Check the Tracking NumberĪfter purchasing an item, always check the tracking number and contact the seller if it hasn't been provided.

If you pay for a Mercari purchase using PayPal, you will be covered by its strong buyer protection policy. It's worth noting that Mercari also accepts PayPal. This isn't designed to prevent scams, but it would allow you to prevent payment in the event that you are scammed. This payment option allows you to order items and pay for them the following month. When paying for your purchase, you can obtain additional protection from scams by utilizing Merpay Smart Payments. If they fail to respond or don't answer your question properly, it's probably best to purchase from somebody else. This is always worth doing because it allows you to check that the seller is active and that the item you want is still available.ĭepending on the question that you ask, you can also get a sense of how legitimate the seller is. Mercari allows you to ask a seller a question before you place an order. You shouldn't buy anything unless the product attributes are clearly stated in the product description. Dishonest sellers are aware of this and will often post vague advertisements which, while misleading, are not necessarily fraudulent. If you buy something, and you're not happy with it, Mercari will only provide a refund if the item doesn't match the description.

If you're not sure how much an item should cost, check what other sellers are charging. Perhaps the item is damaged or the seller has no intention of delivering it. If an item is significantly cheaper than it should be, there's usually a reason for this. Any seller who attempts to take a conversation off platform should therefore not be trusted. The purpose of these advertisements is to convince people to send payment outside of the app and then keep the cash.

Some products advertised on Mercari aren't actually for sale. Here are a few other ways to protect yourself on Mercari. Regardless of who you buy from, it's still important to be on the lookout for scams.

Mercari ratings