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How to Buy from Mercari Japan (Including Auctions)

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Looking to buy from Mercari Japan but can’t find international shipping options—especially for auction-style listings? Most large proxy services only support part of what Mercari has to offer. That means many listings—including auctions—are off-limits.
At Lunarcat, we let you buy from any Mercari listing, auctions included, and ship it to you anywhere in the world.
What Is Mercari Japan — and Why Is Buying from Overseas So Hard?
Japan is a goldmine for collectors and enthusiasts worldwide. Rare vintage items, limited-edition releases, handmade crafts, and cultural artifacts that exist nowhere else — much of it surfaces first on Mercari, Japan's massive peer-to-peer marketplace.
With over 4 billion listings as of 2024, Mercari has become one of Japan’s largest and most dynamic online marketplaces. From everyday household items to museum-quality collectibles, it's where Japanese sellers list things you simply can't find anywhere else.
The problem? Mercari was designed for domestic Japanese transactions. Without a Japanese address, phone number, and payment method, and sellers not wishing to deal with overseas buyers who don't speak Japanese, direct purchasing is difficult for overseas buyers.
This is where proxy services come in — but existing proxies do not access everything Mercari has to offer.
How Other Proxies Support Mercari Auctions
Most Japanese proxy services can help you purchase from Mercari — but auction-style listings remain unsupported by nearly all major providers. This is the same for Buyee, an official partner of Mercari.
What's typically unsupported:
- Mercari's auction-style listings
- Listings from non-partnered or individual sellers
- Specialty categories or items requiring custom negotiation
Why Mercari Auctions Are Not Supported by Other Proxy Companies
Interestingly, Buyee handles auctions smoothly on other Japanese platforms like JDirectitems thanks to a system called automated snipe bidding. Let's assume you are interested in an item like the following :
- Current bid: ¥5,000
- Bidding increment: ¥500
- Your maximum bid: ¥10,000
JDirectitems will automatically place your bid at ¥5,500 (one increment above the current bid). If other users bid higher, the system continues increasing your bid by ¥500 at a time — but only as needed — up to your maximum of ¥10,000.
However, Mercari auctions work differently:
- No snipe bidding — you must place and time every bid manually
- Requires active monitoring — the system does not automate bidding
- Dynamic ending system — each new bid within the final minutes extends the auction to 5 minutes
🐾 How Lunarcat Handles Mercari Auctions
This is where Lunarcat comes in. We specialize in areas that most proxy services don’t cover — especially Mercari Japan auctions. You only pay the item price and shipping, with our total service fees starting as low as one coin (¥500).
Our Auction Process
- Submit your order. For urgent orders, contact us directly via one of our social platforms.
- We verify the listing and confirm its eligibility within a few hours.
- You pay your initial bid as a secure deposit.
- Our agent monitors and places your bid in real time...
- If you win: We complete the purchase and request payment.
If you don’t win: Your deposit is fully refunded.
How to Get Started
Option 1: Use Our Order Form
- Register or log in to your Lunarcat account
- Navigate to our Order Form
- Provide the Mercari item link(s) and your maximum bidding amount
Option 2: Direct Contact
Prefer to skip registration? Contact us directly — we can process your order without requiring an account.
What happens next:
- We confirm item availability. You can check our fees here.
- No payment is processed until we verify everything is ready to purchase
- You get full transparency on costs before committing
Real Access to Japan's Hidden Marketplace
Mercari Japan contains countless treasures you would love to have. And Lunarcat's approach lets you get these at an affordable cost. You'll have access to everything Japan's most dynamic marketplace has to offer.
Ready to discover what you've been missing? Submit your first Mercari order and unlock access to Japan's most dynamic marketplace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy from Mercari Japan if I’m outside Japan?
Yes. Lunarcat lets you purchase from Mercari Japan even if you live overseas. We act as your local proxy to buy, receive, and ship the item internationally.
Do other proxy services support Mercari auctions?
The big proxies do not process auction-style listings or many individual seller posts. Proxy services offering Mercari auctions are usually individuals.
Can I buy multiple items and ship them together?
Yes. We consolidate multiple purchases into one international shipment to save on shipping fees.
Do I need a Mercari account to use Lunarcat?
No. You don’t need a Mercari account, Japanese address, or phone number. Just send us the link, and we’ll handle the rest.