Mercari vs eBay vs TikTok Shop: Which Platform Is Best for Your Online Selling Success?

Selling online sounds simple, but making real profits is a different game altogether.

Not very long ago, shoppers used to turn to giants like Amazon and eBay. Now, new marketplaces like Mercari and social commerce powerhouses like TikTok Shop are shaking things up.

In fact, TikTok Shop saw a 70% increase in active sellers in 2024 alone, while Mercari’s user base continues to grow steadily with over 50 million active buyers in the US.

For sellers, it means more competition, more complex marketplace landscape

To succeed, it’s essential to understand the unique features of each platform. That’s why this Mercari vs eBay vs TikTok Shop comparison breaks down what you need to know to make the right choice for your products and business goals. From fees and shipping to seller protections and marketing tools, we cover what matters most.

By the end, you’ll know which platform, or combination of platforms, fits your business and helps you sell smarter, not harder.

Mercari vs eBay vs TikTok Shop: Platform Overviews

Before we get into the details, it’s good to know what makes each platform different and who uses them. Each one serves a different group of sellers and buyers, and offers its own benefits. Understanding this helps you pick the right one for your business.

Mercari: Simple, Mobile-First, and Peer-to-Peer

Mercari is perfect if you’re someone who wants a simple way to turn unused stuff into cash. It makes selling easier. You can list an item in just a few minutes by snapping a photo, writing a quick description, and setting your price.

Helpful Features to Improve Listings

Features like AI pricing suggestions and automatic background removal take a lot of the guesswork out, so your listings look great without extra effort.

Who Uses Mercari?

Most buyers on Mercari are young, with about 30% under 35. Sellers tend to be casual declutterers, side hustlers, or small resellers. On the buyer side, you’ll find bargain hunters, collectors, and those who care about sustainable shopping through secondhand goods.

Mobile-First, Fast Transactions

Since Mercari is designed mainly for mobile use, it works really well for smartphone users who want a fast, easy buying and selling experience. It’s all about smooth, low-fuss transactions between individuals, so it’s best if you’re selling smaller, personal items rather than lots of inventory or big retail shipments.

eBay: The Global Auction and Fixed-Price Marketplace

eBay is often described as a global virtual flea market, it connects millions of buyers and sellers across the world. With a 3.5% share of the global e-commerce market, it ranks as one of the largest shopping sites.

A Diverse Crowd of Buyers and Sellers

eBay’s users are diverse, ranging from casual shoppers to serious collectors and professional sellers. Its broad audience includes individuals, small businesses, and large corporations, with tech-savvy users aged 25 to 54 making up a large segment.

Pre-Owned and Refurbished Items Lead the Way

In 2022, 90% of eBay buyers purchased pre-owned or refurbished items, motivated by cost savings and environmental concerns.

Flexible Selling for Everyone

Whether you want to casually resell a few items or run a full-scale retail operation, eBay supports you. It offers advanced tools that help sellers manage listings, track performance, and grow their business over time.

The platform shines especially in categories like vintage goods, collectibles, and refurbished electronics, places where you can highlight both value and sustainability.

TikTok Shop: Where Entertainment Meets Shopping

TikTok Shop brings shopping right into the TikTok app, mixing fun video content with e-commerce. Instead of just scrolling through listings, you’re watching videos that turn into shopping opportunities reaching millions of people around the world.

Reach Your Audience with TikTok’s Powerful Algorithm

What makes TikTok Shop special is its algorithm, it helps products get discovered fast, especially when sellers tap into trending content or work with popular influencers. This makes it easier to gain exposure, even if you’re just starting out.

Young and Engaged Buyers

Most TikTok Shop users are younger, mainly teens and young adults. Content creators and influencers play a big role in introducing and marketing products to this lively, engaged crowd. In Asia-Pacific alone, TikTok Shop has around 300 million users, with Millennials and Gen Z driving its rapid growth.

By Emarketer

Success Comes from Creativity and Speed

Selling on TikTok Shop isn’t about traditional listings or just price. It’s about making eye-catching videos, riding viral trends, and partnering with influencers. Products that look good, feel fresh, or stand out have the best chance of selling. Plus, sellers need to keep their inventory moving fast to stay in the game.

Fee Structures: What It Costs to Sell

Understanding fees is critical for sellers to calculate profitability and decide which platform makes the most financial sense.

