What Is Poshmark?
I used clean out my closet and take all my unworn items to a thrift store once a year. That all changed the day I decided to try selling on Poshmark.
Poshmark is an online marketplace for used or resold clothing. It's a chance to turn your over-stuffed closet into cash, but it is a lot of work.
If you're considering selling on Poshmark, you might be wondering how difficult it is and whether you'll make any sales. Read on to learn all about my experience and some tips to get you started!
Poshmark Seller Review
Poshmark wasn't quite what I expected when I started out. It ended up being a lot of work just to sell items in my closet.
This is an overview of Poshmark and my experience of selling my own clothes on the site. I didn’t source the clothes or intend to run my Poshmark closet as a business. Sellers who use Poshmark as a full-time job might have a different perspective on the app.
Be sure to read about staying safe as a Posh seller before you get started. Then consider these pros and cons to decide whether it's for you.
Pros
- Easy shipping
- No listing fees
- Large, active market
Cons
- High fees (20%)
- Need to be active to sell
I didn't fully grasp all these pros and cons until I sold for a few months. Read on to learn more about each one and how it affected my sales and profits.
Is It Worth It?
Before we get into the details of each pro and con, let's talk about whether selling on Poshmark is worth it.
I know readers are wondering that and I found myself wondering it too!
A Poshmark closet needs constant attention. On top of that, listing items and taking good pictures and figuring out pricing is way more work than you realize.
Will Your Stuff Sell?
Even if you are willing to commit the time that doesn't mean you have the type of merchandise that will move. Most of the items you want to sell should be gently used or better. No stains, rips, or signs of wear. It's really hard to recoup money on an item if it has a flaw.
Next, the brands are really important. Well-known designer and business casual brands do great. Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, and Express tend to do well. For jeans, mid-range designers like Paige, 7FAM, and Hudson can turn a decent profit if they haven't been worn.
Should I Sell on Poshmark?
I find that selling clothes on Poshmark is worth it in these situations:
- You have at least 30 items that you can list.
- Most of your items are new or like-new and from popular brands.
- You enjoy making listings and taking photographs of your clothing.
Shipping With Poshmark
I listed "Easy Shipping" because Poshmark charges buyers a flat fee for shipping a provides a shipping label. All I had to was pack the clothes in a Priority Mail box and drop off at the post office.
As a seller on Poshmark, everything is easy about shipping, except how expensive it is for buyers. Thanks to Amazon, many online shoppers think free shipping is a given.
So Posh's whopping $7.11 shipping will deter a buyer considering a $10 used shirt. This was a contributing factor to why many of my $10–$15 dresses didn't sell.
Seller Fees (20%)
Poshmark takes a big chunk of every sale. They charge a 20% fee, which is nowhere near competitive. Mercari charges 10% and eBay fees come out to about 13% after PayPal.
But the high fees are justified if your listings are selling well. Some brands and trends go for a higher rate on Posh's market and make the fees worth it.
Thankfully, there are no listing fees on Posh. This is a big help to beginners who aren't sure if they have anything worth selling. There's no cost to try.
Sales Tax
Starting in March 2019, Poshmark charges all buyers for sales tax. You don't have to pay for it as a seller. But it can dissuade buyers to stay away from Posh.
Poshmark tries to be a social platform. Your closet has followers and you can share your listings with your followers. Search results on Poshmark list items in the order they were shared. So sharing your listings frequently is important to show up in search results.
That's why I listed "Need to Be Active to Sell" as a con. Staying active by self-sharing, sharing others' items, and listing new items is a lot of work. It takes interacting with the app at least a few times a day to stay competitive.
Large, Active Market
There is a good side to the high fees and need to be active: lots of buyers. How are those correlated? The high fees cover the large amount of advertising Poshmark does to drive buyers to their site (think about the last time you searched for clothing on Pinterest). Also, with the incentive for sellers to share often, there are a lot of women interested in fashion opening the app every day. Many of my buyers were sellers themselves.
