# Peer Marketplace Apps 'Mercari' is a Free Way to Buy and Sell Items in Japan By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2016-03-22 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mercari References: [crowdfundinsider](http://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2016/03/82471-unicorn-alert-japanese-p2p-marketplace-mercari-secures-75m-in-series-d-investment/) & [itunes.apple](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id896130944?mt=8) Mercari is a simple, free and easy-to-use [peer-to-peer marketplace app](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/peertopeer-rental) that makes it possible to [buy and sell items](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/samasemua1) with ease. Sellers are able to snap a photo of a product they wish to sell, instantly upload it, add a few details and make the listing available for view to Mercari's community of millions. Unlike many comparable web marketplaces, Mercari does not charge a listing fee or commission. After purchasing an item, users are able to track when a seller has shipped the item that has been digitally purchased, as well as chat with a seller directly. After receiving capital to grow the business, Mercari has indicated that there will be plans to expand the services it can offer in Japan and the United States. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.6/10 - Popularity: 40% | Activity: 59% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Mobile](https://www.trendhunter.com/mobile) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Peer-to-peer Marketplaces:** The rise of peer-to-peer marketplaces, like Mercari, is disrupting traditional retail sales and creating new opportunities for individual sellers. - **Mobile Marketplace Apps:** As more consumers shop on their phones, the convenience of mobile marketplace apps like Mercari is becoming a disruptive force in the e-commerce industry. - **Commission-free Selling:** The success of marketplaces like Mercari that don't charge listing fees or commissions is showing a demand for more transparent and cost-effective ways to buy and sell goods online. ### Sectors Adopting This - **E-commerce:** The growth of peer-to-peer marketplaces like Mercari has huge implications for the e-commerce industry, making it easier and more accessible for consumers to buy and sell online. - **Second-hand Retail:** As second-hand marketplaces become more popular, the traditional retail industry may need to adapt to changing consumer demands and purchasing habits. - **Mobile Technology:** The success of mobile marketplace apps like Mercari highlights the importance of mobile technology in today's retail landscape and presents new opportunities for innovation and growth in this area. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [AI-Powered Shopping Assistants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chatgptpowered-shopping-assistant.md) - [Peer-to-Peer Sharing Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shapp.md) - [Local Sports Marketplaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/waresport.md) - [Retailer-Backed Reseller Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ikea-preowned.md) - [AI Resale Assistants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hero-ai.md) - [Online Startup Marketplaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/startupsonsale.md) - [Frictionless QR-Based Resale Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ebay-1.md) - [AI Resale Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/croissant-app.md) - [Service-Selling Creator Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/serviceselling-creator-app.md)