The Greatest Apps for Promoting Used Clothes and Family Gadgets

For over a yr, I’ve been on a quest to promote a bunch of my stuff to make room in my closet—and, within the course of, earn cash for extra stuff.

I’ve encountered highs, lows, and lots of resale apps, a few of that are higher than others. Along with making me a bit more money, this endeavor has actually helped me cut back my litter, too: Quite a lot of the favored decluttering strategies ask you to type your objects into three classes—preserve, throw, and donate—however by including the fourth class of issues to promote, I’ve cleared main area in my closet. What’s extra, I do my greatest to make use of my “stability” in every app to purchase any new objects I need or want, serving to me persist with my very own model of the “one in, one out” decluttering technique.

In any case these months and dozens of journeys to the publish workplace, this is what I’ve discovered about shopping for and promoting on-line and which apps I like to recommend most.

A couple of notes on reselling clothes on-line

There are sellers on these apps who do that in a hardcore manner, sourcing cool, uncommon, or costly objects and turning them for a revenue. They deal with this like a job and, in some circumstances, it is their job. You don’t need to be like that. Don’t fear in regards to the profiles that function professional-grade images and lots of of listings, as a result of somebody on the market desires the factor you’re promoting and can discover it by trying to find it—it gained’t actually matter in case you’re displaying the merchandise on a model in studio lighting so long as it’s the appropriate measurement and value for the client.

Listed below are my tricks to get you began.

1. Don’t checklist one thing until you’d truly need to eliminate it if it offered. That appears apparent, however this has occurred to me: I’ll get a bit overzealous, checklist one thing I nonetheless use, and really feel unhappy when it will get purchased earlier than I wished it to. One safeguard I’ve employed is itemizing issues I nonetheless wish to put on at larger costs than they deserve. consumers will nonetheless just like the listings and should ship gives I can contemplate. If somebody truly buys it on the listed value, it was meant to be—and I get more money to assuage myself by the grief of shedding the merchandise.

2. Alternatively, don’t checklist one thing in case you actually need it out of the home. You may’t decide how briskly one thing will promote, even in case you undervalue it in value and put it up for sale on the apps daily. If ready for one thing to promote impedes your decluttering, contemplate a brick-and-mortar consignment store if the merchandise is really priceless—or simply donate it.

3. I nonetheless use my objects whereas they’re listed on my apps, however watch out in case you select to do that. If one thing occurs to a bag, prefer it will get a scuff or a stain, it reduces its worth and also you’ll need to replace the itemizing on the very least. Don’t attempt to trick individuals by showcasing one thing in good situation, then sending it to them in worse form. They will ship it again and this will have an effect in your vendor score. 

4. Take a whole lot of photos. You don’t want fancy lighting or a backdrop, however I not less than attempt to set my wares on a pleasant rug and preserve different stuff out of the body. Take photos from a couple of angles, close-up images of any injury, and a shot of the date stamp or serial quantity if it’s a luxurious or high-end piece. Tags, defining options, and particulars are vital to incorporate. (When you do not do that upfront, be ready for potential consumers to ask for them later.) 

5. Be open to gives and reply to inquiries. More often than not, you gained’t get the worth you ask for, not less than not in my expertise, however accepting affordable gives or being prepared to decrease the worth will show you how to get the factor out of your own home and the cash into your account.

6. At all times seek for the merchandise you’re promoting to see what different persons are promoting theirs for. If yours is of comparable high quality, contemplate itemizing it for rather less than your rivals to get it offered quicker.

7. When you checklist the identical factor on a number of apps, keep on prime of what you are doing. A couple of weeks in the past, I offered a wristlet that I by accident manner undervalued on one app a day after itemizing it for its true worth on one other. I misplaced out on good cash! Plus, if one thing sells on one app, you should instantly take away its itemizing in all places else. In any other case, it may “promote” once more, you may have to cancel that order, and your vendor score might take successful.

8. Lastly, and maybe most significantly, be cautious of scams. This is applicable extra to you in case you’re shopping for one thing than in case you’re promoting, however as a common rule, by no means talk with anybody off-app, not to mention conduct transactions that manner. These apps are respected and well-run. Anybody claiming they’re having hassle with the fee system is nearly actually mendacity to you. The entire apps I spotlight right here have high quality customer support and can be found that can assist you in case you’re offered a counterfeit merchandise or encounter a purchaser who’s mendacity in regards to the situation of the factor you offered, however you should conduct your transactions on the app for them to have the ability to render service.

The primary app you want is Vendoo

Earlier than I get into my prime apps for getting and promoting, I need to spotlight one which has made my use of all of them a lot simpler: Vendoo. Primarily, it is a cross-listing app that lets you create listings for all of your sellable possessions, then publish them to a wide range of marketplaces, together with Poshmark, Vestiaire Collective, Depop, Mercari, and extra. You may change costs, monitor gross sales, and keep rather more organized in case your purpose is to eliminate as a lot as you’ll be able to as quick as you’ll be able to.

