Mercari To Raise Shipping Rates, Offers Free Shipping For Some Trading Cards
Mercari is raising prepaid shipping rates across USPS, UPS and FedEx next month, including some significant increases to discounted Best Rate pricing, while offering free shipping for some trading cards as the marketplace continues using targeted shipping promotions to drive growth in collectibles.
Starting October 19, the new package rates will apply to all new and existing listings using buyer-paid or seller-paid Mercari Standard labels. Mercari told users the changes are necessary because of rising carrier costs and says its prepaid labels will still offer an average 53% savings compared to retail rates, with up to $200 in Shipping Protection included.
The changes hit USPS, UPS and FedEx, with many of Mercari's discounted Best Rate options increasing. The current $7.97 Best Rate for qualifying UPS and FedEx economy packages up to 5 lbs will shift to weight-based pricing topping out at $9.39, while some heavier UPS Ground and FedEx Home Best Rates will rise by more than 50%.
USPS Ground Advantage is also increasing at many weights, though the update is not an across-the-board hike. Some Priority Mail rates are coming down and Media Mail prices are dropping, as Mercari reshuffles prepaid pricing across carriers and services.
Mercari's 10% seller fee and 3.6% Buyer Protection fee are both calculated on the item price plus buyer-paid shipping, so higher shipping rates also increase the fees Mercari collects and can inflate reported revenue and Gross Merchandise Volume even without a corresponding increase in merchandise sold.
USPS temporary peak rates begin October 4, while broader UPS and FedEx holiday surcharges start October 25 and 26. Mercari has not said its October 19 changes are temporary or directly tied to those increases, and negotiated marketplace rates can differ from published carrier pricing.
Trading card sellers are getting a very different deal, with Mercari offering free First-Class Envelope shipping for qualifying trading cards and paper collectibles weighing up to 1 oz through January 4, 2027.
The free rate launched September 17, and Mercari has extended its existing 49¢ First-Class Envelope promotion for eligible 2-3 oz shipments through the same date. New listings can access the promotion now, while Mercari says existing eligible listings will be automatically opted in beginning September 30.
Mercari first introduced the 49¢ rate in February as part of a broader limited-time shipping promotion. With the new free 1 oz option, its promotional envelope pricing is substantially lower than eBay Standard Envelope for qualifying trading cards. eBay currently charges 78¢ for 1 oz, $1.07 for 2 oz and $1.36 for 3 oz, compared to free shipping at 1 oz and 49¢ at 2-3 oz on Mercari through January 4.
The promotion is focused on one of the strongest parts of Mercari's US business. Entertainment & Hobbies, particularly collectibles and trading cards, has been driving much of the recent improvement, with US GMV up 15% year over year in fiscal Q4 as Monthly Active Users returned to growth.
Mercari specifically credited shipping discount promotions and strength in Entertainment & Hobbies with helping fiscal 2026 results. Management also identified shipping costs as a particular problem for lower-priced items and discussed bundles as one way to spread those costs across multiple purchases.
Liz Morton
Mercari has also absorbed part of other rising shipping costs, recently agreeing to cover half of USPS's new $50 HAZMAT noncompliance fee rather than passing the full charge to sellers. A separate holiday shipping promotion is on the way, though the company has not yet disclosed the rates or services it will cover.
