Best Reselling Platforms and Everything You Need to Know About Them
In this article, we review the top reselling channels used by secondhand clothing resellers. We provide a quick overview of each selling platform and the associated fees. To succeed on any platform, it's essential to follow standard listing protocols to optimize item discoverability and sales. Ensure your listings are keyword-rich, including the item category, description, and size. Always ask buyers to leave reviews after a sale, as positive reviews can significantly impact your success. Building trust as a seller is crucial, especially when starting, so aim to get reviews from every sale you make.
WHATNOT
WHATNOT is the newest trending platform for many secondhand resellers. It’s the fastest way to sell multiple items with the least amount of upfront work, such as photographing items, titling, and listing items, which can be very time-consuming. With Whatnot, sellers can create a video preview of the items they intend to sell for a scheduled live show. Whatnot can be a fast-paced selling environment, depending on the seller. Once the live show begins, the seller will show the item and start the auction with a timer set for 10 seconds. Sellers should be comfortable in front of a live audience, and it is beneficial to have an outgoing, high-energy personality on camera.
An example of a successful seller on the platform is MidsMarket’s, which goes live Monday to Friday in the afternoons from 4 PM to 9 PM, the times when most users are active. Creating niche live shows can help attract an audience interested in specific styles.
WHATNOT SELLER FEES
Transaction Fees: 8%
Payment Processing Fee: 3.5%
Total Percentage Charged: 11.5%
Shipping: Customer Pays for Shipping
Active Users: 3.1 million monthly users
ETSY
Etsy is great for all artisan resellers, whether you sell online PDFs, homemade products, homemade furniture, art, clothing, or any sort of handcrafted creation. Etsy is very diverse in the items sold on the platform, and you can find anything your imagination can conceive. There are many customizable options for whatever you are looking for. With 65 million users, I highly recommend taking advantage of this essentially free traffic to your online store.
For vintage and secondhand resellers, Etsy offers a unique marketplace to sell mystery bundles, individual items, or reworked pieces. The platform provides powerful tools for managing your shop, such as detailed analytics, customizable storefronts, and promotional options. Additionally, Etsy's search algorithm helps match your items with potential buyers, increasing your visibility. Taking advantage of seasonal trends and popular keywords can also help boost your sales. With a supportive seller community and extensive resources, Etsy is an excellent choice for resellers looking to reach a wide audience.
ETSY SELLER FEES
Listing Fees: $0.20 per item
Transaction Fee: 6.5%
Payment Processing Fee: 3% + $0.25 per transaction
Total Percentage Charged: 9.5% + $0.20 per listing + $0.25 per transaction
Active Users: 95 million active buyers
DEPOP
Depop is a platform primarily composed of a younger generation selling items from their closets to make a little extra money. Comparatively to Poshmark, Depop is an elevated version of the app. I find there are slightly better listings. As in, the quality of photos uploaded of each item. It's also a platform where many influencers sell items they have worn and no longer plan on wearing. This platform is ideal for hobbyists selling items from their closets without real intent to turn this into a full-time business. Vintage streetwear, Y2K fashion, and unique one-of-a-kind items are primarily sold on Depop.
It is a wonderful app to unite people selling trending modern items. Depop's user-friendly interface makes it easy to list items quickly, and its social media-like features encourage community engagement and interaction. Sellers can benefit from the platform's active user base by using hashtags and engaging with potential buyers through direct messages and comments. The platform also supports international shipping, expanding your potential customer base. To maximize sales, resellers should focus on high-quality photos, detailed item descriptions, and competitive pricing. Participating in seasonal promotions and collaborating with other sellers or influencers can further enhance visibility and sales.
