Where to Sell All of Your Sh*t: Reselling Designer Handbags // My Experience on Poshmark

All of this Marie Kondo-ing has me throwing and donating bags of clothing and home goods away. It’s satisfying to get rid of all of the old sh*t that has accumulated over the years but also a little embarrassing to see how much stuff you have. In terms of trends, decluttering and finding joy in your belongings is one I can get behind. As you begin to gather everything together, you’ll notice things begin falling into different categories. There are some items that are easy to part with – those should be thrown out or donated, no questions asked. Other items you may no longer find joy in, but are in perfectly acceptable (maybe even brand new!) condition.

You might not love them anymore. But you also don’t want to part with them sight unseen. This is where reselling can come in hand. Over the years, I’ve largely used Poshmark to sell old items, but every resale platform has its pros and cons. If you’re looking to resell some of your clothes and accessories, read on for the different options available, as well as my personal experience selling on Poshmark.

Options for Reselling

+ Poshmark

Poshmark has been my go-to platform for reselling. The reason I chose Poshmark is because of its ease to use as a seller. However, that’s not to say it doesn’t have its downsides. It definitely has its share of issues, which I’ve gone into more detail below. Overall, I’ve had a mostly positive experience using Poshmark, but that isn’t to say there aren’t other (better?) resale alternatives out there. I’ve had the best luck reselling very gently worn (aka basically new) clothing. Mid-range brands tend to perform best on the platform – think Free People, Michael Kors, etc. If it’s used or slightly defective, you will find either more trouble selling or deal with some serious low ballers. More on that later.

+ Consignment Stores

The fastest way to unload old clothing. There are tiers of consignment shops from your neighborhood Crossroads to a more high-end shop. Sometimes these stores will pay you outright for clothes. But you will find that they give you pennies on the dollar and will often turn away clothes with the tags still on them! They tend to be picky, but if you’re really in a rush to get rid of stuff, it’s the easiest way. Other shops will accept clothing that meets their standards and then pay you a cut of the sale once they are purchased. If you have more patience and space in your closet, I would recommend trying one of the digital platforms instead, as they tend to pay more than a physical consignment shop.

+ ThredUp

I’d definitely avoid ThredUp if possible. I fell for a promotion they offered over the holidays where they offered store credit to one of my favorite shops. I wasn’t sure how they assessed clothing, but I sent a box of about 15 items (in good condition, some had never even been worn) and only received $10 for the box. With ThredUp, they also don’t tell you which items they chose and will donate the pieces that did not get selected. If you want items that were not accepted to be returned, you pay an additional fee. Needless to say, I was disappointed – I would not use ThredUp again. If I had used Poshmark for those pieces, one item selling would have netted me what I got for the entire box.

+ Depop

Think Poshmark, but a little edgier. The seller gets a bigger cut (90% of sale vs. Poshmark’s 80%), but getting discovered on the platform is a little more difficult. You’ll find the quality of listings is slightly lower (a lot of sellers on Depop post only one or two photos, don’t list the brand or original price, and have vague descriptions of items). A good alternative if you’re not having great luck on Poshmark or have items that are of slightly lower value.

+ eBay

The original online marketplace. I’ve never personally used eBay, but it’s by far the most well known and reputable platform. If you’re looking for something, you’ll most likely find it on eBay. I’ve heard that patience is key when it comes to buying and selling on eBay.

+ Tradesy

I recently sold a couple of my designer handbags and did a ton of research in advance on some of the “luxury resale” platforms. Apparently fakes are an issue on several of the luxury resale platforms. They have in-house appraisers, but I’ve read on the Purse Forum that these are not always reliable. I looked into Tradesy but opted not to go through them. They take a similar cut as Poshmark and you do not get paid until an item sells.

+ The Real Real

As a buyer, I love the product available on The Real Real, but as a potential seller, I felt that the platform takes too high of a cut. As a seller, you only receive 55-60% of the sold price on most items. The process is relatively smooth, though, if you are looking for ease of use. Another important note – although you can get a quote for what your item is worth before you consign it, I did read some complaints online that most items are eligible for discounts and therefore sellers receive less of a commission than they were hoping.

My Experience on Poshmark

I have been a seller on Poshmark for several years, and it continues to be my go-to platform for reselling items from my closet.

The Pros:

+ Ease of use

Poshmark covers and pays for shipping, as a seller all you have to do is print out the label and attach it to your package. The simplicity of shipping alone is the main reason why I have continued to use Poshmark.

+ Earn cash

I love Poshmark as a way to make some money on some old clothes that I otherwise would not wear anymore. I love getting notes from happy buyers and knowing that my items are getting more love than they would have otherwise. It’s also better for the environment… ; )

+ Community

Overall, the community on Poshmark is positive and welcoming. Most people on the platform are friendly, and I haven’t had to deal with TOO many scammers. Unfortunately, there are some downsides with Poshmark that I’ve had to deal with.

The Cons:

+ Buyer friendly

I’ve definitely had my share of problematic buyers. From low ballers to buyers that leave one-star reviews for no reason, it definitely feels like Poshmark protects their buyers more than they do their sellers. I’ve had multiple items get returned by the buyer for no reason at all – Poshmark ALWAYS takes the buyer’s side, I’ve never had a case resolved in my favor.  Just something to beware of as a seller. You have to deal with a little extra hassle. Some buyers expect brand new clothes for 10% of the retail price – in my opinion, it’s a bit ridiculous. A little tip – if someone sends a low ball offer, it’s easier to just block them right away.

+ Not everything sells

Of course, not everything you list will sell. There is actually a lot of work and promotion that goes into selling items from your closet, which brings me to my next point…

+ Platform prioritizes heavy frequency users

I’ve noticed that when I’m not as active on the platform (sharing my own items and engaging with other closets), things from my own closet do not sell. In that sense, I suppose it’s like any other social media platform. The “algorithm” rewards heavy users and wants to promote the most active members. However, if you really value your time, you may be frustrated by how active you have to be on the platform in order to sell items from your closet.

At the end of the day, the pros outweigh the cons for me, and I have just been more careful about how I list and sell products on the platform. I was able to sell a couple designer bags that I no longer wore or found practical, including my Chloe Nile bag. Although I loved the bag’s design and shape, it simply wasn’t functional for me (my iPhone barely fit inside) and found myself rarely using it as a result. Now the hunt for a new off white/white bag begins!

Overall, reselling items has been a great way for me to recycle pieces from my closet and find them a new home. I’d rather have a more minimal, stream lined closet than feel like a hoarder and not be able to find anything in my closet. If something is no longer being worn and loved, it’s time in my mind to send it on its way. What has your experience reselling clothing and accessories been? xx

bodysuit: we are hah | jeans: grlfrnd | bag: chloe

belt: similar | shoes: chinese laundry