Two things on a listing change what you pay: who pays the postage inside Japan, and whether it is an auction or a fixed price.
The condition grade changes what you get. All three are covered below, with the marketplaces' own definitions.
Mercari's six condition grades
Every Mercari listing carries one of six condition grades, chosen by the seller. These are Mercari's own definitions from its listing guide, translated. The grade is the seller's judgement, not an inspection, so read it together with the photos.
| On the listing | In English | Mercari's definition |
|---|---|---|
| 新品、未使用 | New, unused | Bought not long ago and never used. |
| 未使用に近い | Almost unused | Used only a few times, with no scratches or marks. |
| 目立った傷や汚れなし | No noticeable scratches or marks | Has scratches or marks you would only see if you looked closely. |
| やや傷や汚れあり | Some scratches or marks | Scratches or marks that show it is second-hand. |
| 傷や汚れあり | Scratches or marks | Large scratches or marks anyone would notice. |
| 全体的に状態が悪い | Poor overall | Noticeable scratches, marks or damage across the whole item. |
The difference between the second and third grades is the one that matters most for collectors: "almost unused" promises no marks at all, while "no noticeable scratches or marks" allows marks you would find on a close look. For bags, watches, jewellery and clothing, Mercari also lets sellers tick specific faults such as stains, smells or chips, so look for those on the listing too.
Source: Mercari guide, listing an item, checked 2026-10-05. Mercari prices run from ¥300 to ¥9,999,999.
Who pays the postage inside Japan
Mercari sellers choose one of two options, and the listing shows which:
- 送料込み (shipping included): the postage is in the price and the seller pays it.
- 着払い (cash on delivery): the postage is not in the price, and the buyer pays it when the parcel arrives. Through a proxy, the parcel arrives at the proxy's warehouse.
That second line is the domestic postage on this site's calculator. It is easy to compare a shipping-included listing with a cheaper one that is not, and get the wrong answer. Here are two listings that cost the same ¥10,000 in total before the proxy: one at ¥10,000 with shipping included, one at ¥9,300 with ¥700 to pay on delivery. Both priced to the United States by EMS, 1 kg:
| Service | ¥10,000, shipping included | ¥9,300 + ¥700 on delivery | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| FROM JAPAN | ¥15,800 | ¥15,800 | none |
| Buyee | ¥15,800 | ¥15,800 | none |
| ZenMarket | ¥16,684 | ¥16,684 | none |
| Neokyo | ¥16,150 | ¥16,150 | none |
| Doorzo | ¥15,600 | ¥15,579 | +¥21 |
With Doorzo, the two are not the same: its fee is worked out from the item price, so a price that already includes the postage pays the fee on the postage too. With FROM JAPAN, Buyee, ZenMarket and Neokyo, the fee is a flat amount, so it makes no difference.
Source: Mercari guide, shipping-included items that arrive cash on delivery, checked 2026-10-05.
Bidding on Yahoo! Auctions
Yahoo! Auctions works differently from Mercari's fixed prices. According to its own beginner's guide:
- A bid is the most you are willing to pay, entered above the current price. Whoever has the highest bid when the auction ends wins it.
- Every bid is an automatic bid: the site bids for you against others, as cheaply as possible, up to the amount you entered. The guide recommends entering your real maximum.
- Some listings also have a buy-it-now price (即決価格). Bidding that amount wins the item straight away.
- Fixed-price items from Yahoo! Auctions stores show a purchase button (購入手続きへ) instead of a bid button.
- Winning creates a contract to pay. Only bid on things you mean to buy.
Through a proxy, the proxy places the bid for you, and a won auction becomes your purchase through the proxy, with the same obligation to pay. The proxy also charges its own fee for the purchase. On a ¥10,000 item it is the same for an auction win as for a Mercari purchase at all five services on this site: Doorzo ¥300, Neokyo ¥350, FROM JAPAN ¥500, Buyee ¥500 and ZenMarket ¥800.
On a ¥10,000 item sent to the United States, Doorzo is cheapest for an auction and for Mercari alike, at ¥16,300 including ¥700 of postage inside Japan and EMS for 1 kg, before US duty.
Source: Yahoo! Auctions beginner's guide, bidding, checked 2026-10-05. Fees from each service's own pages.
Words you will see in descriptions
These are not official categories, just the words sellers commonly use. The English is a translation, and the note is what to check.
| On the listing | In English | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| 未開封 | Unopened | Still sealed. Worth checking whether the outer box itself is shown in the photos. |
| 開封済み | Opened | The seal has been broken, even if the item was never used. |
| 美品 | In very good condition | The seller's own description, on top of the condition grade. |
| 箱なし | No box | Matters for figures and games, where the box is part of the value. |
| 箱傷み | Box damage | The item may be fine; the packaging is not. |
| 欠品 | Missing parts | Read the description for what exactly is missing. |
| 付属品 | Accessories | Often followed by a list. Anything not listed should be assumed missing. |
| 動作確認済み | Tested and working | The seller says they have checked it works. |
| 動作未確認 | Not tested | The seller has not checked whether it works. |
| ジャンク | Junk | Sold as faulty or untested, as parts. Treat it as sold as seen. |
| ノークレーム・ノーリターン | No complaints, no returns | The seller is asking you not to raise problems after the sale. |
| 専用 | Reserved | A listing set aside for one named buyer. Others are expected not to buy it. |
| 即購入可 | Buy without asking | The seller is happy for you to buy without messaging first. |
| 値下げ | Price reduced | Also used in requests: some sellers accept offers, some say they do not. |
| 初版 | First edition | Used for books and manga. |
| 帯付き | With obi | The paper band around a Japanese book or CD, which collectors value. |
| 特典 | Bonus item | A shop or pre-order extra that came with the item. |
Two of them deserve particular care through a proxy. Junk listings are sold as they are, and a fault found after delivery is your problem, not the seller's. And "tested and working" is the seller's word. Doorzo, for one, lists item inspection and an electronic check among its additional services; ask your service what it offers before relying on a description.
Before you buy
- Check what the item contains against what cannot be shipped. A refused item is paid for and not sent.
- Work out the total, not the price: when an item is worth the shipping shows how much the overhead adds at each price.
- Compare services for the marketplace you are buying from: cheapest proxy by marketplace.