Some people are trying their best to live more sustainably these days.
One way you can minimize production is by buying vintage, up-cycled, and secondhand stuff.
Of course, used clothes are a big part of this.
Fashionistas are always searching for a good bargain, leading to an upward trend in reselling clothes.
This is where you come in.
There are so many online marketplaces where people can buy and sell gently-used, brand-new apparel.
Two major players are ThredUP and Poshmark, the platforms we will discuss in this post.
The goal is to find the best venue for your reselling business so you can make the most out of your time and money.
Sound good?
Then, let’s get started.
ThredUP 101
ThredUp has been around since 2009.
Their goal is to lower the fashion industry’s carbon footprint.
They partner with more than 1,400 well-known brands and always keep more than 2.5 million products in stock.
Its vendors must ship in cleanout bags full of gently worn items, including garments, shoes, and accessories.
Of course, these items must be free from stains, odors, tears, and missing buttons.
ThredUP then sifts through these shipments to discover the highest-quality items and then sells them online at a steep discount.
Items at ThredUP usually go for around 50% of their original price!
Poshmark 101
Poshmark is a slightly newer player, founded in 2011.
It’s another “consignment shop” that boasts over 70 million members in the US, Canada, and Australia.
As with many other companies, it began as a modest store specializing in the sale of clothing for women.
Today, it also offers men, kids, and your furry friends!
Poshmark is a straightforward platform where users can buy and sell clothing items with a photo, a brief description, and a set price. That’s it.
Being a social media app, Poshmark suggests people you may want to follow based on who you already know through Facebook.
It also has a basic shipping process.
A printable shipping label is sent to your inbox, and you take the parcel to the post office from there.
ThredUP vs Poshmark: The Key Differences
What You Can Sell
Let’s start with the basics, shall we?
Let’s first address what items you can sell on these platforms.
ThredUP
ThredUP’s selection of items for sale isn’t as extensive as Poshmarks.
Still, you can offload clothing like:
- Women’s clothing and accessories
- Kids’ clothing and accessories
- Designer clothing and accessories
- Maternity clothes
- Plus-size clothes
- Shoes
As you can see, ThredUP is more limited in terms of the demographic that they cater to.
Poshmark
Sellers on Poshmark are encouraged to stock their “closets” with products from the following categories, both new and lightly used:
- Women’s clothing and accessories
- Men’s clothing and accessories
- Kids’ clothing and accessories
- Pet clothing and accessories
- Shoes
- Makeup
- Electronics
- Home goods
Apparel, shoes, purses, and sneakers for women make up many of the most viewed items on Poshmark.
However, the market is still quite varied.
An Essential Read: Don’t FORGET to bookmark the post below!
Best Places To Sell Shoes Online.
The Selling Process
Okay, now to the meat of the matter.
What’s the selling process like on both platforms?
ThredUP
Right off the bat, ThredUP’s selling process is far more efficient than Poshmark’s.
They handle most of the work, so you don’t have to.
Obtaining a clean-out kit from ThredUp is going to be your first step.
Depending on how quickly you need to sell your items, you can choose from several different pricing tiers, the cheapest of which is free.
Afterward, you’ll pack this bag with the items you want to sell and return it to ThredUP.
They prepay for all the shipping costs!
ThredUP will examine the contents of your bag to determine what they can sell.
For an additional $9.99, you can get a return guarantee if you so choose.
You will get your stuff right back to you.
If you want the clothes off your hands, they can recycle them.
After that point, it’s all up to the platform. ThredUP will photograph your items on mannequins and promote them for you.
An algorithm determines the prices, but there are ways to ensure you get the most profit possible.
Poshmark
If you have a lot of clothes to sell, the Poshmark selling process can be time-consuming.
You are in charge of nearly every facet of the sales procedure.
It can take up to fifteen minutes per item to go through the entire process.
You’ll have to take high-quality images, upload them to the app, and write a brief description.
That might not seem long, but what if you had to do it for a hundred garments?
Maybe you like this level of control.
With Poshmark, you’ll have your whole inventory at your disposal.
Your responsibility is to keep your clothing organized and photograph it so that it looks good in the app.