Having your items on the market throughout a number of platforms is useful as a result of, whereas there are a whole lot of consumers who peruse a number of apps, every one additionally has a fairly devoted fanbase that solely makes use of one particular market. By cross-listing, you improve your probabilities of a possible purchaser operating throughout your merchandise.

One other app that’s actually useful is PrimeLister, however actually provided that you are promoting on Poshmark. This one automates the entire tedious little duties you’ll be able to (and will) do to spice up your gross sales, like sharing your listings to touchdown pages and the homepages of your followers, plus it provides you the choice to bulk-complete duties, like altering costs or sending out low cost gives to consumers.

Vendoo and PrimeLister each value cash—about $30 per 30 days, relying on the providers you want—however, in my expertise, are value it for enhancing gross sales and making this course of straightforward.

One of the best apps to promote garments and equipment

Though I solely actually acquired into promoting a few yr in the past, I have been shopping for on these platforms for a lot of, a few years and made the sporadic sale right here and there again within the day, too. I like to recommend Poshmark, Vestiaire Collective, TheRealReal, and Depop. To me, these 4 have one of the best interfaces and are best to make use of for getting and promoting. Let’s go over their particulars. 

Poshmark: Greatest for promoting just about something

If you promote on Poshmark, you retain 80% of your gross sales so long as they’re over $15. For something beneath $15, you pay the app a payment of $2.95. On this app, consumers can supply decrease costs than what you’re itemizing your merchandise for and also you’re free to simply accept or decline their gives.

Declining provides you the possibility to submit a counteroffer, so you might find yourself negotiating for a bit bit, however the app at all times notifies you of what, precisely, you’ll make in case you promote one thing at a sure value. The app additionally permits potential consumers to “like” objects, enabling you to ship personal low cost gives to all of an inventory’s likers directly. Decreasing the worth of an merchandise is simple, too, and you’ll share listings to “events” that match your merchandise’s description. As an illustration, Poshmark often hosts luxurious bag events, making a touchdown web page for consumers searching for these, and I share my listings for luggage to these events after they’re taking place.

Creating an inventory may be very straightforward in case you’re doing it in-app, not utilizing a third-party service like Vendoo. Add your images, fill out a kind that features easy particulars like measurement, model, authentic value, and asking value, and also you’re good to go.

If there’s a draw back to Poshmark, it’s that you simply do should be fairly energetic and engaged. Affords expire after 24 hours, you’ll be able to solely share listings to a celebration when the social gathering is occurring, and customers count on well timed responses to their feedback. 

Credit score: Lindsey Ellefson

Like I mentioned, you’ll be able to put something on right here. You may promote a Louis Vuitton bag or a Nike T-shirt. Some individuals promote housewares and handicrafts. I’ve purchased a couple of Diptyque candles and as soon as offloaded a Yankees bobblehead I by accident acquired on a visit to the Bronx. If you’d like an app the place you’ll be able to promote all the pieces, not only a sure type of clothes, it needs to be Poshmark. 

In my expertise, promoting higher-end objects on Poshmark is hit and miss. Sure, I’ve achieved it, however individuals on there are looking for all types of issues. I principally purchase baseball jerseys there and save my very own luxurious resale looking for different apps. Poshmark would not authenticate designer items the way in which different devoted luxurious apps do, so consumers are much less assured and extra more likely to lowball you to make up for his or her lack of religion in your wares. When you’ve got mid-tier stuff, like Lululemon, Uggs, or Skims, Poshmark goes to be particularly helpful for you.

All that mentioned, Poshmark is by far my most-used resale app and I would say I conduct over 90% of my enterprise there. The interface is simple to navigate, the number of listings and numerous person base lend themselves to a surprisingly excessive quantity of gross sales on even essentially the most random issues, and promoting is very easy. Once I make a sale, Poshmark generates a QR code that I merely have to point out to the individuals on the publish workplace. The transport payment is paid by the client and features a precedence field or envelope. I haven’t got to print a label, purchase a field, or do something however present up on the publish workplace. A day or two after the client will get the merchandise, the cash seems in my stability. Crucially, Poshmark means that you can use your gross sales stability to buy issues on the app, which I actually love, however you can even very simply switch it out into your checking account. Learn my full Poshmark assessment right here.

Vestiaire Collective: Greatest for higher-end objects to maximise income

Vestiaire Collective is supposed for higher-end objects, which often means luxurious items, however I’ve seen it embrace loads of different high quality stuff, like Gymshark. The place this one shines is its authentication course of. A lot of the time, objects you promote might be shipped straight to VC, the place a staffer will authenticate them and ship them out to the client. This additional safety is nice, particularly for actually high-ticket objects, and VC has low promoting charges: You pay 10% on each sale, plus a 3% fee processing payment. You don’t get charged in your first one, both, so long as it’s beneath $2,000.

