Any hints for shopping on resale sites? - YouLookFab Forum

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Any hints for shopping on resale sites?

Peri

Veteran

I'm thinking sites like posh mark and the real real? It has occurred to me that if what I'm looking for is not quite in style anymore, maybe I'll find it at resale as more trendy people dump their older clothes!

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23 replies

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Vildy

Veteran

No experience with RealReal. Of the others, Ebay is more professional and tends to favor the buyer. I find Poshmark and Mercari moodier.
For example, you may buy something and then after 3 days the site has to remind them to ship. Also returns for cause are hard on Poshmark.
You have to open a case and submit photos of what was not disclosed.
I have done it successfully several times.

All of those sites, though, are good for being able to see or request the exact measurement you are interested in.

In many cases, you can buy something else from the vendor and get only one shipping cost. You can also ask for a further reduction on those items before you commit to buy. You can usually ask for a reduction on just one item, but less often on ebay.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I have bought and sold on theRealReal (TRR) for 10 years and have bought and sold on Ebay even longer and bought on Poshmark. What would you like to know ? Seriously there are tips but it depends on how specific the thing you want is, both in terms of label and condition.

You can get great bargains on all three but each has its own tricks for searching and understanding their listings. Also all three allow you to save favorites. TRR regularly lowers prices, Poshmark sellers will sometimes make you lower offers after you like their items, Ebay has started doing that too. TRR and Ebay have saved search functions so you can easily find updated listings of your item. Another thing to check for is whether the item is returnable. Let me know what your specific concerns are and I will try to answer.

Joy

Veteran

Hints: try everything on. The size is just a number and the piece may have had alterations. Shop with your hands. Feel fabrics to find quality. Do not shop with sales googles on. Be practical. Will it work with what you have? If needed, bring your own pieces that you are trying to complete. Avoid place holders. Buy only what you love. Be patient, the right piece will turn up. Shop often.

I have no experience with online shopping but have done shopping at brick and motel hand shops in various cities. Most of my wardrobe is now second hand. Know your size in some brands like Chicos, It is helpful to have a starting point, it is helpful to have a size range.

RobinF

Veteran

I have purchased on Poshmark and Thredup.

With Poshmark the problem is you can't return (unless the item was posted incorrectly) so if it doesn't fit you're out of luck. I have not purchased high priced items for that reason. I have found that I have the best luck searching when I am pretty specific, otherwise it's a big hodge podge of stuff.

Thredup has tons too and you can return but they charge a restocking fee and the return period is short. I found originally that there were no measurements (and as far as I know you can't request any) and the pictures were very few and not good. I think they now post some measurements.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

TRR is the most return-friendly that I’ve found so far. They’re better with measurements and authentication of expensive designer items, but the photos of clothing items are often less than totally helpful, as they all seem to be photographed on the same small mannequin, not an actual human body.

Poshmark is good if you know your size and exactly what you’re looking for. You can ask questions of the seller (which can be very enlightening — I’ve learned some sellers never respond, and I will never buy from those). I’ve had very good experience there duplicating beloved but discontinued items, and also with some accessory purchases. When something hasn’t been quite right, I’ve had good success with re-selling it on Poshmark (they do make it pretty easy to do that), recouping most of my cost.

Roberta

Veteran

I have had the most success when I know exactly what I want. For example, the item that sold out in my size but will appear on eBay in about six months. Or, a brand that reliably fits me in a particular textile or color; Talbots cashmere sweater XL, Pilcro pants 30, NYDJ Marilyn jeans 12. You can save searches so eBay will keep looking for you.

I have not found eBay helpful for more expensive brands like Johnny Was or Farm Rio, at least the prices haven't been low enough to please me! BUT I have bought sooo many coats on eBay for fantastic prices. Leather jackets, all wool coats, etc.

Look carefully at measurements and know your own. Look at fabric content. All the things you would do in the store.

Peri

Veteran

Thanks for all the suggestions. I am looking for very specific things and I guess my question is in three parts:

1) How to wade through all the offerings. I'm looking for sleeveless tunics in a knit (jersey? I don't know the right fabric words) so they would have some stretch, but with some artistic and flowing design elements like an assym hem, that are machine washable and not heavy. Specifically, I'm looking to add to a dance coaching wardrobe when the style I want is rare in stores anymore.

Some of my past favorites have been from Karen Kane so I went on Poshmark and searched for Karen Kane sleeveless tunics. Once on that page I didn't see a way to specify fabric and I didn't see washing info on anyone's post, so I still had to wade through a lot of things. So...hints for searching better? I did see exactly what I wanted...a version of one I have in a different print...but it wasn't in my size.

