Ricardo vs. marko - Which secondhand marketplace suits you better?

Items on the platform

Ricardo is a general marketplace, while marko focuses on fashion, electronics and home. Most users on marko are below the age of 30, while Ricardo has an older average user base - this is also reflected in the types of items you’ll find on each platform.

Buying journey

Ricardo is mostly auction-based and you usually pay the sellers directly via cash or bank transfer, while marko offers you one-click buying and on-platform payments by credit or debit card and TWINT. Both platforms offer comments if you have additional questions about an item or want to negotiate on the price.

Buyer Protection

Ricardo’s buyer protection guides you through different steps to get your money back, while marko’s buyer protection is integrated into the transaction process. On Ricardo, you mostly pay directly to the sellers: If you get scammed, Ricardo will guide outline the legal steps you can take. If you’ve sent two reminders, withdrew from the purchase contract in writing, and still didn’t get your item from the seller, you can submit an application to Ricardo to get the purchase price reimbursed, 30-60 days after the end of the transaction, for up to CHF 250. On marko, all transactions are handled via the platform, and the money only gets paid out, once the transaction is completed. That way, we can protect both buyers and sellers from fraud: if the item never arrives or is not as advertised, you receive your money back without any hassle.

Seller Protection

On Ricardo, similar to the buyer protection, sellers can submit an application for reimbursement if they haven’t received money from the buyer, 30-60 days after the sale, up to CHF 250.-. On marko, you don’t need to worry about receiving your money. As soon as your item gets purchased, the payment from the buyer gets reserved. Once the transaction is completed, we will automatically issue the payout to your bank account. This ensures that you will always get paid for your secondhand sales.

Shipping

In addition to custom shipping and pick-up, both Ricardo and marko offer a third, integrated shipping option. With marko Easy Shipping, we send you a shipping kit with a marko-tag and the pre-printed stick-on label: All you have to do is stick it on your parcel, put it in your mailbox, attach the marko-tag and the Post picks it up - everything for CHF 7.-. With Ricardo, you have the option to buy and print the shipping label at home. Shipping prices start from CHF 8.50, depending on the size and weight of the parcel, and will be charged directly to your Ricardo account balance. In both cases, the buyer receives a tracking number.

Do you love the seller’s style? - Follow

Seller profiles on Ricardo are rather anonymous, whereas on marko you can see who you are buying from and check out their social media. However, you can follow profiles on both platforms, to stay informed about new items they are selling.

Platform fees

Both Ricardo and marko charge a fee on every transaction. On Ricardo, sellers get invoiced between 8-12% of the item price, depending on the category. On marko, we believe that sellers should be rewarded for sharing their style, so the fee is split between buyers and sellers: Whenever you sell an item on marko, a fee of CHF 1 + 1.9% of the item price will automatically be deducted from your payout, and buyers will be charged 5% for the buyer protection. All charges are clearly labeled and marko will only collect once the transaction is completed - if a buyer returns the item, you will not be charged any fee.
If for example, you sell a jacket for CHF 50, the fees would be CHF 6.- on Ricardo vs. CHF 1.95 on marko.

Conclusion:

Now it’s up to you to decide where you want to buy and sell your items. Which platform suits you best? What age is your target community? Do you prefer auctions or immediate purchases? How important are ease of use, security or the cost of fees for you? If you choose marko, we are looking forward to you becoming a part of our community!
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