Mercari’s New Fee Model (Effective 2025)

Mercari charges sellers a flat 10% fee on the item price plus any buyer-paid shipping. Buyers now pay a 3.6% fee for buyer protection, which covers secure transactions. There are no listing or payment processing fees for sellers that make it easy to list freely. Instant payouts are available for a small fee, or sellers can use free direct deposit with a delay of 5 to 7 business days.

This updated fee structure shifts some costs to buyers, which may affect their price sensitivity, especially for higher-priced items. Sellers might need to rethink pricing strategies to maintain margins, possibly including shipping in item prices or lowering base prices.

eBay’s Tiered and Category-Based Fees

eBay provides 250 free listings monthly, after which each listing costs $0.35. Final value fees depend on the category, ranging from 2.5% up to 15.3% of the total sale price. Payment processing fees are included within the final value fee, so sellers don’t pay separately.

Subscription plans offer sellers monthly tools and fee reductions, particularly useful for high-volume sellers. Store subscriptions unlock advanced features and lower costs, making eBay attractive for scaling businesses, even though its fee system can be complex to navigate.

TikTok Shop’s Growing Social Commerce Model

TikTok Shop charges a 6% commission on most sales, with a 5% rate for certain jewelry items. A possible increase to 8% has been announced for mid-2024. There are no listing fees, but a small withdrawal fee applies.

Sellers using TikTok’s fulfillment services face additional costs, including shipping subsidies, fulfillment fees, storage, and advertising budgets. Due to TikTok Shop’s content-driven nature, sellers often invest more in marketing and influencer partnerships, which can increase overall costs but also boost sales opportunities.

Platform	Listing Fees	Seller Selling Fee	Buyer Fee	Payment Processing Fee
Mercari	Free	10% of item price + buyer-paid shipping	3.6% Buyer Protection fee	None for sellers
eBay	250 free listings/month, then $0.35/listing	2.5% to 15.3% of total sale, varies by category	None	Included in final value fee
TikTok Shop	Free	6% (most products), 5% (some jewelry), potential increase to 8%	None	$0.05 per withdrawal

Listing and Selling Tools

How easy it is to list and manage your products can really affect how smoothly your selling goes and how much your business can grow.

Mercari’s Mobile-First, User-Friendly Listing

Mercari keeps its listing process simple and mobile-friendly. To get started, you just verify your identity with some basic info and an ID to build trust with buyers. When you list, you can add up to 12 photos, and there’s even AI help to remove backgrounds so your pictures look sharp.

You write clear titles with relevant keywords and hashtags, and honest descriptions that show your item’s condition.

Mercari’s Smart Pricing feature lets you set a minimum price, and AI will adjust it based on demand. If you want to get more eyes on your items, you can lower prices a bit to promote listings or send private offers to interested buyers.

This setup works great if you’re a casual seller or have a small inventory. But if you want to grow bigger, you might find the bulk management options a bit limited and may need outside tools to list on multiple platforms.

eBay’s Advanced, Scalable Tools

eBay’s Seller Hub gives you a full dashboard where you can manage sales, listings, and see detailed analytics. You can upload up to 12 photos and even one video per listing. You get to choose between auction-style or fixed-price sales.

For sellers with lots of items, eBay supports bulk uploads through CSV files or APIs. You can schedule listings, adjust prices in batches, and access detailed reports.

If you sell a lot, eBay offers subscription plans that unlock even more tools, helping you manage bigger inventories with ease.

eBay’s tools focus on giving you control and room to grow, with integrations that connect your inventory systems and provide real-time data.

TikTok Shop’s Content-Driven Seller Center

TikTok Shop’s Seller Center helps you manage your storefront, product listings, orders, and customer messages all in one place. You can upload products in bulk and get alerts when it’s time to restock.

Marketing is a big part of success here. You can create discounts, bundles, affiliate programs, and work with influencers right through the platform. TikTok also gives you basic insights on sales and engagement through Shop Insights and Data Compass.

Because TikTok is all about viral content and quick sales, sellers often spend time making videos and teaming up with influencers. The analytics tools are pretty basic compared to other platforms, so if you want deeper insights, you might want to use additional analytics software.

Shipping and Fulfillment Options: What Sellers Need to Know

How you handle shipping and fulfillment can make a big difference in keeping your customers happy and protecting your profits. Each platform has its own way of doing things, designed to fit different types of sellers and business sizes.

Mercari: Easy Shipping with Prepaid Labels and Local Pickup

Mercari makes shipping pretty simple by offering prepaid labels through UPS, USPS, or FedEx. These labels come with flat-rate costs and can save you up to 40% on shipping across the U.S.

