Top Picks for Peddling Pre-Owned Clothing and Household Knickknacks Online
Ready to purge and profit? Sell that old junk and make room in your crib, plus score a little extra cash! I've put in work, tried out numerous resale apps, and have the lowdown on the top platforms for flogging your stuff.
This venture didn't just help me declutter, but I've been able to buy new items too, following the "one in, one out" decluttering method. Selling items and using the earnings to purchase new goodies is a perfect way to keep things tidy without breaking the bank.
Here are some tips to help you out:
- Don't list something unless you'd actually part with it if it sold. I've felt the sting of regret when itching to get rid of something yet unwilling to let go when a buyer snaps it up. To avoid this, list stuff you genuinely don't mind getting rid of. If you're fond of something, list it at a price that may discourage buyers, giving you the chance to negotiate offers as needed.
- Don't list something if you really need it out of sight. You can't control how fast something sells, even if undervalued or promoted every day. If removing items from your home slows your decluttering process, consider consignment shops or donating valuable items instead.
- Be careful when using items while they're listed. A scuff or stain can decrease value, and you'll need to update the listing. Misrepresenting an item will land you in hot water, potentially hurting your seller rating.
- Snap multiple pictures for maximum exposure. You don't need fancy tech or equipment, just present items nicely without cluttering the background. Take shots from multiple angles, close-ups of damage, and details like branding or serial numbers.
- Respond to inquiries and be open to offers. Most of the time, you won't get your asking price, but reasonable offers or price reductions can help you get rid of things quickly.
- Research comparable items to price yours competitively. This will help your listing stand out and might even speed up the sales process.
- Stay organized when listing items on multiple apps. Keep track of each listing and remove them promptly when they sell to avoid duplicate sales or negative impacts on your seller rating.
- Watch out for scammers when buying. Communicate with buyers through the provided in-app messaging system, and never conduct transactions outside the app.
A neat app that makes selling easier is Vendoo. It allows you to create and post listings on numerous marketplaces, such as Poshmark, Vestiaire Collective, Depop, and Mercari, all from one spot. This cross-listing capability improves your odds of finding a buyer since these apps attract varying user bases. Another helpful app is PrimeLister, great for Poshmark users, as it automates tasks like sharing listings on landing pages and with followers. Both apps cost a monthly fee, but they can save you time and boost your sales.
Now, let's dive into the best apps for selling clothes and accessories:
Poshmark - Perfect for Most
Poshmark is my go-to app when selling pretty much anything. When you sell, you keep 80% of the sales as long as they're over $15. For anything under $15, you pay a 2.95% fee. Fear not when receiving offers lower than your asking price, as you can accept, decline, or counter the offers.
Listing is super simple, although creating listings outside of the app using a third-party service like Vendoo can make the process even quicker. Potential buyers can "like" items, allowing you to send private discount offers to interested parties all at once. Lowering the price of an item is easy, too. You can also share listings to "parties" matching the item's description. For example, Poshmark hosts luxury bag parties, which you can join when they happen to boost your bag listings' visibility.
Staying active and engaged is essential on Poshmark, as negotiations can ensue, and users expect quick responses. Regular activity also builds a positive seller reputation.
With Poshmark, you can sell everything from designer goods to everyday apparel. Selling high-end items can be hit or miss, as buyers are less confident in unsanctioned purchases and may lowball you. Lower-end items, like Lululemon, Uggs, or Skims, make great sales on Poshmark.
Making a sale on Poshmark is a breeze, as the app generates a QR code for you to present at the post office. The shipping fee is paid by the buyer, and you don't have to worry about printing labels or shipping boxes. Once the item's delivered and buyer confirmation is received, the money magically appears in your account balance. You can transfer this balance into your bank account or use it in-app for new purchases.
Vestiaire Collective - Maximize Profits
Vestiaire Collective specializes in luxury goods but often includes other quality items, like Gymshark. The app authenticates most items before shipping, offering increased peace of mind when selling high-ticket items. You pay a 10% fee and a 3% payment processing fee on every sale, although the first sale is usually free. Vestiaire Collective often runs specials, providing fee waivers on certain brands.
As with other apps, buyers can send offers, but you have two days to respond, unlike Poshmark's 24-hour limit. Once you accept an offer, the buyer has an additional two days to complete the purchase.
Vestiaire Collective-sold items don't come with a convenient QR code, needing you to print the label, buy a box or envelope, and ship it yourself. Delivering the cash to your bank account takes time, too, as items need to be authenticated by Vestiaire Collective staff before shipping to buyers. Expect global shipping delays, as buyers come from all over the world.
TheRealReal - Fancier Items
TheRealReal only deals with luxury, designer items. Much of the process resembles consignment, as items are authenticated, and the percentage you receive depends on your loyalty tier.
They take charge of pricing luxury items, making this app more suitable for items worth more than the fees. You can also sell to TheRealReal in exchange for store credit and let them handle selling the items. Use this app if you have pricey luxury items to sell, but be aware of it being more complicated than other options.
Depop - Versatility and Variety
Depop thrives on selling anything, high-end items, or everyday apparel. There are no listing fees, but you pay a 10% fee for every sale. It's easy to list items due to Depop's auto-fill features, making the listing process quick and painless.
Beware of lower-quality items, fake goods, and fierce competition. To optimize sales, set deadlines, as slow-selling items can hinder your decluttering efforts.
Mercari - Set-It-and-Forget-It Sales
New to reselling? Give Mercari a try! This app's intuitive interface makes listing a breeze. Simply add photos, title, description, and hashtags, and voila! You're ready to sell. Mercari even handles discounting if items don't sell quickly by lowering the price automatically.
A minor downside is the buyer's fee, introduced in January 2025. This fee ranges from 6.6% to 3.5% depending on the final price. Fees can affect your profit margin, so consider this when pricing your items.
- Embracing technology advancements, I've discovered the best apps for selling clothes like Vendoo, which helps create and post listings on numerous marketplaces, including Poshmark and Vestiaire Collective, from a single platform.
- Poshmark is an ideal app for selling a variety of items, offering 80% of sales proceeds, minus fees for items priced below $15. This platform not only enables listing goods easily, but it also allows for discount offers to interested buyers through its "likes" feature.
- For maximum profits, consider using Vestiaire Collective, an app that specializes in luxury goods, offering increased peace of mind with item authentication before shipping. However, prepare for shipping and payment processing fees of up to 13%.
- If you've amassed fancier items, The RealReal is the best choice, but keep in mind that their authentication and sequential pricing model may take a higher percentage of your sales.
- Depop provides versatility and variety, catering to both high-end and everyday apparel. This app doesn't charge listing fees, but a 10% selling fee is deducted from each transaction.
- Mercari is an excellent starting point for beginners due to its user-friendly interface and automatic price reduction for slow-moving inventory, while potential buyers' fees introduced in January 2025 may impact your profit margin.
