Poshmark is a social commerce marketplace where you can buy and sell new and secondhand home goods, electronics and fashion. Boasting a staggering 80 million users and an astonishing 200 million listings, this platform is one of the best.
This company is centrally located in Redwood City, California, yet its reach extends to Canada, Australia and India, with satellite offices throughout.
Poshmark advertises as a simple and fun way to buy and sell fashion. This means that it is an online marketplace for fashion items. The big question in this Poshmark review is whether using Poshmark is worthwhile.
For example, as a Seller, can you really use the platform to sell your items? Are its charges reasonable to enable you to make significant profits? Will it offer a top-selling experience? Also, as a Buyer, will you find high-quality products on the platform? What about product pricing; will you find competitive prices? Does the platform offer top services that we’ll expect of an ideal online shopping destination (such as easy ordering, fast shipping, easy returns, effective customer service, etc.)?
Also, given that there are many online marketplaces out there, how does Poshmark differ from the rest? In the first place, is Poshmark legit, or is it just another scam?
Yes, Poshmark is legit. It is not a scam because they will never steal your money or credit card details. And all the customers receive their orders without a problem.
This Poshmark review will examine Poshmark in order to provide the information that will help you answer the above questions and more.
Poshmark review at a glance
- Website: poshmark.com (or www.poshmark.ca)
- A California-based social eCommerce platform started in 2011
- Allow users to buy and sell new or fairly used fashion pieces, home items, and more
- Available to only persons that have US or Canadian billing address (Sellers) or shipping address (Buyers)
- Free to list items, so Sellers are charged only when their items sell
- Seller’s fee after their item sells is $2.95 flat rate for sales under $15, and 20% of the final order price for sales over $15
- A pre-paid and pre-addressed shipping label is provided to Sellers for easy shipping
- Buyers will find items listed at bargain prices (up to 70% off retail price)
- Buyers pay a flat rate of $6.49 for shipping
- Buyers have a “Posh Protect” where a full refund is guaranteed if the item does not ship or does not match the listing description
- Offers easy and free returns (if return approval is granted)
- Customer Support is provided via email (online contact form)
What is Poshmark? – About
It is not news that many people only slightly use many of the items in their closets. Thus, their closet is overstuffed with almost-new items while they get new clothing pieces. Poshmark was started as a solution; to allow users to sell items in their closets. This means that Poshmark started off as a marketplace to buy and sell pre-loved, slightly used, but still gorgeous closet items. It supports various items, including clothing, shoes, and accessories.
While many sellers in Poshmark are not doing it as a “business” but just as a way to clear their over-stuffed closet (and yes, get some money from the clear out); there are other Sellers who are fledging designers and store owners who do their full-time selling in the platform. This means that Poshmark is not all about pre-loved items but that you’ll also find a host of brand-new items on the platform.
Poshmark was launched by Manish Chandra in 2011. The website (www.poshmark.com) is simply a marketplace where people can go to either list items for sale or buy items. Thus, it does not own any of the items listed on the website. However, Poshmark differs from other online fashion marketplaces. It is not a straight-selling platform; rather, it strongly focuses on creating an online community. You can think of it as a social media platform where you can follow your style buddies.
Poshmark also differs from many marketplaces in its operation. Though it does not own the product, it receives payment for purchases from the buyers, after which it pays the seller. As we’ll see later, this is to ensure that buyers are protected.
Is Poshmark legit?
Yes, Poshmark is legit. It is not a scam because they have been online for a very long time without a problem. With cyber fraudsters ever active in ripping people off, you cannot be too careful when making online purchases.
Thus, the big question is whether Poshmark is legit. The short answer is: Yes. The longer answer is Poshmark ticks many of the boxes that a legit eCommerce platform should tick.
The first check of a legit online platform is legality. This is because a platform that is 100% legal is less likely to be a scam. Thankfully, Poshmark ticks the legality box. The online platform is operated by Poshmark Inc (or Poshmark Canada Inc for residents of Canada), and these are duly registered companies. Suffice it to say that scam stores do not seek company registration certificates.
Another check of a legit online platform is visibility and industry-wide recognition. This is because the scam stores largely operate in the shadows. Thankfully, Poshmark ticks this visibility box. Its operation as a social marketplace means it is not just a shopping destination but also a vibrant online community where millions of users connect. Also, the online platform has been featured by many industry followers that, include Reuters. Suffice it to say that a scam store cannot gain this huge recognition.