Plus, they include up to $200 in shipping protection and QR codes that make printing a breeze at carrier locations. Just remember, your packages need to weigh under 50 pounds and meet certain size limits.

If your items don’t fit those limits or you prefer to ship on your own, Mercari lets you do that too. But keep in mind, if you go the independent route, you won’t get Mercari’s shipping protection, so the risk is on you.

Mercari also has a local option called Mercari Local, where buyers can even request doorstep pickups with same-day delivery. That can be a real time-saver and take the stress out of shipping.

While this prepaid label system is great for casual sellers, those with larger or more valuable items might find the size and weight limits tricky. Since buyers pay shipping fees that count toward your seller fees, it’s smart to factor shipping costs carefully into your prices.

eBay: Flexible Shipping with Global Reach

eBay gives you a lot of control over shipping. You can choose flat-rate, calculated rates, or even freight shipping for bulky items. You decide who covers shipping costs—many sellers offer free shipping because it helps attract buyers.

You’ll need to stick to your stated handling time (usually one business day) and provide tracking for every shipment. For international sales, eBay’s International Shipping Program can take care of customs and delivery by routing your packages through domestic hubs. This protects you from many headaches once the package reaches those hubs.

If you want to scale up, eBay also offers Managed Delivery. Here, eBay’s partners handle storage, packing, and shipping for you, which means faster delivery and seller protections. It’s a great option if you’re managing a bigger inventory or selling in large volumes.

TikTok Shop: Self-Shipping or Fulfillment by TikTok

With TikTok Shop, you have two main shipping choices. You can ship the items yourself (“Ship by Seller”), or let TikTok handle everything through their “Fulfilled by TikTok” (FBT) service.

If you’re just starting out, you’ll probably use TikTok Shipping, where TikTok assigns a carrier and you need to ship within three business days, providing tracking info. Just be aware that you’re responsible if carriers reject your shipment, or if items get lost or damaged.

The FBT option can save you up to 30% on shipping costs and includes 30 days of free storage. It aims for three-day delivery at no extra charge, and TikTok covers penalties like late shipments or lost orders. Fulfillment fees start at $3.58 per item, with extra fees if your items stay in storage longer than 30 days.

This flexibility works well for both new sellers and those growing their business. Plus, TikTok Shop doesn’t allow dropshipping, so they keep the focus on direct sales between you and your customers.

Platform	Shipping Options	Fulfillment Support
Mercari	Prepaid labels, local pickup	Limited to small packages
eBay	Flat rate, freight, global	Managed delivery options
TikTok Shop	Self-ship or Fulfilled by TikTok	Fulfillment services with storage and discounts

Seller Protection and Dispute Resolution: Managing Risk and Trust

When you’re selling online, having solid protections and clear ways to handle disputes is key to building trust and keeping things fair for everyone involved.

Mercari: Basic Protection but Some Limits

Mercari offers shipping protection up to $200 when you use their prepaid labels, covering lost or damaged packages during shipping. But some sellers have found it frustrating, claims can get denied, and it’s not always clear how Mercari reviews these cases. If you choose to ship items on your own, you won’t have any of this protection.

Buyers get three days to request a return if the item doesn’t match the description, and you have 24 hours to flag any issues with what’s returned. This setup helps reduce return abuse, but you’ll want to keep detailed records and package your items carefully to avoid problems.

Support mostly comes through a Help Center and contact forms, with limited phone support available only for urgent payment issues. It’s good to know these limits so you can prepare and protect yourself as much as possible.

eBay: Strong Protections and Clear Dispute Process

eBay’s Money Back Guarantee protects buyers, but it also has solid safeguards for sellers. If a dispute happens, you usually get three business days to respond. If things don’t get resolved, eBay steps in to mediate and typically makes a decision within two days.

If you don’t agree with the ruling, you can appeal by sharing more evidence. For big-ticket sales, eBay requires signature confirmation to back up your claims if an item doesn’t arrive.

When payment disputes happen, you’ll get notified and can provide proof like tracking info or delivery confirmation. If you win, you might even get your fees waived or receive credits. This system helps balance things fairly, which is especially helpful if you’re selling valuable or complicated items.

TikTok Shop: Fast-Paced, High-Pressure Dispute Handling

TikTok Shop expects sellers to be quick and responsive, requiring answers to customer messages within 24 hours. Returns are usually accepted automatically within 14 days, and you have tight deadlines to check returned items and issue refunds. If you miss those, TikTok Shop might just approve refunds for the buyer by default.