Seller Fees
This is another big one to consider: the seller fees.
The costs associated with a sale can add up quickly, from the initial listing price to the final transaction.
So, it’s best to clearly understand what to expect before you sign on with either platform.
ThredUP
The pricing structure on ThredUP is a little tricky.
You can get as much as 80% of the retail price back with high-end and designer labels.
With more affordable labels, you can get 60% off.
You can still try sending in your low-priced brand items, but, likely, they won’t be approved.
On the upside, this site does not charge fees to list your items.
Poshmark
The fees on Poshmark can be a bit high, but at least they are transparent enough that you know exactly what you’re paying.
Depending on the value of the items you’re selling, these are the two rates:
- Items under $15: flat commission of $2.95
- Items over $15: 20% commission
You don’t have to pay any account or listing fees here.
Ease of Use
While a sizable income might be your top priority, that may not be enough compensation for the time and effort you spend listing, promoting, and selling your items.
Let’s determine which platform is more worth your time by learning how simple it is
ThredUP
There’s a lot less hassle to selling your clothes through ThredUP.
Just throw your items in a bag and send them on their way!
It’s worth noting that unless you’re selling some incredibly high-priced products, you probably won’t make much money on ThredUP.
You would probably earn more if you listed the same items on Mercari or eBay.
Plus, if an item sells, processing the product may take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, so you shouldn’t expect to receive payments immediately.
Poshmark
Selling items on Poshmark is a time-consuming endeavor.
To sell your items, you must first photograph, describe, and send them out to buyers (probably the easiest part).
You may have to wait a while to sell your stuff, making it difficult if you need to earn quickly.
One helpful strategy is to participate in “selling parties” on Poshmark.
These are essentially groups dedicated to specific labels or categories of goods, where sellers may list their offerings and potential purchasers can peruse away.
If diving into eBay and Mercari selling intrigues you, the following posts are a must-read!
Buying And Selling In Mercari.
Payout Options
What if the money starts rolling in?
Well, ThredUP and Poshmark provide multiple payment options should your items start to sell.
ThredUP
While ThredUP hopes you’ll use your profits to shop on the site, you can also withdraw your earnings.
Cash outs take one to three days to process and can be requested via PayPal or Stripe.
You can also use your earnings credit at any of the stores thredUP recommends.
Brands like GAP and Hollister are highlighted in many cases; you may earn bonus points just for shopping there.
Poshmark
Once an item has been sold and delivered on Poshmark, the earnings can be withdrawn three days later.
You can either set up a direct deposit to your bank account electronically or have a check written out to you.
Discover How to Maximize Your Online Payouts: Dive into the Post Below!
How To Get Free Money on PayPal.
Shipping Costs
Another aspect of reselling that can involve extra expenses is shipping.
You can avoid any hiccups by familiarizing yourself with the shipping process of your chosen platform.
ThredUP
ThredUP offers buyers a flat rate delivery option for $5.99. They will take care of everything for you.
Please note that the arrival of your cleanout kits can take a few weeks.
That’s why it’s recommended that you order a label and get your mailing materials.
Processing is free, but you can pay an additional $19.99 to expedite it to three weeks or sooner.
Poshmark
The buyer is responsible for the $7.67 expedited delivery fee applied to all orders placed on Poshmark.
All USPS orders generally take one to three business days.
While this sounds great to you as a seller, customers might balk at the steep charge, especially for cheaper items.
We all know it’s not easy to rationalize paying nearly double the price for buying a $10 item.
If the total weight of the items in an order exceeds 5 pounds, the buyer will only be charged this flat rate.
You, the seller, are responsible for paying any extra costs incurred due to the overweight shipment.
The seller will be compensated if an item is lost in transit while being shipped through Poshmark.
That’s good news, too.
In the following video, or alternatively, you can watch it right here, join me in exploring the art of selling, turning what may seem like trash into cash!
Discover the quickest route to earning an extra $500-$1,000 each month, all starting from scratch and with zero initial investment.
Poshmark vs ThredUP: The Pros and Cons
No online marketplace is without its flaws!
Since we know how ThredUP and Poshmark work, we can compare and contrast their merits.