Another check of a legit online platform is the test of time. This is because scam stores are generally short-lived. Scamming activities get exposed with time, and such exposure lead to the death of the platform. Thankfully, Poshmark ticks this box. Established in 2011, it’s been operating for over eight years, which is enough time for any scamming activity to come to light in our time of fast communication.
The ultimate test of a legit online platform is fitness for purpose. This is because the scam platforms are simply set up to rip people off, and only legit platforms deliver on their mandates. As a marketplace, Poshmark’s mandate is: to help buyers get items at bargain prices and to help sellers make money by selling their items on the platform. Thankfully, Poshmark ticks this box. As the users’ reviews show, Poshmark is being used by millions of Sellers to list and sell their items easily; while millions of buyers who place orders on the platform also receive delivery of real and functional products.
That said, with Poshmark being a 100% legal platform, recognized by many industry leaders and followers, and with a rich operating record of helping Sellers sell their products and helping buyers get real and functional items at a bargain, there is no doubt that it is a legit online platform.
Is Poshmark safe?
Poshmark is safe. Legitimacy is not enough when using an online platform. It’s also important that the platform is safe so that the sensitive information that you share with it does not leak out to unauthorized third users.
In this regard, Poshmark says that it employs organizational, technical and physical safeguards to ensure the protection of users’ data. One such measure is SSL (Secure Socket Layer) technology, which is the industry standard for creating a private connection between a buyer and seller over the internet. SSL technology also uses high-level encryption to ensure unauthorized parties cannot read transmitted data. With this technical security measure, it is safe to say that Poshmark is safe.
Products
Whether using an eCommerce platform as a buyer or seller, you’ll want it to support a wide range of products. Sellers will want the opportunity to sell a wide range of items in one place instead of opening up stores in different marketplaces to list their different products for sale. In the same vein, buyers will want to convenience of buying a wide range of products in one place instead of checking out different stores for related items.
Thankfully, Poshmark ticks this box. When using Poshmark, the main product categories and the product sections you’ll find in each category are:
Poshmark Women Dresses:
Poshmark Men Dresses:
Poshmark Shoes:
Poshmark HandBags:
Poshmark Jewelry:
Poshmark Make Up:
Poshmark Home Products:
- Women – Accessories, Bags, Dresses, Intimates and Sleepwear, Jackets and Coats, Jeans, Jewelry, Makeup, Pants, Shoes, Shorts, Skirts, Sweaters, Swim, Tops, and Other
- Men – Accessories, Bags, Jackets and Coats, Jeans, Pants, Shirts, Shoes, Shorts, Suits and Blazers, Sweaters, Swim, Underwear and Socks, Other
- Kids – Accessories, Bottoms, Dresses, Jackets and Coats, Matching Sets, One-Pieces, Pajamas, Shirts and Tops, Shoes, Swim, Costumes, Others
- Home – Accents, Bath, Bedding, Dining, Holiday, Kitchen, Office, Party Supplies, Storage and Organization, Wall Art, Others
However, given that there are millions of Sellers in Poshmark, you’ll find a wide range of products listed on the platform. Thus, you’ll find different types of items in each product section. For example, in the women’s dresses, handbags, shoes, and makeup sections, you’ll find various product types as follows:
- Handbags – Baby Bags, Backpacks, Cosmetic Bags & Cases, Crossbody Bags, Hobos, Laptop Bags, Mini Bags, Satchels, Shoulder Bags, Totes, Travel Bags, Clutches & Wristlets, Wallets
- Shoes – Ankle Boots & Booties, Winter & Rain Boots, Combat & Moto Boots, Over the Knee Boots, Heeled Boots, Lace-Up Boots, Athletic Shoes, Espadrilles, Flats & Loafers, Moccasins, Mules & Clogs, Platforms, Heels, Sandals, Slippers, Sneakers, Wedges
- Jewellery and Accessories – Bracelets, Earrings, Necklaces, Rings, Brooches
- MakeUp – Blush, Bronzer, Concealer, Eye Primer, Eyebrow Filler, Eyeliner, Eyeshadow, Face Powder, Face Primer, False Eyelashes, Foundation, Lip Balm & Gloss, Lip Liner, Lipstick, Luminizer, Mascara, and Brushes & Tools
- Dresses – Mini, Midi, Maxi, High Low, Asymmetrical, Long Sleeve, One-Shoulder, Strapless, Backless, Prom, and Wedding
Another important thing is that Poshmark is not for the sale of only new items. All items listed in Poshmark can be listed for sale as a Closet or Boutique. The “Boutique” items will be those listed by independent designers, boutiques, and store owners; obviously, these will be brand-new items. The “Closet” items will be those listed by ordinary everyday people who just want to make some money by disposing of items in their closets. Among these items will be some new items (pre-owned but unused) and pre-loved (fairly used) items.
