Depop vs. Mercari: Which is Right for You? [2024]

The battle between Depop and Mercari has got to take the front as the most popular buying and selling platforms.

These two provide different experiences for different people. This blog will compare and contrast Depop and Mercari, which will inform individuals about the best platform to choose for selling and buying.

Overview: Depop vs Mercari 

Two of the most prominent second-hand marketplaces are Depop and Mercari.

Depop is popular for its community forward in fashion and social shopping experience—making it one of the favorite places where any style lover should be found.

On the other hand, Mercari has something placed for literally a broader audience with a broad set of items ranging from clothes to electronics.

What is Depop?

Depop is a social shopping app that perfectly fuses what is most exciting about shopping right now—social, with what is best about doing it online.

First launched in 2011, Depop immediately attracted a devoted following among teen users, especially those interested in fashion and accessories, as well as vintage clothes.

USPs:

• Focus on Fashion: Stylish items have been the main part of Depop, and it offers the best platform for style-consenting users who seek both to shop for and to sell wanted clothes, accessories, and shoes.

• Social aspect: The most striking feature of Depop is its social shopping. Users can follow their favorite sellers, like items, and even message the sellers directly for more information.
• Personalized Feed: Depop uses your preference for items and develops a personalized feed so that it becomes easier for you to find items that match your style. It is a very beautiful app with high-quality pictures and aesthetics in the listings.

• Key Features:

• Easy to Use: It is very easy to get accustomed to using Depop because its interface is intuitive. Therefore, it will be very simple even for new users to get hold of the platform and start purchasing or selling items.
• Global Marketplace: Depop is a global marketplace where users can make transactions across borders to buy and sell items.
• Payment Integration: Depop offers its payment integration service for added security and convenience in every transaction.

What is Mercari?

What exactly is Mercari, then? Well, Mercari is a versatile marketplace with something for quite a wide audience, offering many products in its assorted types. It was launched in Japan in 2013, Mercari deals with everything from clothing to electronics, home goods, and antiques.

General Overview:

• Wider Range of Items: While Depop mostly sells fashion items, Mercari has a wider busking option—allowing users to sell items from electronics, toys, beauty products, and even home decor.
• Competitive Pricing: Pricing on Mercari is usually very competitive; most items are listed at a fraction of the retail cost.

Key Features:

• Auctions and Offers: Mercari has a unique feature of an auction where an item can be listed at any starting price. On the other hand, buyers can sometimes bid on the product. 
• Shipping labels: Mercari does indeed provide prepaid shipping labels, making it rather easy for any seller to send an item and even track the package.
• Safety and Support: Rigorous systems ensuring that buyer-seller security is at par can be provisioned to provide a rating system for buyers and sellers as well as a dispute resolution system for buyers and sellers.

Depop vs. Mercari: A Feature Comparison

Feature	Depop	Mercari
Fees	10% selling fee + PayPal fees	10% selling fee + 2.9% + $0.30 payment fee
Target Audience	Primarily younger, fashion-forward users	A broader audience, including families
Community	Highly social, with a focus on fashion	Less social, more transactional
User Experience	Easy-to-use interface, visually appealing	Simple interface, a wide range of items
Shipping Costs	Variable, set by the seller	Prepaid shipping labels, discounted rates

Depop or Mercari: Which is Best for Buyers? 

When determining if you want to be a buyer on Depop or Mercari consider the following factors: 

• Categories

Depop: Depop houses a massive collection of fashion, in particular vintage and streetwear. It’s the go-to platform if you are the type of person who loves to wear one-off garb.

Mercari: A larger range of products in general, from electronics to home goods. If you are looking for some other products to be included in your purchase list, Mercari is the one to shop for.

• Pricing

Depop: Various prices are available on Depop, especially for its popularity and rare listings.

Mercari: Pricing is generally lower across the board, and offering on items is allowed. 

• Shipping Options

Depop: On Depop, shipping is usually determined by the seller. Usually, the cost and means are different according to the seller.

Mercari: You can ship your items through the easy prepaid labels Mercari offers. There are different shipping options, depending on your preference.

• Return Policy

Depop: The general rule on Depop is that there will be no returns unless the item sent to you is majorly different from the description.

Mercari: It is structured to handle returns more formally. Buyers request returns for items not as represented or damaged, so there’s a little more peace of mind for them.

Depop or Mercari: Which is Best for Sellers? 

The differences in what would be most appealing to one platform’s target audience over another also create different opportunities and challenges between the two platforms:

• Ease of Listing

Depop: The aesthetics of an item for sale are most highlighted when listing an item on Depop.

Mercari: Mercari’s listing process is all about simplicity and efficiency, allowing sellers to list a wide variety of items quickly. 

• Promotional Tools

Depop: Depop has limited promotional tools and mainly relies on the social aspect for making sales since visibility is key.

Mercari: Mercari allows traditional types of promotion, where the seller can offer discounts, promote items, and participate in sales events.

• Payment options

Depop: Depop automatically processes payments through PayPal.

Mercari: Mercari allows for various payment options, including direct deposit, PayPal, and instant pay for a small fee.

• Customer Support

Depop: Customer support for Depop can be reached via email, and the platform has a well-detailed FAQ. Sometimes, however, the response takes too long.

Mercari: It features strong customer support with an in-app help center, email support, and a comprehensive section of frequently asked questions. The dispute resolution process of the platform further helps to safeguard the sellers.

Final Words

Depop and Mercari both have their unique strong sides and will be most convenient for people who have different preferences. Depop is great for those passionate about fashion and who appreciate a social shopping experience, while Mercari offers a wider marketplace with all those features. 

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