suggest you start listing on both platforms using a cross-listing tool and see which marketplace gives your items more visibility and sales. However, to become a successful seller, you should pick a niche product that’s in demand and write better titles and descriptions. You also need to share your listings with other people and do some marketing. And finally, be patient as it takes time to become good at selling.