Thus, you’ll find that a lot of popular brands feature on Poshmark. These include Nike, Michael Kors, Louis Vuitton, Lululemon athletic, PINK Victoria’s Secret, Coach, Chanel, Zales, Adidas, and more.
Poshmark – for Buyers
The following are important considerations if you are using Poshmark as a buyer.
Buying from Poshmark
One shouldn’t have a headache when making an online purchase; thus, the ideal eCommerce platform should offer hassle-free services. In our opinion, Poshmark comes out as the leader in simplified services. First, you’ll meet a simple and user-friendly interface when using Poshmark (whether the website or apps). Of course, you’ll have to register; but that is straightforward. Like many marketplaces, you can sign up using your email address or a social media account. In registering, you’ll have to nominate a username name and password.
Whether shopping from the website or using the apps, you can easily navigate the product categories and discover items. Since Poshmark is a social community, you can get items through recommendations from persons that you follow.
Another important feature of Poshmark is the Posh Parties. These are virtual real-time shopping parties that bring like-minded persons together. Parties are arranged around a particular style or type of clothing, so Posh Parties can give you a fast track to getting your favourite items.
Another sweet feature that adds to the buying experience in Poshmark is the ability to favourite items. As we all know, the primary advantage of favouriting items is that it helps easy future reference, as you’ll simply enter the favourite list to call up the items instead of browsing through the categories afresh. However, there are more advantages to favouriting items on Poshmark. One, it helps the platform learn of your preference, and it’ll make items recommendations to you. This could save you the time of browsing its product categories to find something you’ll like. Also, Sellers are kept in the loop of every favouriting activity; and to motivate you to make the purchase, many are known to reach out to the potential buyer with a lower offer.
There are two ways of buying from Poshmark. The first is traditional buying, where you can take up the price set by the seller, and the other is by making an offer. The latter allows you to haggle with the Seller. When you make an offer for the order to be placed, the Seller can either accept it or respond with a counteroffer, which you’ll have to accept. This means that you can make an offer and get an item for even lower than it is listed. In the simplicity of Poshmark; haggling with Sellers this way occurs right in the platform. Many buyers will agree that this in-platform contact is better than contacting Sellers through emails or text messages. Interacting with Sellers also makes for a better user experience.
Another important feature of Poshmark is “Posh Authenticate”. This is simply to ensure that when making high-end purchases, you get authentic items. The service is available for only luxury items which are $500 or more. Instead of the Seller shipping the item directly to you, the item is shipped to Poshmark. Poshmark will then determine the authenticity of the item by checking logos, tags, material, hardware, quality and more. If Poshmark determines that the item is legit, it is repackaged and shipped to you (at the time of writing, you get free shipping to your destination after the authentication).
Pricing and Promotions
Everyone loves getting a deal. Being that Poshmark was set up as a platform where people can sell their slightly used closet items, it’s safe to say that it was created as a marketplace where buyers can get sweet deals.
True to this, you’ll find that many of the items (both new and pre-loved) listed on Poshmark are available at prices relatively lower than retail prices. You’ll easily find items up to 70% off the retail price.
Everyone loves promotions as they allow customers to get items for free or for less than the items’ full prices. Thankfully, in Poshmark, you’ll find a lot of promotional offers. One of the most seen is “Bundles”. Many Sellers take advantage of the Poshmark bundling to drive sales. This is simply offering a discount if you buy a number of items from them. For example, at the time of writing this review, we found many Sellers offering 20% off the total simply for adding an additional item (from the particular Seller) to your order. Also, with the “Bundles”, you’ll get to pay to ship for one order.
Shipping
After placing an online order, it’ll have to be moved and, at a later time, from the store’s fulfilment centre to your shipping address. Thus, it’s important t consider whether the eCommerce platform ships to your location, how long it takes to deliver, and how much it’ll cost to get your orders.
In terms of Shipping destinations, buyers will want globally focused platforms so that there will be no risk of their location not being covered. Unfortunately, at the time of writing, Poshmark ships to only the US and Canada, with www.poshmark.com serving US buyers and www.poshmark.ca serving Canadian buyers.
