Dear Ina,
I thought I would give Mercari a try. I quit Amazon a couple years ago, I still have my Etsy and eBay accounts. I sell for a living and have done pretty good. But of course comes unacceptable situations like this.
I went on an Ulta Haul and bought too much makeup because it was on sale. Meh. I got more Ulta points out of the deal I figured.
So, after it was sitting in the Ulta bag still after 3 months, I listed a huge lot for sale. I made sure to list the colors, I have an inhouse professional photo room. I always make sure to put expiration dates. I always, always, take a black marker and strike the UPC code to prevent abuse return too.
In my listing I made clear I can not accept returns especially due to the pandemic. I ask that if a customer has never used the brands and likes to return all the time to please not buy off me. That last sentence has inspired other sellers to put the same thing in. Buyers understand they are getting a deal. My feedback across all boards 4.99 out of 5.00 I am not bragging just stating facts.
So I list my listing and of course I am bombarded with low ball offers "just because" as one buyer says; "Mercari encourages us to negotiate."
Anyhow after 3 days my $250 makeup lot sold for $90 + $10 shipping - what I listed it at. I thought cool, made $30 off it. The day it was delivered the buyer started a return.
Mercari has no system for opening a case - nothing. They can send you anything back in the mail. She sends it back and half the stuff is missing!!!!! There was so much rolled up craft paper to make the weight heavier. When I say so much craft paper I mean at least 4 rolls crumbled up. I was livid.
I was livid because of course, after it was marked delivered back to me the buyer was automatically refunded. I had no way to dispute - half the stuff was missing as I said above.
I took the rest of my listings down. Screw that. I put a message up on my bio explaining the reason I left and gave out the offender's username (she has a shop believe it or not) and you would not believe the number of messages I got on the other platforms (I sell under one name). This not nice person does it because she knows she can get away with it.
Amy
Mercari Makeup Transaction Gets Ugly