2) How do I trust a seller? That's a good hint from Janet to communicate with them to see how they respond. And also good information from many of you that Poshmark doesn't take returns. I didn't know that.

3) Trust again I guess...is there some agreed upon criteria for condition? New with tags is a cinch, but what separates "like new" from "excellent", and how low would you go?

Thanks!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Peri, Jonesy did this thread on TRR a while back. Might be of interest.

https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....a-60-shirt

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Good questions!
1. I find Poshmark's search to be the least friendly. I might try putting
"knit, sleeveless, asymmetric tunic." Also try using "artsy sleeveless knit top" and "ballet core sleeveless top". Ballet core is a popular aesthetic and sellers will put those keywords in their listings. I would also try those keywords in Ebay, and if you are really ambitious just straight into google to see if there are any other labels that make the sort of thing you want. You can refine searches for sizes as well, or add them to your descriptor.
2. Ebay has a long established rating system for sellers. On poshmark I look at their other offerings and feedback (which is less easy to find than on Ebay) and try to figure out if they are a serious reseller that is concerned with their reputation or just an occasional seller. Agree that preliminary conversation is a good testing point.
3. The most important way to judge quality is to carefully examine the pictures and description. Do not buy anything that only shows you stock photos (photos grabbed from the web site of the retailer)! The more pictures the better. I would put less stock in the seller's claims than the pictures for sure!
As for theRealReal, definitely look at Jonesy's thread and I also posted some tips here https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....d-trr-tips .
Once you narrow down some designers that make what you are looking for you might find some bargains there.
Hope that helps! Always up for my questions on this topic!

Sal

Veteran

I purchase online in NZ through our equivalent of Trade Me.

I find it best for
- handbags - awesome as no fit is needed
- blazers from brands I know the sizing

I look at reviews (ratings and comments) from previous shopper. To be honest I am not spending huge amounts of money - so I am prepared to take my chances a small amount - if I was buying more expensive pieces I take more care but mostly it is more like $50-$70.

I thinking knowing the brand is really helpful.

April

Veteran

Regarding TRR: ALWAYS scroll down and click on "Returns and Exchanges" because it's up to the seller whether they will accept them or not. If they do accept returns, note that the window to get your return shipped is reasonable but not huge.

That said, I love TRR. I've gotten many nice pieces from them and the few times I've been disappointed, it was my own fault (for not checking whether returns were accepted or not.)

kkards

Veteran

Peri —assuming that you still a top that you love, might I suggested working from that. Ie take a photo and use it in goggle search. It should bring up tops that are the exact same or very similar, and it’s a easy way to find it’s in the secondary market without having to filter thru pages and pages…now you will still need to decide if the item meets your requirements ie condition and price, but at least you got to the item faster. example I have the really old top, I googled photo search it, the 1st 3 results are the exact top, and then it save me a number of tops that are similar.

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Peri

Veteran

Thanks for the great information everyone! Jaime and Suz, very helpful links! I missed those threads last year or didn't pay attention to them as I've always had weird feelings about wearing someone else's clothes. I've decided to try and get over that because I have a real need that retail isn't filling at this time.

It seems like I'm getting an almost consensus that TRR is the most buyer friendly and maybe the best place for me to start. I need to dip a toe in, not dive in head first. I'm always a baby steps kind of person.

kkards...thanks! I don't know how to do that but I can learn!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Peri, I will add that you are out $25 each time you buy and return from TRR. $12.50 each way, and that's living in the US. I am very used to, and spoiled with free shipping!!! So there is that.

Also, I've had some "FINAL SALE" items bite me in the bottom, which I could do nothing about - but have items altered to fit. I didn't know they were final sale! So make sure you read better than I do

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh! Yes, that is a good reminder from Angie about the shipping costs from TRR. It’s the reason why I’ve tended to order multiple items at a time — increasing my chances one will work and justify the expense more than multiple small orders with separate shipping charges. It’s worked out well so far.

Vildy

Veteran

You know, Peri, with the rate at which people buy and return it's awfully hard not to be wearing "someone else's clothes", eh.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

I shop (and sell) mainly on Poshmark and eBay, although I have used TRR and Threadup.

I'm going to post some shopper-side pros and cons of everything I've experienced on these four sites, but I'll do a separate comment for each platform.

Poshmark
Pros:

One set shipping price that is generally lower than eBay and TRR, and sometimes the seller will lower the shipping or offer it for free.

You can communicate easily and directly with the seller with any questions - but I'll usually @sellersname to get their attention in comments, if I have a question about the item.

It's easy to get comps and information on an item - i.e., if I do a search for a pricey Anthropologie blouse that I saw online and fell in love with last year, and still dream about - but I search and see there are a bunch of them listed now on Posh, it tells me that people bought this and unloaded it quickly... why?... and then I can look at all the different photos and see if there's an issue. I've walked away from a lot of online purchases in this way.