Some low-cost purchases might be refunded without returns at all, and some product categories don’t allow returns unless the item is defective.

Both buyers and sellers can escalate disputes, but TikTok Shop makes the final call based on the evidence. Sellers need to follow the platform’s rules closely, if you try to handle things off TikTok, you lose your protections.

To avoid all these problems, you can take help from experts. TikTok Shop Virtual Assistants can offer timely customer support and dispute management, helping you stay compliant and protect your sales.

This fast-moving approach fits TikTok’s social commerce vibe but means sellers have to stay on top of communication and act professionally to keep customer trust and avoid losing money.

Platform	Protection Type	Dispute Resolution Speed
Mercari	$200 shipping protection	Basic, limited phone support
eBay	Money Back Guarantee	Strong, appeals possible
TikTok Shop	Fast dispute decisions	Strict timelines, fast refunds

Marketing and Promotional Tools: Driving Sales and Visibility

Promotion plays a big role on every platform, but how you go about it depends on the audience and what the platform offers.

Mercari: Simple Promotions for Casual Sellers

Mercari keeps things easy with built-in tools like:

• Promote: This lowers your price just a little to get more eyes on your listing and alerts buyers who’ve shown interest.
• Offer to Likers: Sends exclusive, time-limited discounts to people who’ve favorited your items.
• Smart Offers: Lets you automate price negotiations, so you can accept or counter offers within a range you’re comfortable with.

Mercari’s search algorithm favors sellers who stay engaged, respond quickly, and use clear keywords and honest descriptions. The tools are simple and work well on mobile, which is great if you’re an individual seller.

But if you want to run bigger advertising campaigns or promote across multiple channels, Mercari’s options are pretty limited.

eBay: Advanced Advertising for Serious Growth

eBay’s Seller Hub offers lots of ways to advertise:

• Promoted Listings: Highlight your items with pay-per-click or pay-per-sale ads.
• Promoted Stores: Drive traffic to your storefront with ads and special coupons.
• Promoted Offsite: Take your ads beyond eBay to platforms like Google.

These campaigns use data to target the right buyers and provide detailed reports so you can get the most from your budget. To access these features, you need a good account standing and seller rating.

eBay’s advertising tools are flexible and built to help sellers who want to scale, whether that’s promoting individual items or growing their entire store. Plus, you can reach buyers beyond eBay’s own site.

TikTok Shop: Marketing that’s All About Content and Viral Buzz

TikTok Shop leans into its social, video-driven roots with features like:

• Product Videos & Shoppable Videos: Tag your products in fun, engaging videos.
• TikTok LIVE: Showcase real-time demos and interact directly with viewers.
• In-Feed Ads & TikTok Ads: Paid promotions woven into user feeds and wider ad campaigns.
• Influencer Partnerships: Collaborate with creators through the Creator Marketplace to boost reach.

Sellers also use flash deals, bundles, vouchers, and hashtag challenges to spark sales. To succeed here, you need to regularly create creative content and stay in tune with trending topics and audience interests.

Marketing on TikTok Shop takes more effort and resources, but the payoff is access to huge, engaged audiences and impulse buyers ready to shop on the spot.

Agencies like Tiksly specialize in helping brands navigate TikTok Shop’s unique marketing demands through tailored content and campaign strategies

Popular Product Categories and Who’s Buying

Knowing who shops on each platform and what sells best helps you stock the right products and get better results.

Mercari: Young Buyers Who Love Affordable, Unique Finds

Most Mercari shoppers are under 35 and use their phones to browse for bargains, collectibles, and secondhand items that feel sustainable. Sellers range from casual declutterers to side-hustlers and small resellers.

Top Categories on Mercari:

• Clothing & Accessories: Vintage tees, designer handbags like Louis Vuitton and Gucci, plus athleisure brands such as Lululemon.
• Electronics: Gently used wireless earbuds, gaming consoles like PS5, Xbox, Switch, smartphones from Apple and Samsung, laptops, and smart home gadgets.
• Home Décor & Furniture: Stylish and practical pieces like vintage lamps and compact furniture.
• Beauty & Personal Care: Skincare sets, unopened makeup palettes (think NARS, MAC), popular perfumes like Versace Bright Crystal, and hair tools.
• Toys & Collectibles: Nostalgic action figures, Funko Pops, board games, and plush toys such as Squishmallows.
• Sports & Outdoor Gear: Fitness trackers (like Fitbit), camping gear, sports jerseys, and branded shoes.
• Gaming & Trading Cards: Consoles, accessories, and popular trading cards like Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering.