I think my used clothing reached more eyes than they would if I listed them on eBay. Poshmark has a large following of women who are on there looking for deals and ready to make a purchase.
Can I Get Scammed Selling on Poshmark?
The answer is yes! Not only as a seller, but also as a buyer. Here are the most common scams and how to avoid them.
Seller: Item Is Not As Described
Even if you wrote a detailed description and took tons of high-quality photos, someone could demand a refund because the item was not as described. Because returns are not allowed on Poshmark, this is a common scam. To avoid this, take a video of the item from every angle and then film yourself packing it. If it's a very expensive item, you can even take a video of you dropping it off at the post office. If the buyer later says that there's a missing button, you can dispute it by showing them video evidence.
Buyer: Fake Product
If you see an expensive brand-name product for a bargain, it really may be too good to be true. Cross-reference pricing from elsewhere and make sure there are real photos of the product (not just screenshots from an online store).
Seller: Contact Me At __
Never, ever reply to someone in the comments who asks you to email them privately. Even if they promise a great offer or quick payment if you do. All buying and selling should be done via the app/website.
Buyer: Seller Wants Me to Pay Them Directly
Again, don't agree to make any transactions if they aren't recorded by Poshmark. Cancel the order and report the seller immediately.
It is easy to avoid scams on Poshmark if you can see the signs. Buyers and sellers should always check out the profile and reviews of whoever they are dealing with to make sure that they are legit and have a good track record.
Why Isn't My Stuff Selling?
Are you having trouble selling your items? Here are some things you can do to better your odds of landing that sale:
1. Reevaluate your pricing
Check how much similar items are going for on Poshmark to evaluate whether your asking price is too high.
2. Make more offers
Make offers to Likers to encourage sales. Offers only last for 24 hours, so they may be more inclined to nab that deal.
3. Be receptive to offers
Don't just reject every offer coming in. You have bargaining power here and if the buyer is really interested, they'll meet you somewhere in the middle.
4. Offer bundle discounts
Clean out your closet faster and give buyers a discount while doing it.
5. Repost your listings
If a listing has been sitting for too long, delete and repost it to get a higher chance of being seen.
6. Check the quality of your listings
Do most of your listings fall in the $10–$20 range? Poshmark's shipping cost is quite high ($7.11), so it may not be worth it for someone to buy a $10 shirt.
7. Provide detailed descriptions
The more info the better! Provide measurements, flaws, how it fits, why you are selling it, and whether it still has tags.
9. Provide high-quality cover images
When buyers are browsing, an attractive image is what will make your listing stand out from the crowd.
10. Create more listings
The more listings you have, the more exposure you'll get!
Selling on Poshmark: The Bottom Line
After six months of casually selling my clothes on Poshmark, I learned quite a bit. I listed 48 items from my closet and sold 14 so far, which earned me $210 after fees. Though it has its drawbacks, I would certainly recommend Poshmark for the right situations.
Due to the high, flat-rate shipping cost, Posh isn't the best for items worth $15 or under. This counts out low-quality brands and heavily used items.
It's worth knowing that Poshmark is by no means a "list it and forget it" site. You have to share daily to get your items seen.
Alternative Clothing Markets
If you're not having luck on Poshmark or hate the high fees, take a look at my review of selling on Mercari. I wasn't quite as successful as I was on Poshmark, but I think there's some money to be made there with the right approach.
What do you think of Poshmark as a buyer or a seller? Do you agree with my assessment? Let me know!
