Are you looking to declutter your wardrobe and make some extra cash by selling your designer clothes, shoes and bags? With so many online platforms available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. Fear not — We've done the research for you to help you find the right fit based on your closet and needs.
Each resale platform has its own unique features and benefits, catering to different types of sellers and closets. When choosing the right platform for you, it’s important to consider factors such as the type of clothing you're selling, how quickly you want to sell them, the level of effort you're willing to put in and how much you want to earn in sales. Some platforms like The RealReal and ThredUP take in items on behalf of sellers and handle every aspect of selling from the photographs to pricing. However, these platforms will also charge a higher sales commission for the convenience. Other platforms will charge lower commissions allowing sellers to earn more from each sale, but require sellers to list items themselves and keep the items in their own closets until they’re sold.
Selling Luxury and Designer Pieces
The RealReal
- Ideal for: Fashion-forward individuals with designer items from brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior and Cartier who want to get items out of their closet.
- Effort Level: Minimal; Send your items in and specialists will assist sellers with evaluation, listing and pricing.
- Speed: Quick; the seller’s items will be taken in by The RealReal immediately if eligible based on brand and wear.
- Control over pricing: None; The RealReal sets prices and discounts the longer the item sits on the site. Your earnings are based on the eventual sale price.
- Payout: Commission fees range from 30-80%. Commission on items sold for under $300 max out at 55%.
The RealReal allows you to sell your designer pieces with minimal effort and expert assistance via a consignment model where you send your clothes in to their warehouse. While you can swiftly offload your luxury items, you'll pay higher commission fees for the convenience.
Future Reference
- Ideal for: High-quality luxury and designer items from brands like The Row, Khaite and Totême.
- Effort Level: Medium; With their digital wardrobe product, resale listings are auto-populated for sellers using the product link or receipt. Only photos need to be taken. The platform is also the only to track resale values and provide estimates.
- Speed: Varied; sellers hold onto their items until they’re sold.
- Control over pricing: Sellers have full control in setting their own prices. Future Reference helps sellers price their listings by providing a suggested price range based on similar items that were recently sold.
- Payout: Up to 80% of sales. Commission for a $300 item is 80%. For summer 2024, Future Reference is waiving all seller commissions, so you make 100%.
Future Reference's tools to seamlessly upload listings and low commission rates make it an ideal choice for sellers who don’t want to make the trade-off between convenience and commission fees. For anyone selling designer items and willing to deal with shipping to a buyer for a higher overall take, Future Reference is a good choice.
Vestiaire Collective
- Ideal for: Sellers with designer items for women, men, and kids.
- Effort Level: High; sellers have to manage their own listings, including photos, entering all data and pricing.
- Speed: Varied; sellers hold onto their items until they’re sold.
- Control over pricing: Sellers have full control in setting their own prices. Vestiaire will offer price suggestions based on similar products that have sold on Vestiaire.
- Payout: 15% commission on items priced $80 and above, with a flat fee for lower-priced items. Commission for a $300 item is 85%.
Vestiaire Collective offers a curated marketplace for luxury fashion enthusiasts, where sellers can expect lower commission rates compared to other platforms, albeit with more effort required in listing and managing your sales.
Selling Everyday Wear
Poshmark
- Ideal for: Sellers with a variety of everyday pieces and designer items.
- Effort Level: High; sellers have to manage their own listings, including photos and pricing.
- Speed: Varied; sellers hold onto their items until they’re sold.
- Control over pricing: Sellers have full control in setting their own prices.
- Payout: Medium. $2.95 fee for sales under $15, 20% commission for sales $15 or more. Commission for a $300 item is 80%.
Poshmark offers a diverse marketplace for everyday clothing items. Despite requiring more effort, its reasonable commission rates make it a popular choice among sellers looking to sell various brands and items.
ThredUP
- Ideal for: Sellers with everyday clothing items who want to get items out of their closet.
- Effort Level: Minimal; ThredUP handles all listings, pricing and shipping. You send in a bag, and thredUP sells approved items and donates the rest.
- Speed: Quick; once the seller ships their resale items, ThredUP will take them in immediately.
- Control over pricing: None; ThredUP sets prices and discounts the longer the item sits on the site. Your earnings are based on the eventual sale price.
- Payout: Low. Percentage of final selling price, varying based on item price. For example, sellers earn 60% to 80% for clothes that sell for $100 to $199.99, but only 3% to 15% for those that sell for $5 to $19.99.
Prefer a hands-off selling experience for your everyday wear? ThredUP's streamlined process allows sellers to offload their items quickly, though payouts vary based on item prices.
Selling Trendy Items and Streetwear
Depop
- Ideal for: Sellers with trendy, vintage, or streetwear items that are not designer.
- Effort Level: High; sellers manage their own listings, including photos, descriptions and pricing.
- Speed: Varied; sellers hold onto their items until they’re sold.
- Control over pricing: Sellers have full control in setting their own prices.
- Payout: 10% commission fee plus shipping costs.
Catering to trendy and unique fashion items, Depop attracts a niche audience seeking one-of-a-kind pieces, making it an ideal platform for sellers with streetwear and vintage items.
Other Selling Options
- Pickle: Ideal for those considering temporary parting with pieces; involves building a profile, uploading listings, and pricing rentals.
- Brand Buyback Programs: Some brands offer buyback programs for store credit, such as Mara Hoffman Full Circle Marketplace, Ulla Johnson PreLoved, and Oscar De La Renta Encore.
With this comprehensive guide, you can now make an informed decision on where to sell your designer clothes online. Whether you're looking for convenience, higher payouts, or specific niche markets, there's a platform out there to suit your needs. Happy selling!