Mercari works best if you’re selling branded, gently used items that look great and are easy to list from your phone.

eBay: A Wide Range of Buyers with a Taste for Refurbished and Vintage

eBay’s buyers cover casual shoppers all the way up to large businesses. Most fall between 25 and 54 years old and have a big interest in pre-owned and refurbished items.

Top Categories on eBay:

• Electronics: The largest category, including refurbished gadgets, smartwatches, drones, VR gear, headphones, cameras, tablets, and smartphones.
• Clothing & Shoes: Growing demand for thrifted brand-name shoes, vintage apparel, and athletic footwear.
• Home & Garden: From lawn mower parts to string lights and kitchen appliances.
• Health & Beauty: Skincare, haircare, cosmetics, and grooming products.
• Collectibles: Trading cards, coins, dolls, and books that keep growing in popularity.
• Sports & Outdoor Gear: Fitness equipment, hiking gear, and sportswear from known brands.
• Automotive: Car accessories like phone mounts and floor mats.
• Jewelry & Watches: Necklaces, watches, bracelets, and loose gems.

Thanks to its huge variety and niche communities, eBay is great if you have a diverse or specialized inventory, especially vintage or collectible items.

TikTok Shop: Trend-Driven, Social Commerce with a Mostly Young Female Audience

TikTok Shop is all about impulse buying and engaging content. Most buyers are Gen Z and young Millennials under 34, with women making up the majority of sales even though the platform has more male users overall.

Top Categories on TikTok Shop:

• Fashion & Beauty: Leading the pack, with perfumes, T-shirts, and health products selling strong.
• Aesthetic Room Accessories: LED strip lights, sunset lamps, and viral hashtag items like #RoomTransformation.
• LED Lighting: Smart, customizable lights are a hit.
• Space-Saving Furniture: Compact designs perfect for smaller living spaces.
• Viral Wall Art: Trendy decorations made for social media-worthy rooms.
• Pet Products: Interactive toys and grooming tools, boosted by the popularity of pet content.

To do well on TikTok Shop, you need to create eye-catching videos and tap into trends and influencer partnerships that can help your products go viral.

Quick Tips to Get Started

• Match your products to the audience and popular categories on each platform.
• Think about how you want to run your business: Mercari for simplicity, eBay if you want more control and scale, TikTok Shop if content marketing is your strength.
• Don’t forget to factor in all fees, selling, shipping, promotion, and fulfillment, when you set your prices.

Which Platform Works Best for You?

Each platform brings something different depending on what you sell, how big your business is, and how you like to market your products.

• Mercari is great if you’re a casual seller dealing with secondhand items, vintage brands, or collectibles. Its simple mobile app makes listing quick and easy, perfect when you want to move products fast without fuss.
• eBay fits well with professional resellers, small businesses, or sellers with diverse or specialized inventories. Its global reach and powerful tools help you grow and even expand internationally.
• TikTok Shop suits sellers with trendy, eye-catching products who are ready to put effort into creative videos and influencer marketing. It’s perfect for grabbing impulse buyers through engaging content.

While focusing on one platform can help you build expertise, some sellers find success using multiple platforms to reach wider audiences. Understanding the differences in the Mercari vs eBay vs TikTok Shop comparison will guide you in making the best choice for your business goals.

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FAQs

1. What are the main differences between Mercari, eBay, and TikTok Shop

Mercari is ideal for casual sellers focusing on secondhand goods with a mobile-first approach. eBay supports professional sellers with advanced tools and global reach. TikTok Shop excels at social commerce driven by video content and influencer marketing.

2. How does shipping work on Mercari, eBay, and TikTok Shop?

Mercari offers prepaid labels with shipping protection for small packages. eBay provides flexible options including global shipping and managed fulfillment. TikTok Shop sellers can self-ship or use TikTok’s fulfillment services, with strict shipping deadlines.

3. Which platform is best for selling trendy or viral products?

TikTok Shop is the strongest for trendy, visually appealing, and impulse-buy products due to its video-based marketing and influencer partnerships.

4. Can I sell the same products on multiple platforms?

Yes, multi-channel selling is common. Using cross-listing tools helps expand reach but requires managing inventory and pricing carefully across platforms.