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Do You Need to Comment Before Buying on Mercari Japan?
What does sokukounyu OK mean on Mercari Japan? Learn when to ask about measurements or included parts, with Japanese question examples and tips for proxy buyers.
Written by Koetsu Co., Ltd.
If a Mercari Japan listing says sokukounyu OK (即購入OK), you do not need to leave a comment just to ask permission to buy. Mercari’s official purchasing guide confirms this. The useful next question is whether the listing already gives you the information you need to choose the item confidently.
Koetsu prepared this guide from information checked on 22 September 2026. It concerns ordinary Mercari listings. Do not assume that Mercari Shops or an overseas purchasing service uses the same inquiry workflow. First identify which storefront or service is presenting the item, especially if you arrived through a search result or translated shopping page.
Immediate purchase still calls for a careful read
Mercari’s official buying guide says transactions proceed with the first person to complete the purchase procedure. A comment does not reserve the item. “Senyou” and “torioki”, informal dedicated-listing or hold arrangements, are not official reservation functions, so asking a question does not guarantee the item will remain available.
A question is still worthwhile if you cannot tell whether the size is suitable or whether an accessory in a photo is included. Read the description to the end and inspect every photo first. Then ask about the specific gap, rather than sending a general request for information that the seller has already supplied.
Ask about a concrete missing detail
| What you need | Japanese example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Height including a hat | 帽子を含めた高さは何cmですか？ | How tall is it in centimetres, including the hat? |
| A pictured accessory | 写真のチェーンも付属しますか？ | Is the chain shown in the photo included? |
| An obscured area | 背面の状態が分かる写真はありますか？ | Is there a photo showing the condition at the back? |
For a shelf with limited clearance, “How tall is it including the hat?” is more useful than “Is it big?” You can begin with “Kounyu o kentou shite imasu” (購入を検討しています), meaning “I am considering buying it.” Explain what remains unclear after looking at the photos, so the question has a practical purpose.
Use these examples only when the listing has not already answered them. For a sealed collectible, first ask whether an outer label or tag provides the missing information before requesting opening. Extra photography or opening may not be available. If the uncertainty remains important, reconsider whether the item meets your purchasing requirements.
Keep comments focused; use the right channel after purchase
The official comment guide describes comments as a pre-purchase channel without image attachments. Personal information is prohibited and replies are not compulsory. Keep addresses and phone numbers out of your question, and do not interpret silence as agreement to a request.
After the purchase procedure, buyer–seller communication moves to transaction messages. Keeping track of the description or photo behind your question can help you explain the issue clearly. Separate questions about the item from administrative steps such as delivery details, and follow the relevant transaction screen for those steps.
Apply the check to a listing or proxy purchase
Our Kirby Hankyu mascot listing explicitly welcomes immediate purchases. That is an example where a permission-seeking comment is unnecessary. If a measurement you need is missing, ask about that instead, then read the condition, included items and dispatch terms together on the same listing before deciding.
If you use an overseas purchasing service, ask whether it can forward a question to the seller. Prepare the item URL and one concise question. Our proxy buying and forwarding comparison helps explain who acts as the buyer. Leaving a comment for a Japanese seller does not itself arrange international delivery.
Sources and further reading
- Mercari Help: pre-purchase comments(Checked: )
- Mercari official guide: buying and immediate-purchase FAQ(Checked: )
- Our listing example: Kirby Hankyu mascot(Checked: )
