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slang.fyi

Mercari

/mɜːrˈkɑːri/

Common

A peer-to-peer resale app used to buy and sell secondhand items, known for lower fees and a wide mix of categories.

Often positioned as the platform for people who want lower fees and less brand-specific communities. Less associated with a specific aesthetic than Depop.

Real-world examples4 examples
#ExampleWhat it meansSource
01listed the sneakers on mercari and they sold in two hours. fees are lower than ebayItems sold quickly on Mercari and the seller is noting the fee advantage over eBay.reddit, 2023
02if depop lowballs you, relist on mercari. different audience, better prices for some stuffMercari buyers sometimes pay more for certain items than Depop buyers.tiktok, 2024
03cross-listing to depop, poshmark, and mercari at the same time now. one of them always sellsListing the same item on multiple platforms to maximize the chance of a sale.instagram, 2024
04mercari is underrated for electronics and gaming stuff. the fashion people don't knowMercari is particularly good for non-fashion categories that other resale platforms overlook.x, 2023

Use it when

  • You are selling or buying something on the Mercari platform.
  • You are comparing resale platforms and Mercari is one of them.
  • You are describing where you source or list items as a reseller.

Do not use it when

  • You mean a general secondhand marketplace without specifying the platform.

Mercari vs Depop seller

Mercari

Mercari is broader, covering electronics, collectibles, and home goods alongside fashion, with a more general audience.

VS

depop-seller

Depop is fashion-first with a strong aesthetic and community identity, popular with Gen Z.

Origin and context

Mercari was founded in Japan in 2013 and launched in the United States in 2014. It grew as a mobile-first alternative to eBay for casual sellers and became widely used in reseller communities for its low barrier to listing and competitive fees.

First seen
2014
Confidence
high

Cite this page

Use this stable URL to reference the entry.

https://slang.fyi/mercari
Updated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0

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