The world of selling has changed dramatically over the past decade. Nowadays, almost anyone can start an online shop and sell their items to the masses.
The three most popular platforms for sellers are Mercari, Poshmark, and eBay, so how do you choose which one will be best for your situation?
The decision can be difficult, but this article will help you determine which platform best suits your needs.
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Mercari
With more than 5 million people shopping on Mercari each month, it is the fastest-growing marketplace in the world.
The company was founded in 2013 and has grown exponentially with no signs of slowing down.
Mercari provides a safe, secure way to buy and sell new, gently used items.
This might not be your platform if you’re looking to expand your horizons and meet other sellers and buyers.
Strengths
Customer Service
One of the best features of Mercari is its customer service. They offer 24/7 customer service, which can be contacted by phone or email.
There’s also a live chat available to answer any questions about your account or an order you’ve placed.
Fast Listing
When you list your item on Mercari, there are options for quick and advanced listing compared to other platforms.
Great Incentives
Mercari offers great discounts and commissions on your listings with one of the lowest commission rates in the industry at 10%.
Drawbacks
Scam Scare
There have been issues involving several scam cases, which have reduced the brand’s credibility.
Slow Payments
Instant payment transfers are charged $2, while free transfers might take up to 5 business days.
Your cash is also retained until you and your buyer rate one another; when the buyer doesn’t rate you immediately, you will have to wait days for a refund.
Cost of Shipping
Recently, Mercari has increased the cost of shipping compared to other selling platforms like Poshmark. This has affected the cost of goods sold to customers.
eBay
eBay is one of the oldest online selling platforms, founded in 1995 for buyers and sellers of goods and services.
Previously confined to flea markets, yard sales, and newspaper ads, eBay has created a person-to-person online trading community that connects consumers and sellers.
There are currently 12 billion postings, 25 million sellers, and 250 million classified users on eBay. This results in an annual gross sales volume of about $100 billion.
Strengths
It has an excellent reputation for customer service, which is important if you’re looking to build a long-term business. Their phone customer support is open daily from 5 am to 10 pm.
On eBay, you may sell almost anything, and the items are organized into categories or subjects for each kind of sale.
You can sell anywhere around the world, which increases the possibility of making even more sales, and you can market almost anything.
Drawbacks
eBay is one of the most well-known and popular selling platforms, but also one of the more complicated.
Sellers must go through a verification process and pay a monthly fee to sell on this platform.
Returns have a 180-Day Window. This is mainly for buyers who pay using PayPal. The buyer may challenge their payment and demand refunds/returns months after the goods have been sold.
It’s also more challenging to use than some other platforms.
Poshmark
Poshmark is a social commerce app that started in 2011. It has one of the easiest ways to sell and buy fashion online.
It’s perfect for people looking to make extra cash or find new styles they wouldn’t otherwise have access to.
Strengths
Poshmark allows users to instantly list their stuff for sale from their phone, in contrast to many similar selling sites. This makes it easier for more people to commerce.
No returns or refunds are permitted after the buyer receives and accepts the item. This is excellent news for the seller; the only exception is if a dispute case is initiated against you.
In general, it’s straightforward to list items on Poshmark, with minimal steps required before your product goes live on the site and faster payouts.
Drawbacks
One of the downsides to Poshmark is their high commission rates which can reduce your revenue; for purchases under $15, the commission charge is $2.95, while for anything beyond $15, the commission rate is 20%.
With the influx of sellers due to ease of posting, the site is crowded with many vendors. This can result in intense rivalry that makes it more challenging to turn a profit.
Poshmark has relatively customer service. Customer service is limited to only email; it can often take 2 business days for a reply. These replies are often generic that may not address your question directly.
Differences Between Poshmark, Mercari, and eBay
Poshmark
Mercari
eBay
Audience
Over 50 million users and 5 million sellers
About 15.38 million active users
More than 182 million users
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Commission
20% commission
10% commission
10-12% commission
Customer Service
Email-only, which can take up to 2 business days for responses.
24/7 customer service by phone or email.
Daily customer support from 5 am to 10 pm.
Listing
The free, unlimited listings process is straightforward
Fast and simplified
More complicated and time-consuming
Payment Methods
You need to wait for the buyer to pay you
Until you and your buyer rate each other, your funds are held
You must wait for the buyer to pay you, which can take days.
Return/Refund Policy
No Returns except on dispute cases
Up to 180-Day returns and refund policy
Shipping Fees
A flat shipping rate of $7.11. Buyers pay this fee for shipping less than 5 pounds.
With high shipping costs, using PayPal attracts a 3% additional charge.
Depends on weight and the delivery destination.
Subscription
No monthly subscription
No subscription
Monthly subscription
Usability
Sell only clothes and fashion accessories.
Offers a variety of goods
Sells a variety of goods
Uniqueness
In-person purchases, subscription boxes
You privately message sellers to ask questions or haggle prices.
Can sell a large volume of goods.
Poshmark, Mercari, and eBay differ primarily in that Poshmark are solely for selling clothing and fashion accessories.
Mercari is a generic platform with the lowest costs for vendors, and eBay gives you access to more audiences.
Which Selling Platform Is Best
The best-selling platform is one that you’re comfortable with. For example, if you are more comfortable with listing items on a website, then Mercari may be the best choice.
Suppose you are more of a visual person and want to see your product in front of your potential customers before they buy it. In that case, Poshmark may be the perfect option. They lean towards those who want to monetize their wardrobe.
However, Mercari offers more flexibility with various goods eligible to be marketed. In contrast, eBay has long-standing credibility by being in business for an extended time. It also shares many similarities. It makes it possible to sell almost anything on their platforms.
No matter what online marketplace you choose, take advantage of all their features.
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Conclusion
Ultimately, which platform you choose will depend on your needs and preferences.
They each have their unique qualities. For example, if you want to sell without dealing with shipping hassles, then Mercari would be the best option.
eBay will be the best choice if you prefer more control over what you sell and earn more money per sale.
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