ThredUP Pros
Minimal Work
Using thredUP is a breeze because they handle everything on your behalf. You only need to wait for a sale to come in.
Excellent Marketing
The thredUP team will promote your items on the site, so you won’t have to build a brand for yourself.
No Inventory
Sending everything at once saves you the trouble of keeping stock while you wait for sales.
ThredUP Cons
Steep Commissions
Regardless of your stuff’s condition or selling price, thredUP will always deduct 20% from your total sales.
That’s why sellers don’t make much on low-priced products.
Stringent Acceptance
ThredUP meticulously inspects each item and restricts itself to several categories.
They are picky about the brands they accept, so there’s a good chance that some of the clothes you’re looking to sell won’t be taken.
Slow In Processing and Returns
It may take a while before you can get your hands on the money from your sales because processing might take months.
Customers also have a 14-day window to decide whether to return items.
Limited Listing Time
ThredUP will only store your goods for a maximum of 90 days.
After that, you can recycle them or pay to have your stock returned.
Poshmark Pros
More Product Categories
Poshmark allows more brands and products to sell than ThredUP.
Complete Control
Poshmark is a platform that lets you sell your items, engage with customers, and establish your brand in the market.
Customers are more likely to return for future purchases if they love what you stand for and have positive transactions with you.
Price Control
The ability to set your prices and negotiate with potential customers increases your chances of making a profit.
Final Sales
When shopping on Poshmark, you rarely, if ever, need to bother about exchanges or returns.
Buyers can file a dispute if they run into problems, but in most cases, the sale is final.
Poshmark Cons
Required Time and Effort
Getting your store up and running is no easy task.
It takes time to list everything; stuff may sit for a while, and you need to try to grow your audience before revenues start coming in.
Customer Negotiations
It’s frustrating when potential customers try to negotiate a lower price than the one you’ve set.
This is also common on other online consignment stores like Facebook Marketplace.
The Verdict: Which One Should You Go With?
Both ThredUP and Poshmark are beneficial in their own right.
They’ve earned their spots as top online consignment stores.
If you don’t have many clothes to sell yet want to make the most money possible, Poshmark is the way to go.
It’s not worth your time to list more than a handful of goods because of how long it will take.
If you don’t mind your products gathering dust while you wait for them to sell, this app is for you.
It’s also a viable way to offload some trendy, name-brand designer pieces that are still in fantastic condition.
If you go with Poshmark, I suggest taking high-quality photos of your items and using descriptive language to attract buyers.
On the other hand, ThredUP is the way to go if you want to offload many clothes at once.
Put your unwanted items in a bag and mail them away; they will be resold or recycled.
If you sell off a few, you’ll end up with a nice profit.
So, if you’re not concerned about turning this into a full-blown business, ThredUP provides a way to declutter.
Everything is taken care of, and you can even direct your earnings to charities you believe in.
Tips For Clothes Resellers
I’m sure you want to make sales regardless of your chosen platform.
These suggestions will increase your earnings when you decide to sell clothes online.
Sell in Season
Don’t try to sell a bikini in the middle of winter.
Items sell when they’re in season.
Do Your Best To Get Your Clothes in Mint Condition
Nothing’s stopping you from reselling clothes the way you find them.
However, if you want to do well on a strict platform like ThredUP, you’ll have to ensure the clothes are in excellent condition.
Sew on missing buttons, remove sweater pilling with a lint roller, use Tide pens to remove stains, etc.
Write Thorough and Honest Titles and Descriptions
If you’re selling something on Poshmark, you can give it a catchy title and use it to attract more customers.
Be sure to include brand names and descriptive terms that customers use while searching.
Snap Good Photos
People buy with their eyes; therefore, taking good photos is essential to selling on Poshmark.
Keep the merchandise in a well-lit area with minimal distractions.
Use a decent camera or camera phone.
Final Thoughts
If you have some gently worn items you don’t feel comfortable donating to Goodwill, consider selling them on Poshmark or ThredUP instead.
You might make a nice profit!
These two companies specialize in used apparel, and they each have their advantages.
If you’ve got a ton of clothes to get rid of, why not try both platforms?
Despite being rivals, many sellers discovered that they work well together for different types of products.