In terms of delivery times, buyers generally want shopping destinations with fast delivery. Thankfully, Poshmark ticks the box in this regard. Typically, delivery times consist of order processing time and shipping time. The former is when the order is placed and when the item ships; the latter is when the item ships and when it gets to the shipping address. Regarding processing time, Poshmark gives its Sellers a maximum of 7 days to ship the item. This starts when the sale email is received (which is usually almost immediately after the order is placed). Regarding shipping times, all orders ship using Priority Mail which takes 1 – 3 days. Thus, the total delivery time is typically within ten days. This is super fast when compared to many online shopping destinations.
Another important shipping consideration is shipping costs. Since these add to the item purchase price in determining the total acquisition cost, high shipping costs can easily make the item too expensive to acquire. Unfortunately, the relatively fast shipping of Poshmark comes at a price, making shipping costs relatively high. Poshmark charge a flat shipping rate of $6.49.
Returns
Sometimes online purchase does not turn out well, and the buyer is anything but satisfied with the item. Instead of being stuck with an unwanted item, buyers will want the opportunity to return it to the retailer and get a replacement item or a refund. Thus, shopping destinations that allow returns are welcomed.
In this regard, it should be said that you’ll be hard-pressed to find an online marketplace whose buyer protection is stronger than that of Poshmark. As mentioned earlier, it is only when you receive the order, and it is as described that Poshmark will release payment to the Seller. Poshmark vows that it will give you a full refund if your item never ships or does not match the listing description.
The only other situations when you can file for a Return under the “Posh Protect” is if: there is undisclosed damage, an incorrect item is delivered, some items are missing, or the item is not authentic. This means that you cannot return an item purchased on Poshmark if you change your mind about the purchase or if the item does not fit. The latter especially should be noted because size difference is one of the major reasons for Returns in the fashion industry. Unfortunately, Poshmark says it cannot accept a return “if the item is just not your style or does not fit”. The solution it proposes is: “you can always re-list the item on Poshmark.”
For items eligible for Returns under the “Posh Protect” rules, you’ll have three days (from the delivery date) to inform Poshmark of the problem. You can report the issue in the Poshmark app or in the website (by sending a mail to support@poshmark.com), and you’ll need to attach photos clearly showing the problem. If no claim is made within three days of delivery, Poshmark will assume that you are satisfied with your purchase and will automatically release payment to the Seller. After that, all sales are final, and no return request will be entertained.
If Poshmark verifies your claim, the return request will be approved, and you will receive a pre-paid and pre-addressed shipping label to return the item to the seller. It should be said that the return shipping label is free, meaning that nothing will be deducted from your refund as the cost of the Return Label. Thus, Poshmark offers free returns. You’ll have five days (from the day of getting approval and receiving the shipping label) to ship the return package back to the seller. Your payment will be refunded immediately afterwards. While we believe the return window is wide enough, it comes out as relatively short. This is because we are used to finding a return window of 30 days from the delivery date.
Poshmark – for Sellers
The following are important considerations if you are using Poshmark as a Seller.
Reach
First, you can only sell in Poshmark if you have a US or Canadian billing address. This will disappoint persons everywhere else who would’ve wanted to use Poshmark to sell their items.
Another thing to consider is traffic if you are among the “lucky” persons who can sell in Poshmark. That is, you’ll want a platform where a lot of buyers visit. Thankfully, Poshmark ticks this box, as it drives a lot of traffic to the site. With the social focus of Poshmark, many people open the app just to browse looks.
Ease of Use
The ideal platform should also be easy to use. In this regard, Poshmark is by far one of the easiest marketplaces to sell your items. As Poshmark advertises, there are 3 simple steps to using the platform as a Seller – List it, Share it, and Earn Cash.
Listing is also as easy as 1-2-3. Though you can sell using the website, Poshmark is largely mobile-focused, with the app supporting iPhones and Android devices. You’ll only need to snap a photo of the item, add a description, and set a price. Thus, you can have your items live in literally 60 seconds.
The next step is “Share it”. With Poshmark set up as a social marketplace, think of it and use it as you would Instagram. You have to share listings to your network for shoppers to discover. You’re simply building your customer base by posting your listing and following others. As Poshmark advertises, “More sharing = more sales”.
One thing that really makes Poshmark stand out is the ease of shipping. Once an order is placed, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Attached to that email is a pre-addressed and pre-paid shipping label that you should print for your package. Thus, you must package the item appropriately, attach the shipping label, and drop the package off at the post office.
