Amazon KDP vs Mercari: Honest Comparison
Two options, side by side, with the real costs and the honest downsides. No hype, just what I'd want my own family to know before they choose.
| Amazon KDP | Mercari | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4.5✓ | 3.5 |
| Monthly cost | $0 | $0 |
| Category | Online selling platform | Online selling platform |
| Pros | Free to publish ebooks and paperbacks; Reach Amazon's huge global customer base; Ebook royalty options of 35% or 70%; Print on demand, so no inventory to buy | Free to list; Flat 10% selling fee is simple to plan around; Sell almost any kind of item; Easy app for listing from your phone |
| Cons | The 70% ebook royalty only applies to eligible prices and works; Heavy competition in popular categories; Marketing your book is up to you; Paperback royalties are reduced by printing costs | The 10% fee also applies to buyer-paid shipping; Smaller audience than eBay or Amazon; Lots of buyers make low offers; Shipping prices change, so check them before you list |
| Verdict | Amazon KDP is the simplest way to turn knowledge or stories into a product you can sell, with no upfront cost. Sales depend on choosing the right topic and promoting your book, so it pairs well with an email list and an audience of your own. | Mercari is simple and beginner-friendly, and its fee is lower than many marketplaces. It's a good second place to list the same items you sell elsewhere. |
Choose Amazon KDP if you want to publish ebooks or paperbacks with no upfront cost. Choose Mercari if you want a flat 10% fee and an easy phone app for selling almost anything.
Amazon KDP
Amazon's free self-publishing service for selling ebooks and paperbacks on Amazon and Kindle, paying royalties on each sale.
Mercari
An online marketplace where people sell almost anything, from clothes and electronics to toys and collectibles, with a flat 10% selling fee.
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