I recently posted a blog on Making Money as a Stay at Home Mom. I buy and sell items on multiple platforms to maximize my sales. This blog post will take you through the ins and outs of buying and selling on Poshmark vs. Mercari. This is a more in depth account of my previous blog post on Buying and Selling with Poshmark.
Poshmark
Just over two years ago, I started my selling journey on Poshmark. Poshmark has a great platform that is easy to navigate. In the comparison of Poshmark vs. Mercari I am definitely more of a Poshmark girl.
To get started, download the app onto your phone. Launch the app and follow the on screen prompts to create your profile. Next, choose a great name and include a picture so the prospective buyer get an idea on where their new items are coming from. After you create your profile you can immediately start uploading items to sell on your page.
Uploading Sale Items on Poshmark
The key to creating a great listing on Poshmark is photographs and price point! Make sure the pictures you are taking properly document the condition of the item you are selling while highlighting its great features with a neutral backdrop. Ensure you have a clean backdrop that highlights the item you are selling.
If an item you are selling has flaws or stains make sure to properly document them in your listing. Items purchased from your Poshmark shop can be contested by the buyer. If the buyer wins, the item will be shipped back to you and you will not receive payment on that item.
To upload an item for sale, simply click the button on the bottom of the application that says “Sell” with a picture of a camera above it. The app will take you through a series of prompts to create your listing.
One of the most important parts of your listing is creating an appropriate price point for your item. The price point depends on the brand and item you are selling. Do research comparison for the item you will be listing by searching for the same item on Poshmark. If you price your item too high, it will just sit on the market. Poshmark allows you to edit or adjust your sale price at any time.
Advertising your Listed Items
Once your item is uploaded into your closet, you have a chance to advertise your sale items in different platforms. Different Poshmark “Parties” happen everyday at different times. You are allowed to share your sales items within the Poshmark Parties as long as the item meets the criteria for the Party. For example they always have a “Best in Shoes Party”, during that party you can share all of the shoe listing you have for sale in your closet. Joining these parties allows your listing to reach a larger buyer base.
Follow other peoples closets and share their listings because it will allow you to receive more followers. Poshmark has a Poshmark Ambassadors Program to become a Poshmark Ambassador you have to follow their set guidelines in the My Posh Stats of your profile. Becoming a Poshmark Ambassador indicates to others you are a trusted seller and you can get more sales because of your status.
Offer vs. Buy Now
There are two options when you are purchasing an item on Poshmark, you can either click Buy Now or Offer. If you click Buy Now, you will purchase the item at the listed sales price but remember as the buyer you will have to pay for shipping and taxes. The second option is Offer, you can offer the seller any price you would like for the sale item. The seller will either accept your offer, offer a counter offer, or decline your offer. If the seller declines your offer you can always offer the seller a different price and see if they will accept it.
I always make an offer on items because generally people will take less than what the item is listed for because they want to sell the item quickly.
As a buyer, if you “like” a listed item on someones page, they can send you offers for the item you liked with discounted shipping. This is a great option if you are tracking an item and not ready to commit to purchasing it yet. As a seller you can create offers for any listing that currently has a “like.” Poshamark requires as a seller if you are making an offer to prospective buyers that the item must be discounted at least 10 percent and you must discount the shipping.
Boxing Sales Items
After you make a sale, you must ship the item out within three days (there are exceptions for weekends and holidays). If you are going out of town, Poshmark gives you the option of putting your closet in “Vacation Mode”. “Vacation Mode” means people can still see your closet but they cannot buy anything from your closet while you are out of town.
The main thing about boxing and shipping your sale item is you want it safe and secure. Poshmark provides ALL of the shipping labels and allows you to print them from your computer. The great thing about shipping through Poshmark is you can use the Priority Mail Boxes from the Post Office to ship. Priority Mailboxes from the Post Office are FREE! You cannot use the Express Priority Mailboxes so be aware of that when grabbing boxes.
Generally, I grab a large variety of boxes when I go into the Post Office and bring them home with me. I also use polymailers for smaller items. I purchased my polymailers in bulk from Amazon. Although you can use any cardboard boxes you have on hand, you want your box to look nice. You can decorate your boxes or send Thank You notes as a way to earn a good reviews.
Shipping your Sales Items
Once you package your item, print and attach the shipping label that will be sent to your email by Poshmark. Take the time to the Post Office and drop it at their prepaid package counter, there is no reason to wait in line!
When your package has shipped, you can track the shipment on the Poshmark App. Once the item is received the buyer has three days to contest the item. Once the item has been accepted by the buyer the money earned for your sale will be deposited into your Poshmark account. The money in the Poshmark account can be cashed out of applied to purchases on the Poshmark App.
Mercari
To maximize my sales I began selling on Mercari as well. I basically create double listings; one on Poshmark and one on Mercari. If an item sells on either platform then I delete the other duplicate listing.
Mercari is a very similar platform to Poshmark. Start by downloading the App and launching it onto your phone. Create your username page with a picture. Immediately begin uploading items for sale onto your page.
Uploading Sales Items on Mercari
Uploading items for sale on Mercari is very similar to uploading items onto Poshmark. Just like Poshmark, to upload your sale item you simply click the “Sell” button on the bottom of your application. Follow the on screen prompts to list your item for sale.
In my experience, items listed for sale in Mercari generally sell for a lower price than Poshmark . Make sure you market and list your item exactly as you would do on Poshmark.
Boxing Sale Items and Shipping
The negative aspect of Mercari is you have to provide all of your shipping boxes. Mercari does not allow you to ship using USPS boxes like Poshmark. Mercari also makes the seller calculate their shipping costs. In order to calculate your shipping costs effectively you need a small postal scale. Using Poshmark all packages are shipped through USPS. Using Mercari, packages can be shipped through USPS, Fed-Ex, or UPS.
Mercari encourages the seller to cover the shipping costs in each listing. Shipping costs in general are more expensive on Mercari as opposed to Poshmark.
Mercari Messaging System
The thing Mercari has that Poshmark doesn’t is an instant messenger feature. Buyers and Sellers can directly asked questions about an item through Mercari’s instant messaging system which makes things easier.
Poshmark currently does not have a messaging system. The only way to talk to someone through Poshmark is by commenting on a listing in public forum.
Advertising Sale Items on Mercari
Currently the only way to advertise sale items on Mercari is to lower the price which allows that item to be moved to the top of the thread. There are no parties or events to share your listed items in like Poshmark.
Conclusion
Overall, I prefer the Poshmark platform to the Mercari platform. Poshmark has an easier user manifest and makes packaging an shipping items a breeze. The only thing Poshmark can approve upon would be a direct messaging system for buyers and sellers like Mercari.
I will continue to sell on both platforms to maximize my sales. Hopefully this tutorial in distinguishing the benefits and downfalls on buying and selling on Poshmark vs. Mercari.