DEPOP SELLING FEES
Listing Fees: 10% (including shipping cost)
Payment Processing Fee: 2.9% + $0.30
Total Percentage Charged: 12.9% + $0.30
Active Users: 35 million
EBAY
eBay is one of the largest and most established online marketplaces, offering a global platform for resellers to reach millions of potential buyers. It caters to a diverse range of products, including electronics, fashion, collectibles, home goods, and more. As a reseller on eBay, you can benefit from its vast audience and selling tools. There are two different ways of selling your items: auction or buy it now. Auction is nice because it allows for items to move faster, for market value. Buy it now allows the item to sit on your storefront for 90 days before your listing expires.
eBay allows you to sell to buyers worldwide, significantly expanding your customer base. With millions of active users, eBay provides a steady stream of potential buyers, and its seller protections help handle disputes and issues with buyers. Efficient shipping is critical, and offering fast, reliable shipping options can improve your seller rating and attract more buyers. eBay also offers discounted shipping labels for sellers.
EBAY SELLING FEES
Listing Fees: Men 13.25% of total amount of the sale is less than $150, Women 15% if the total amount of the sale is $2,000 or less, calculated per item
Transaction Fee: $0.35
Total Percentage Charged: 13.25% - 15% + $0.35
Active Users: 135 million
GRAILED
GRAILED is a specialized online marketplace for buying and selling high-end men's & women's fashion, streetwear, and designer clothing, catering to a community of fashion enthusiasts and collectors. Its user base, composed of discerning buyers, allows resellers to command higher prices for unique, premium items. The platform's user-friendly interface, detailed categories, and a strong emphasis on accurate descriptions and high-quality images streamline the listing process. GRAILED also offers tools for competitive pricing based on market trends and historical sales data. The active community and robust authentication measures enhance trust and credibility, making GRAILED an ideal platform for resellers of luxury men's fashion to reach a targeted audience and build a strong reputation.
GRAILED SELLING FEES
Transaction Fee: 9%
Payment Processing Fee: Domestic 3.49% + $0.49 USD
Total Percentage Charged: 12.39% + $0.49
Active Users: 10 million
Poshmark
Poshmark is a popular online marketplace for buying and selling new and gently used fashion, accessories, and home goods. Similar to Depop, it is primarily composed of a younger generation selling items from their closets to make a little extra money. Many influencers also use the platform to sell items they have worn and no longer plan on wearing. Ideal for hobbyists without the intent of turning this into a full-time business, Poshmark makes it easy for resellers to list items quickly with just a few photos and descriptions. Poshmark has recently started dabbling in live shows like whatnot. Although not nearly as popular as the whatnot live shows.
The platform's user-friendly interface and social features, such as sharing listings, following other users, and participating in virtual "Posh Parties," help increase visibility and engagement with potential buyers. Poshmark's strong community of fashion enthusiasts and its straightforward shipping process make it an attractive option for resellers looking to reach a broad audience and achieve quick sales.
Poshmark SELLING FEES
Listing Fees: For sales under $15, Poshmark takes a flat commission of $2.95. For sales of $15 or more, you keep 80% of your sale and Poshmark's commission is 20%.
Shipping: Buyer pays
Mercari
Mercari is officially the cheapest listing platform for resellers as of March 2024! Mercari eliminated sellers' fees to cater to the preowned seller market. Mercari is an easy-to-use online marketplace that allows users to buy and sell a wide range of items, including fashion, electronics, home goods, and more. It caters to a diverse audience, making it a versatile platform for resellers. Mercari's user-friendly app and website simplify the listing process, allowing sellers to upload photos, write descriptions, and set prices in minutes.
The platform offers convenient features such as automated pricing suggestions, promotional tools, and in-app shipping options to streamline the selling experience. Mercari's buyer protection policies and secure payment processing provide a trustworthy environment for transactions. With its straightforward interface and broad category range, Mercari is an excellent choice for resellers looking to reach a wide audience and sell various items efficiently.
Mercari SELLING FEES
Listing Fees: 0% (recently changed from 10%)
Payment Processing Fee: 2.9% + $0.50 per sale