© 2018 Katy Medium
Christine on April 07, 2020:
Your assessment is pretty much what I'd experienced - I was enthused with Poshmark, at first. I still like the company, the app (which is EASY) - but I have been rather disappointed because, despite my items being of fine quality (some of which are NEW/NEVER USED - listed at over 85% off the retail price - they don't well. I get the impression that Poshmark as thousands of young women who are just having fun on the site, sharing/liking, etc. - but they don't have ANY MONEY to SPEND. I was interested in selling on Poshmark because I have some really nice Italian-made bags, from major designers, like Bruno Magli and Mark Cross) - and they STILL DO NOT SELL. I did sell an costume bracelet for $4.00! Also, most of the time, when I get a customer who is interested in an item, they counter offer me 1/2 of my listed price! I feel "nickel & dimed". I have come to the conclusion that used items will NEVER earn any money for a seller. This is not Poshmark's fault, but I think their browsing clientele do not recognize high-end quality, and even if they did - they cannot afford even the price on Poshmark - which is at least ridiculously reasonable for my stuff. I see others who list high prices of their designer items - I always wonder if they ever sell those items for the price that they're asking. Just my two cents!
Donna on April 06, 2020:
Wow, glad I read all this. I really don't like scammers with bad customer service. I was just getting ready to list 50 items with Poshmark. Now I'm completely rethinking it.
Claire on March 22, 2020:
I have purchased and sold on Poshmark. I am not happy with the customer service. I have had products shipped to me that were not what was advertised. I complained to Poshmark and was told that I had to keep it. I have also sold on Poshmark and had an item ordered back to me because the person bought something that they changed their mind after the fact. The service was very poor for the high cost. I do not recommend.
MagicdancerHyed on February 24, 2020:
Slow to direct deposit money. They opened a case for me and did rule in my favor after a buyer claimed that the luxury item she bought was not as described by me .Not true. My money was supposedly released but must be in limbo, because it is nowhere to be found. If you are looking for smooth sailing and a timely turnaround, forget it!
Zephyr on February 06, 2020:
Iv had problems with people buying prestine luxury jewelry from me then saying to poshmark i did not pack my item properly and was damaged showing false packaging and being able to return. Remember we sellers will not get paid till they receive and approve item waiting over a week and if there is a dispute even longer Before you see a dime and also there is no direct customer service number this company is surviving on commissions i hope the owner of company is enjoying her nice big house because this company will not last with this kind of customer service
Kimberly Fujioka on November 30, 2019:
I sell on Poshmark. It is very difficult. There are “ways around” the 10% off for Likes. You can bundle an item that a buyer likes then you can choose what if any reduction you want.
Buyers can leave negative feedback even if it’s made up (lie).
Gina Jackson on October 25, 2019:
Thank you for the great insights and article. I am new to Posh and would like to start a Boutique on the platform. I can see the pros and cons but if my new merchandise sells and I am not discounting it then I can absorb the 20% for the mass audience they have. The challenge I am having is...my customer is upscale over 40(is this the best app or is it meant for a younger user) also, I am not a bargain seller, I sell brand new items that I have made or curated. I would like to hire someone to help me-let me!
Michele presciank on July 26, 2019:
I had a situation where a buyer rated my item counterfit and not authentic after I shipped to them.i was externally offended and Poshmark , who “studied “ the case ended up believing the buyer . Even if I sent them multiple photos and proof it was not a counterfit product, because I had no receipt they didn’t believe me. They have no experience and they don’t know how to differentiate a fake vs authentic product. Poshmark does not deserve my buisness after this. I have tried to talk to someone, there is no one I can email, call, so I am trying to think it is a big scam that is just taking money from you.
Amber on July 21, 2019:
As a seller, I have an issue that I have emailed Poshmark about, 3X, with the continual 10% reduction rule to 'likers'. Often what happens is that you are made to reduce your item below cost with that rule, if you want to move it at all, and as a business like any other, Poshmark doesn't mind one bit if you have to do that as they get paid for every sale you make. They said I had a "very valid point" and that they would basically look into it. This rule needs to change. It is angering, to say the very least.
jessestuff on May 13, 2019:
Poshmark is a big scam! They have no phone listed or corporate office address listed probably because they would get shut down. I got ripped off trying to buy a Louis Vuitton they say they guarantee that you are getting authentic on their website, but unfortunately when you buy a fake purse for hundreds of dollars. they open a case and then avoid you and never refund you money! Read their reviews online it's a scam.
