Fix Mercari Photos That Aren't Getting Offers
Your items are good. Your photos aren't selling them. Fix that in 30 seconds.
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"Had a pair of boots listed for 3 weeks with zero likes. Re-did the photos with clean backgrounds and better lighting. Sold within 2 days. Same boots, same price, just better photos." @MercariGlow_Up
Why Your Mercari Listings Aren't Selling
When your Mercari listing has been sitting with no engagement, it's almost always the photos. Buyers scroll fast and make split-second decisions based on the thumbnail image. Dark, cluttered, or blurry photos get scrolled past. A quick photo upgrade often works better than a price drop - and it's free.
Photo Upgrade Tools
Enhance Photo
Overall quality boost for dull, underperforming listing photos
Replace Background
Swap distracting backgrounds for clean white
Enhance Lighting
Fix the dim lighting that makes items look unappealing
Enhance Colors
Make dull colors pop so items look their best
Sharpen Photo
Crisp up blurry or soft photos that look amateur
How to Fix Mercari Photos That Aren't Getting Offers
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Identify what's wrong with your current photo
Look at your listing photo critically. Is it dark? Cluttered background? Blurry? Colors look off? Compare it to top-selling similar items on Mercari. Usually the problem is obvious once you look at competing listings side by side.
Full photo upgrade: 30-45 seconds per photo.Search Mercari for the same item and sort by 'Recently Sold.' See what successful listing photos look like. -
Upload and describe the upgrade
Drop your current listing photo into EditThisPic. Use a comprehensive prompt: 'clean white background, enhance lighting dramatically, sharpen details, make this look like a professional product photo.' Go bigger than you think - the goal is to stop scrollers.
Don't just fix one thing. Do background + lighting + sharpness together for maximum impact. -
Compare before and after
Put your original and edited photos side by side. The improvement should be dramatic. If it's subtle, try a more aggressive prompt. Your photo needs to compete with hundreds of other listings - subtle doesn't cut it.
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Update your listing
Download the improved photo and replace the old one in your Mercari listing. Update all photos in the listing, not just the first one. Relist if possible for a fresh timestamp and algorithm boost.
Relist instead of just editing. Fresh listings get an algorithm boost on Mercari and show up higher in search results.
Copy-Paste Prompts for Photo Upgrades
clean white background, dramatically enhance lighting, sharpen all details, vibrant accurate colors, professional product photo that stops scrollers
This maximum-impact prompt addresses the most common reasons listings fail
brighten significantly, make colors pop, enhance contrast, the item should look its absolute best, clean bright product photo
Dark photos are the number one killer of Mercari listings
make this photo more eye-catching and professional, enhance lighting and colors, sharpen details, make it stand out in search results
Good-enough photos lose to great photos. Make yours great.
sharpen this photo significantly, enhance the details, make it look like it was taken with a professional camera, crisp and clear
Blurry photos make buyers think you're hiding condition issues
Show 4 more prompts
correct the colors to be accurate and vibrant, fix the color cast, make the item look as good as it does in person
Wrong colors lead to returns and bad reviews - fix them before selling
replace everything except the product with clean white, the item should be the only focus, professional e-commerce photo
If buyers notice your background, your background is the problem
remove all harsh shadows, bright even lighting, the item should look clean and well-maintained, professional quality
Shadows make items look older and more worn than they are
make this photo pop as a small thumbnail, high contrast, clean white background, the item should be immediately recognizable even at small size
Most buyers see your photo as a tiny thumbnail first - it needs to pop at small size
| Edit Type | Prompt | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full overhaul | white bg, enhance lighting, sharpen, vibrant |
35s | Try This โ |
| Brighten dark photo | brighten dramatically, make colors pop |
20s | Try This โ |
| Fix blurry photo | sharpen significantly, crisp and clear |
15s | Try This โ |
| Thumbnail optimization | high contrast, white bg, crop tight |
30s | Try This โ |
Real Examples
Watch listed for 2 weeks with no offers
A nice watch that was fairly priced but had zero engagement. The photo was dark, on a messy nightstand, and you could barely see the watch face. Complete photo overhaul got 5 likes in the first day.
clean white background, dramatically enhance lighting, sharpen the watch details, make the face and band look premium, professional product photo
Jacket relisted 3 times, still no sale
Kept relisting a leather jacket with the same dark, wrinkled-bed photo. Finally upgraded the photo with clean background and better lighting. Sold at the original asking price within a week.
replace the dark bedroom background with clean white, enhance the leather texture and color, bright professional clothing photo, make it look like a fashion listing
Electronics getting passed over
A perfectly good tablet wasn't getting views. Photos showed a cluttered desk with glare on the screen. New photos with clean background and no glare got the first offer within 3 days.
clean white background, remove all screen glare, enhance device details, bright even lighting, professional electronics listing that competes with retail photos
When Things Go Wrong
Enhanced photo looks over-processed or fake
Why: Pushing enhancement too far can make items look artificially perfect.
enhance naturally, better lighting and clarity but keep it realistic, don't over-process
The goal is 'well-photographed' not 'photoshopped.' If it looks fake, dial back the enhancement.
Colors are now inaccurate after enhancement
Why: Color enhancement can shift hues beyond their natural appearance.
correct colors to match real life, this item is [actual color], keep it accurate while still appealing
Mention the actual color in your prompt to keep enhancement grounded in reality.
Photo is better but still not getting engagement
Why: Photos might need to be more dramatically different, or the issue is pricing/description.
make this photo dramatically eye-catching, high contrast, clean professional look that stops scrolling
If photos are already good, the issue might be price, title, or description - not just photos.
Enhancement hid important condition details
Why: Over-enhancement can smooth out wear marks that buyers need to see.
enhance the photo quality but keep condition details visible, don't smooth out wear or scratches
Add 'keep condition details visible' to prevent the AI from hiding wear marks.
Thumbnail still doesn't pop in search results
Why: The composition might be too zoomed out or not centered properly for small thumbnails.
crop tighter around the item, high contrast, make it instantly recognizable even as a small thumbnail
Mercari thumbnails are small - your item should fill most of the frame.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why aren't my Mercari listings getting offers?
The most common reason is photo quality. Dark, cluttered, or blurry photos get scrolled past. Upload your current listing photo to EditThisPic and try 'clean white background, enhance lighting, sharpen details.' Better photos often work better than price drops.
Should I relist with new photos or just update?
Relist if possible. Fresh listings get an algorithm boost on Mercari and appear higher in search results. Update the photos first, then delete and relist for maximum visibility.
Is it the photos or the price?
Test photos first - it's free. If the same item with better photos gets more likes and views, it was the photos. If engagement stays low with great photos, then consider the price. Photos are usually the bigger factor.
How do I know if my photos are the problem?
Search Mercari for the same or similar item and look at recently sold listings. Compare your photos to theirs. If their photos are clearly better (cleaner, brighter, sharper), that's your answer.
Can better photos help me sell without dropping the price?
Yes. Professional-looking photos command higher prices because they build buyer confidence. Items with great photos consistently sell closer to asking price than those with poor photos.
How many photos should I include in a Mercari listing?
Use all available photo slots. Show the item from multiple angles - front, back, sides, close-ups of condition, brand labels, and any included accessories. Consistency across all photos matters.
Is EditThisPic's AI fix mercari photos that aren't getting offers really free?
Yes โ you get 1 free edit per week, no account needed. For unlimited edits, plans start at $3.99/month.
Can I mercari photos on my phone?
Yes. EditThisPic works in any mobile browser โ iPhone, Android, tablet. No app download needed.
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Upgrade Your Listing Photo