VC usually runs specials, too, the place the place you may pay no vendor’s charges on sure manufacturers, for instance. Like Poshmark, consumers can ship gives, however right here, you have got two days to simply accept, decline, or counter them, moderately than one. One distinction that may throw a little bit of a studying curveball is that when you settle for a suggestion, the client has to make the acquisition. On Poshmark, a purchaser who sends a suggestion agrees that in case you settle for it, their stability or card is charged. On VC, simply since you settle for the low value doesn’t imply you have made the sale. The client then has two extra days to determine in the event that they need to undergo with it. Promoting on VC, in my expertise, is a a lot slower course of than different apps, particularly due to the additional time required for in-person authentication.

Credit score: Lindsey Ellefson

General, I really like shopping for on right here as a result of I do know I am at all times getting high-quality items, however the gradual tempo of gross sales stops me from promoting on VC too usually. If you make a VC sale, you do not get a helpful QR code to ship the merchandise. Relatively, it’s a must to print the label, purchase a field or envelope, and ship it your self. It takes some time for the cash to get to you, on condition that the merchandise has to go to VC for authentication earlier than being despatched out to the client. And while you do get that cash, it goes into your Venmo account, not a stability that you need to use to make new purchases.

It is value noting that VC is essentially the most international app on my checklist. Folks around the globe purchase and promote on right here, which is superior as a result of it actually broadens the market from which you should buy and the inhabitants to which you’ll promote, however not-so-awesome as a result of international transport actually takes some time. When you purchase, do not count on your merchandise to come back in shortly—and in case you promote, do not count on your cash to come back in shortly.

Patrons on right here need to spend on good stuff, so you will not get lowballed usually and objects that would not promote on a extra mid-level app get far more consideration. Promoting on VC requires you to measure your baggage, take extra particular images of things (together with ones that clearly present model labeling), establish the fabric your merchandise is product of, and wait—typically, in my expertise, as much as two or three days—for the images to be permitted by a staffer. Like I mentioned, this isn’t a fast-money app, however one good factor is that the app suggests a value to your itemizing based mostly on costs comparable objects in comparable situation have offered at, so you do not have to guess. For all the additional work you should do on this one, it does show you how to out with little options like that—plus, its minimize of the revenue is decrease than rivals’, so in case you’re prepared to place in additional effort and wait a bit longer, you do find yourself making more cash. Learn my full Vestiaire Collective assessment right here.

TheRealReal: Greatest for fancier stuff you simply need out of your own home

TheRealReal is just for designer, luxurious objects, and it operates extra like a consignment retailer than direct promoting. How a lot you truly make depends upon your “loyalty tier” on the time of sale, so in case you’re simply beginning out, you get 55% fee on something offered for greater than $195. When you earn $1,500 in annual internet gross sales, you progress as much as a brand new tier and earn extra. It’s also possible to simply fork your items over to TRR in change for web site credit score and allow them to promote as they’ll. I gained’t lie: It’s a bit complicated, so solely go along with this one if in case you have actually costly objects to promote that require authentication and might nonetheless usher in a hefty chunk of money, even with charges. 

I take advantage of this app virtually solely as a purchaser, not a vendor. Since TRR is in control of the costs, a whole lot of very nice issues inevitably go on a deep low cost if they do not get offered shortly. If you’d like a high quality piece that you could put on for a bit after which resell, strive trying right here.

Credit score: Lindsey Ellefson

Depop: Greatest for eliminating something you have got, from mall finds to extra luxe objects

Depop is one other web site the place you’ll be able to promote something. It may be fancy, it may be fundamental, it may be handmade—you’ll be able to promote no matter. You don’t pay an inventory payment, however you pay a ten% payment for all the pieces you promote. That’s it. It’s tremendous easy, and Depop helps you fill out the itemizing by populating ideas based mostly in your photos and textual content inputs. This hastens the method so that you’re not spending 5 minutes on each itemizing, pulling model names and sizes from drop-down menus. You may supply likers reductions and, like Poshmark and VC, subject gives from potential consumers. 

Credit score: Lindsey Ellefson

I’ve had success with Depop as a vendor and a purchaser, however it’s undoubtedly a crowded market. I consider it extra like a thrift retailer than something. Yow will discover fancy issues, sure, however they don’t seem to be authenticated and I’ve seen pages and pages of very apparent fakes (and, seemingly, much less apparent fakes I did not trouble investigating), so beware. (As a aspect word, in case you ever need assistance figuring out if a listed luxurious product is genuine, you’ll be able to attain out to me. It is a enjoyable passion I genuinely get pleasure from.)