I find the filters pretty easy to use.

Cons:

That set shipping price of around $7-8 is a bit pricey if you're buying something small and light, such as a NIB mascara, or hosiery.

When searching, the default sorting is "just shared", so you have to set it to something else, such as "just in" or sort by price, otherwise the same items keep popping up as you scroll down the search.

The site is final sale, so to return something, you have to file a complaint and prove the item isn't what the seller presented.

Sizing filters are a little tricky to negotiate, as they only give you a preset number of sizes you can save in each category. (There are workarounds, so if anyone needs help, dm me)

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

eBay
Pros

Easy to communicate with the seller

eBay usually favors the buyer in disputes over returns

Many sellers offer returns. Some offer free shipping, or less expensive shipping alternatives.

The search filters are great and easy to use.

You can shop internationally on eBay, if the seller offers it, and you're willing to pay the shipping from another country.

Sellers are rated, so if someone has a 96% or higher, and a lot of sales, you know they're going to be pretty reliable.

Cons

Shipping can be exorbitant, because the seller gets to dictate what they want to sell it for.

eBay will keep tossing up promoted items into your search feed.

It's very rare that I get something I am not happy with, from eBay or Poshmark.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

The RealReal (aka, "TRR")
Pros:

You can score some incredible, high-end designer pieces for a song. I have a pair of black lace Dolce & Gabbana pumps that are beautiful little works of art, and I paid $100 for them, including shipping. I will keep them always.

The search filters are easy to use

Cons:

The shipping costs are high.

The measurements aren't always correct

The descriptions aren't always accurate, including conditions, so ALWAYS expand the photos and view on a laptop. I've come across a lot of listings where the clothes are stained or there are dings in the heels of shoes - not mentioned in the listing - that are easily viewable in the photos.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

ThredUp

Pros

They have amazing sales

Great search filters

Rewards points that can be applied to shipping

Cons

The measurements aren't always accurate

The items are not always in the condition that was listed, and it's hard to see any issues in the photographs.

They will spam you with sales emails periodically, even if you've indicated your mailing preferences.

They can be pricey on "good" items that aren't actually high-end, and you don't have the negotiating wiggle-room that you have with Posh or eBay.

TBH, I don't shop ThredUp anymore. I've had a few good purchases, but I've had at least three items that were stained, had odors, or very different measurements from what was provided. When I looked at returns, the site indicated that the buyer pays return shipping. So I washed, stain-lifted, and donated. It just wasn't worth the time to argue with the company. I would rather just go to a local secondhand or thrift shop and do my shopping there.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

Okay, so actual shopping hints:

Use the search filters and keywords!

What are you looking for? Use those keywords in your search. For example, I've been looking for leather pumps in cognac. So I might type in, "Cognac Leather Heels" or "Toffee Leather Pumps".

If I get a lot of 'chaff' in the search, I might amend to "genuine leather cognac heels", etc.

Sizes: Poshmark, TRR, and ThredUp let you save your sizes. eBay doesn't save your sizes from one visit to the next, but it only takes a moment to select a category (say, women's skirts), and select your sizes there.

It also helps to know your current measurements. If you're unsure whether are skirt or jeans will fit, take the measurements on your current favorites that fit you well, and look at the fabric content on your item, and the item that you want to buy. Are both items stretch? Are both items non-stretch? It can help you figure out whether you'll get a good fit.

Also remember that if you're shopping vintage, the sizing was different prior to Y2K. The size 8 of the 1990s, is now the size 4 of today.

Sort: Decide how you want to sort your search. By price? By best match (on eBay)? By "Just in"? I've been shopping on eBay for nearly twenty years now (!!!), so eBay has me mapped pretty well, I think. So I'll often use "Best Match" to sort there, and set a price limit on what I want to spend.

Poshmark defaults to "just shared", which means sellers can re-share their items into the feed, which means you may see the same listing pop up again and again. So for Poshmark, I'll usually sort "just in" or "low to high".

Other filters that I frequently use are Color, Brand, Style, and depending on what I'm buying, the Condition (new, new with tags, new with defects, pre-owned, etc.)

Just a quick reminder again, that if you're on a set shopping budget, all of these sites allow you to set an upper price limit.

Anyway... I hope this helps!

Peri

Veteran

Angie and Janet, thanks for the shipping cost warnings! Vildy, thanks for the humor!

Mary Beth, wow! Big thank you for the significant amount of advice and information! I will go back in well armed and motivated later today.

Anonymous

Great information here! Fingers crossed for your shopping adventures