How to Sign Up for Mercari - Complete Setup Guide in 5 Minutes

Signing up for Mercari, Japan's popular marketplace app, requires just two things: a smartphone and a phone number that can receive SMS for verification. You can register with an email address, Apple ID, Google account, or Facebook account. Registration itself is free, with no monthly or annual fees; simply creating an account costs nothing, and fees only kick in once an item you list actually sells.

For payments, Mercari supports credit cards, convenience store payment, ATM payment, Merpay balance (Mercari's own payment service), and more. Because you can use it without a credit card, it is easy for students and younger users to get started.

Have an invitation code ready before you register and you will qualify for points once you complete sign-up; per Mercari's official help center they are granted within 14 days of registration rather than instantly. Codes are shared publicly on social media and blogs, so it is worth searching for one in advance.

• Step 1: Download the Mercari app from the App Store or Google Play
• Step 2: Launch the app and choose a registration method (email, Apple, Google, or Facebook)
• Step 3: Enter a nickname and, optionally, an invitation code
• Step 4: Enter your phone number and input the verification code that arrives by SMS
• Step 5: Registration complete; you can buy and sell right away

The whole process takes about 3 to 5 minutes. The invitation code is optional, but entering one earns you points, so do not forget it if you have a code on hand.

Once registration is complete, the app's home screen appears and you can browse and search listings immediately. Start by wandering through categories that interest you to get a feel for Mercari's atmosphere and price levels. Moving on to buying or selling after you are comfortable with the interface makes for a much smoother first transaction.

The invitation code can only be entered during registration. There is no way to add it afterward, so if you have a code, make sure to enter it at step 3. The input field can be easy to overlook, so keep an eye out for it.

Also, only one account can be registered per phone number. A number that has been used on Mercari before may be blocked from new registration. If your phone number changed when you switched phones, you need to update the number on your old account before registering with the new one.

Use an email address you actually check day to day. Important transaction notifications and campaign information arrive by email, so registering your main address helps you avoid missing anything.

Set a strong password unique to Mercari rather than reusing one from another service. This is an account where your sales proceeds accumulate, so security deserves extra care. Do not forget to enable two-step verification as well.

Once your account is set up, take a moment to fill in your profile. Add a profile photo and nickname, and include a friendly line in your bio such as "I aim for courteous, smooth transactions" or "Feel free to buy without messaging first". Little touches like these reassure your future trading partners.

Review your notification settings too. Turning on price-drop alerts for items you have liked and comment notifications for your own listings makes it much harder to miss a trading opportunity. If the volume of notifications feels like too much, you can customize things so only the ones you care about stay on.

Registering a payment method early also pays off, letting you buy the moment you spot something good. A registered credit card gives you instant, fee-free checkout; if you do not have a card, set up a way to charge your Merpay balance instead.