Did I break an unwritten Mercari rule?

New to Japan and it’s my first time navigating Mercari. I’m trying to buy a couch and commented on one listing asking if it had any cigarette smoke smell (politely, I hope, but I was relying on Google translate). There was nothing in the listing about it and the couch isn’t in pristine condition. The seller—a big secondhand furniture seller with good reviews— deleted my comment without replying. I thought that was reasonable question so now I’m wondering if I broke some unwritten rule? I’m seriously interested but I also don’t want to spend $$ on a couch that smells like smoke.

Hit me with any other Mercari “unwritten rules/tips” if you’ve got them… thanks.

13 comments
  1. Only thing I could think of is, the answer to your question is yes and they are trying to avoid having that comment on their listing because is instantly drops the value. They would rather someone find out too late.

  2. A few things could have happened.

    1) Google translate isn’t the best and it’s pretty clear when it is used. Some sellers simply don’t want to deal with foreign buyers.

    2) Is your account new(ish)? I’d say if you have less than 10 transactions, you’re still considered new and lots of sellers don’t like to deal with new accounts due to the possibility of scams, particularly if your profile isn’t verified.

    3) Some sellers have something like プロフ必読 written on their names or item descriptions. Basically, they want you to read the usually massive wall of text on their profiles about how they think they can enforce the rules regarding their transactions. They might have already answered your question there and simply deleted your comment.

  3. Lack of answer is an answer if you can read the air, like they say in japan… So, it probably smells…

  4. It stinks and/or it’s someone you wouldn’t want to deal with anyway. Count your blessings.

  5. Not answering your question, but i don’t think mercari is the best for furniture, because of shipping. Try jmty or your local hardoff or other recycle shop instead

  6. I’ve had that only whenever I’ve asked a question to which saying ‘yes’ would lower the value. So they try to bury it, but it then says ‘comment deleted by seller’ which just makes it more suss when anyone else looks.

  7. Probably doesn’t smell. But even having that question up there with a “no, it doesn’t” probably isn’t a good look as it puts smell in people’s minds.

    Anyway, I know you’re not trying to spend Ps but don’t buy a damn couch from Mercari. Plenty of secondhand stores where you can see the thing before buying it and hold someone accountable.

  8. I don’t think you did anything wrong.
    The couch may smell bad or have stains because of smoke and the seller didn’t want to answer your question.

  9. There are no unwritten rules. Some people try to enforce their views on how sales should be on Mercari, but no way everybody is expected to follow.

    Speaking of your situation, most likely the couch was smoked through and this is why.

  10. Seller is trying to hide something. No unwritten rules broken. Business is business.

  11. I had a similar moment and the seller also banned me. Could have been because they are trying to hide that their item smells of smoke or it could be they just don’t want to deal with gaijin.

    I’ve asked other sellers this question before and usually I get a straight answer.

  12. Things are different here, but people in Japan aren’t aliens. Use your common sense.

    The dude is trying to sell a couch and doesn’t want to reduce the value by admitting he smokes.

    In reply to the other people claiming he wouldn’t want to sell to a foreigner: Money is money, and wouldn’t give a fuck where you’re from.

  13. I suggest using deepl translator or chatgpt in the future. It’s generally less of a direct translation and accurate to what could be the common translation

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