eBay 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.
| eBay | Mercari | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4✓ | 3.5 |
| Monthly cost | $0 | $0 |
| Category | Online selling platform | Online selling platform |
| Pros | First 250 listings each month are free; Huge audience of buyers already searching; Great for selling things around the house to get started; Optional eBay Store plans for bigger sellers | 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 | Final value fee of about 13.6% on most sales; Listings past 250 a month cost $0.35 each; Lots of competition on popular items; Shipping, returns and customer questions take time | 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 | eBay is one of the easiest ways to make your first dollar online. Start with things you already own. Fees take a real bite, so price your items with them in mind. | 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 eBay if you want to start by selling things you already own, with 250 free listings a month. Choose Mercari if you want a flat 10% fee and an easy phone app for selling almost anything.
eBay
One of the biggest online marketplaces, where anyone can sell new and used items by auction or fixed price.
Mercari
An online marketplace where people sell almost anything, from clothes and electronics to toys and collectibles, with a flat 10% selling fee.
What I chose for my family
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