Additionally distinguished are really basic items, like Endlessly 21 tops. It’s possible you’ll not assume the fast-fashion, mall-bought shirts clogging up your closet are value attempting to promote, however you would be very shocked. Somebody on the market might want them, so strive itemizing them on Depop earlier than donating or tossing them. Set a tough deadline for your self, although. If it would not promote in, say, two weeks, eliminate it one other manner. Once more, promoting is superior, however not if it stops you from successfully decluttering. Learn my full Depop assessment right here.

Greatest for set-it-and-forget it gross sales: Mercari

I’m very new to Mercari, because it’s the one app on this checklist I downloaded simply to assessment and had by no means used earlier than. That mentioned, I appreciated what I noticed! The method of itemizing on Mercari is very easy, so it is a strong entry level in case you’re new to reselling and need to begin with a extra manageable expertise. Tapping Promote on the backside of the house display screen brings you to an inventory creation web page that’s notably pared down when in comparison with the opposite apps on this checklist. You add your images, a title, an extended description, as much as seven hashtags, a class, a model, and a situation indicator. You’ve got the chance to supply free transport (which implies you pay for it) or make the client pay the price. Then, you set your itemizing value. That is it.

Remarkably, Mercari will even deal with your discounting for you, which is one thing it’s a must to do manually on the opposite apps or else recruit a third-party service like PoshLister to handle for you. If you end creating an inventory, simply toggle on “Good Pricing,” set a minimal you would be prepared to simply accept for the product, and do nothing else. Over time, if it would not promote, Mercari will incrementally decrease the worth till it hits that minimal you set. Of all of the apps right here, this one is essentially the most hands-off from starting to finish.

Credit score: Lindsey Ellefson

There’s one draw back: Whereas all apps take a bit minimize of your revenue within the type of vendor’s charges, not each app expenses purchaser’s charges, nevertheless, which Mercari does as of January 2025: Patrons pay a “Purchaser Safety Payment” of three.6% on Mercari, and that payment is displayed as a part of the ultimate value within the merchandise checkout part. Consider it like while you order meals off Uber Eats, however solely see the true value, with charges, while you get to the very finish.

When you’re a vendor, you may need to preserve that in thoughts and, sadly, decrease a few of your costs to make your wares extra interesting in mild of those value will increase. You additionally want to remember the charges you may pay on the sale. Mercari takes a ten% minimize of your earnings and, relying on whether or not you elected to supply “free transport” to consumers, you may may additionally need to pay round $9 for the transport value. Some excellent news is that you could spend your stability in-app, which you understand I am a giant fan of. Learn my full Mercari assessment right here.

Honorable point out: Hire your garments out on Pickle

This checklist is all about resale platforms, sure, however I’ve had unbelievable luck utilizing Pickle, an app that permits me to hire out my equipment and garments as a substitute of promoting them. I’ve solely been utilizing it for 2 months and few baggage in my closet have already been rented a number of occasions. Theoretically, they’ll preserve producing me cash again and again and I can preserve utilizing them myself, neither of which is true while you make a straight-up sale.

There are 3 ways you’ll be able to hire out your stuff on Pickle: You may organize a meetup with a renter and hand it off in individual, the renter pays a $3 payment for a courier to move your merchandise to and from their location, or you’ll be able to ship your items wherever the opposite individual is within the nation. Meetups actually solely work in giant metro areas, however with the transport choice—and since the courier system runs by established apps like Uber Eats and Doordash—Pickle works surprisingly properly even in far-flung areas. Throughout a current interview, the app’s cofounder additionally let me know that it is hoping to broaden the scope of Pickle’s market choices quickly, too, so you possibly can hire out musical devices, digital camera gear, or no matter items you have got mendacity round.

Credit score: Lindsey Ellefson

I’ve liked having the ability to put my items to work and some of my purses and footwear are near paying themselves off, so to talk. Like different apps, Pickle permits potential renters to ship you a suggestion, which you’ll settle for or decline, and it takes a 20% payment off your revenue, however once more, you get your stuff again and might hire it out once more indefinitely. When you’re apprehensive about sending your possessions out, take coronary heart realizing Pickle has a strong customer support group and care coverage. If somebody damages or fails to return your merchandise, the Pickle group works with you to get you the worth of the products. That is a rarity, although, as a result of the app has a powerful group really feel to it. Not solely have my issues at all times been returned in good situation, however they often include thank-you notes and, notably, one renter even despatched me a thank-you present.

Pickle is actually useful in case you’re beginning to declutter as a result of it’s similar to a purgatory field, or an area you set one thing in case you’re not fairly positive you are able to eliminate it. You may expertise what life is like with out instant entry to that merchandise and you might even discover you did not miss it. In that case, checklist it on one of many apps above. Notably, Pickle additionally means that you can promote your stuff. All it’s a must to do is point out an merchandise is on the market in its rental itemizing. Learn my full Pickle assessment right here.