Fees
Where fees are concerned, everyone wants the lowest possible. In terms of fees, Poshmark comes out as both as attractive and unattractive. In the attractive front, there are no fees to opening a store and listing your items for sale on Poshmark. This means that financially, Poshmark is risk-free. If your items do not sell, you will not have to make payment to Poshmark.
On the unattractive front, you’ll find that after your item sells, Poshmark charges a relatively steep fee. For sales under $15, Poshmark charges a flat rate of $2.95; and for sales above $15, Poshmark charges 20% of the final order price. Thus, for every purchase you make in Poshmark, what is yours to keep is either “the final order price less $2.95” or “80% of the final order price”. This makes using Poshmark expensive, as there are many online marketplaces with fees half its amounts.
As mentioned earlier in shipping fees (relating to buyers), Poshmark’s $6.49 flat rate is relatively expensive. This high shipping cost will make Poshmark less attractive for selling low-priced items. As a result, many Sellers find it difficult to sell items about $15 or under. For example, not many buyers will want to buy an item for $10 and pay $6.49 for its shipping.
Customer Support
One constant in life is that some things will go south. Thus, the ideal online shopping destination should have an effective customer support service to solve issues and answer questions that customers will have.
Like most online platforms, the first place to get assistance is the self-help channels, consisting of an FAQ page. The FAQ articles are categorized into different sections to aid navigation. These include: Getting Help, Selling, Buying, Account, Programs & Events, and more. You’ll find answers to many of the questions that users generally ask.
To directly contact the company, Poshmark supports an email service. You can send Poshmark an email using the contact form on its website’s “Contact” page. Poshmark promises a response time of 12 – 48 hours.
However, it’s still disappointing that instant feedback channels like telephone service and Live Char are not supported.
Sites Similar to Poshmark:
- Amazon.com
- Gearbest.com
Pros
For Sellers
- It’s super easy to list items and start selling
- No fees for creating a “store” and listing items for sale
- The social-focus drives a lot of traffic to the site
- Shipping to customers is made easy via the provision of the pre-paid and pre-addressed shipping label
For buyers
- Offers a wide range of products that include top brand name
- Able to favourite items for future reference
- Items are available at bargain prices
- Buyers have the option to make an offer for a listed item
- There is strong buyer protection – you’ll get a full refund if your item does not ship or does not match the listing description
- There’s a “Posh Authenticate” that ensures risk-free purchase of luxury items
- Offers relatively fast delivery times (within 10 days of order placement)
- Has a relatively long window
- Offers easy and free returns with free pre-paid and pre-addressed return shipping label
Cons
For Sellers
- Persons in the US and Canada can only use it
- Need a lot of legwork in connecting with the platform users in order to build a good customer pool
- High fees when your item sells ($2.95 flat rate for sales under $15, and 20% of the final order price for others)
- The relatively high rate of shipping to customers means that low-priced items do not sell well in Poshmark
For Buyers
- It can only be used if a resident in the US or Canada
- Shipping cost is relatively high (flat rate of $6.49)
- Returns are not possible for size dispute (if the item does not fit)
- Instant feedback channels are not supported for contacting Customer Service
Related: Is Shein Legit or Scam? – Review
Summary
Poshmark is a legitimate US-based online marketplace launched in 2011 to allow persons to sell items from the closet. Thus, it started as a place to buy and sell pre-loved, slightly used items. However, as it evolved, it now supports brand-new items as well. Thus, it can be used by everyday people wanting to make some money by selling off pre-loved items and fledging designers, boutiques, or full-time fashion retailers. The evolution of Poshmark has also seen it expand its product range; thus, you can list and buy closer basics and some home and lifestyle items.
Poshmark is not a direct buying site, as it allows Sellers and Buyers to connect in a vibrant social-media-like community.
There are many advantages to using Poshmark as a Seller. The most significant will be that it is extremely easy to use the platform, free to list products and that shipping products to buyers are a breeze. However, you’ll need serious connecting to do in order to build a good user base, and the fees you’re charged when your item sells are relatively high.
As a Buyer, you’ll also find Poshmark advantages in many areas. The most significant will be that items listed are usually at a bargain, shipping is relatively fast, and there is strong buyer protection which guarantees refunds. However, you’ll find that shipping costs are relatively high and that returns are not allowed when there are size disputes (non-fitting items).
