As a reseller, I’ve been through several fee changes on Mercari, but the upcoming adjustments—effective January 6, 2025—represent a significant shift. The platform is rolling out a new fee structure that reintroduces a selling fee while lowering buyer fees. This update comes after listening to feedback from sellers and buyers, acknowledging some of the pain points that have been impacting our experience. As we prepare for these changes, let’s break down the new fee structure and compare it with the old one, so you can better understand what’s coming and how it will affect you.
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What’s Changing?
For Sellers:
- Old Structure: When Mercari introduced a zero-fee selling model back in March 2024, it was seen as a bold move aimed at helping sellers keep 100% of their proceeds. However, this decision had unintended consequences. The lack of a selling fee led to higher prices on the marketplace, making items less affordable for buyers. As a result, sellers saw fewer sales, and overall transactions on Mercari declined.
- New Structure: Starting January 6, 2025, Mercari will reintroduce a flat 10% selling fee. This fee applies to the completed item price as well as any buyer-paid shipping costs. The fee structure will also be free from the previous ACH direct deposit fee, which means that sellers will no longer pay fees to withdraw their earnings, as long as they stick to one ACH direct deposit per day.
Impact on Sellers:
With this change, we can expect prices to come down, which should make our items more attractive to potential buyers. While losing 10% of the sale price is certainly a shift, it’s important to remember that this fee is much more sustainable in the long term for Mercari’s ecosystem. By bringing back this fee, we should see more active buyers on the platform, which will ultimately lead to more sales and a healthier marketplace for everyone.
For Buyers:
- Old Structure: Previously, buyers didn’t pay a flat fee for buyer protection—costs were rolled into the price of the item or absorbed in other ways.
- New Structure: Buyers will now pay a 3.6% Buyer Protection fee, which applies to the item price and any buyer-paid shipping costs. This fee will cover things like a cancellation and refund policy, returns on qualifying items, 24/7 customer support, and trusted transactions.
Impact on Buyers:
For buyers, this 3.6% fee might feel like a small addition to their total, but it’s tied directly to Mercari’s commitment to providing a secure, reliable shopping experience. This protection helps safeguard against problems that could arise during the transaction, like late deliveries or issues with the item. Given that the new fee structure is designed to make transactions smoother and more trustworthy, it might encourage buyers to engage more with the platform, knowing their purchase is protected.
Comparison: Old vs. New Fees
Let’s take a look at the key differences between the old and new fee structures for a clearer comparison:
| Fee Type | Old Structure | New Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Selling Fee | 0% (no fee on sales) | 10% on the completed item price and buyer-paid shipping |
| Buyer Protection Fee | Not applicable | 3.6% of the item price and shipping cost |
| ACH Withdrawal Fee | $2 fee per successful withdrawal | No fee for ACH withdrawals (limit of one per day) |
What Does This Mean for You?
As resellers, we need to be strategic about how these changes affect our pricing and profit margins. While we lose 10% of our sales proceeds to the selling fee, we also benefit from a healthier marketplace with more active buyers. Plus, the removal of the ACH withdrawal fee helps us keep our earnings intact when it’s time to cash out.
Mercari also offers us a chance to adjust our prices in bulk ahead of time, so we can make sure that we still earn the same amount post-fee. This tool will be available later this month, and it’s something to take advantage of before the new fees officially kick in.
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The Bigger Picture: Mercari’s Commitment to Sellers and Buyers
This new fee structure isn’t just about money—it’s about creating a sustainable, trusted platform that benefits both sellers and buyers. Mercari is continuing to focus on enhancing the experience for both sides of the transaction.
For sellers, the goal is to provide a seamless selling experience with tools to make listing, shipping, and getting paid easier than ever. Mercari is committed to offering better selling opportunities and working to reduce friction in the process.
For buyers, the platform is making sure that the shopping experience remains secure, reliable, and affordable, with the added value of buyer protection features and a lower fee for transactions. This should ultimately lead to more trust in the platform, which benefits us as resellers by bringing in more potential buyers.
Final Thoughts
The new fee structure represents a balanced approach to solving some of the issues that came up under the previous system. While it’s a bit of an adjustment, both sellers and buyers are poised to benefit from a more sustainable and user-friendly marketplace. As a reseller, it’s crucial to prepare for these changes by adjusting our pricing strategy and making sure we understand the impact on our profit margins.
Ultimately, Mercari is taking steps toward creating a more vibrant and thriving marketplace, which benefits all of us in the long run. It’s an exciting time to be a part of the Mercari community, and I’m looking forward to seeing how these updates play out for my business—and for all of us resellers
