If you follow my Instagram account you’ve probably seen me post about either Poshmark or ThredUp (a newer fav). I love to find good deals on items I love and after shopping online secondhand for a few years, I’ve got a few tips that I’ve learned along the way.
KNOW WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR - Browsing poshmark aimlessly is SO (so!) stressful and it kept me away for quite a while because it felt so overwhelming. Once I figured out that I could look for specific pieces, it made it MUCH easier to navigate what I was actually looking for. I use certain search criteria such as “madewell button down XL” or even the specific name if I know it (“madewell brockton bobble sweater”).
With ThredUp, you’re able to save searches and be emailed when new items pop up. It’s much harder to find specific items but a general saved search can help. I have a few current saved searches for “madewell blouse XL”, “tevas 8”, and “madewell sandals 8.5”.
KNOW YOUR SIZES - With Poshmark, there are no returns unless something is actually damaged or the item wasn’t as described. I know my sizes in brands I like to shop and will even go in store to try things on and then make a note for shopping used later on. I typically avoid purchasing denim secondhand as the range of sizing can vary too much and it’s so sad to spend money on something and be stuck with it! One way that I have been successful with denim secondhand is by asking the seller for the item number and then reading reviews. Now I know that in Madewell denim, my size might go up or down depending on the fabric content and how much elastane it has.
Madewell Brockton Bobble sweater from Poshmark
ThredUp DOES allow returns for a $3.99 restocking fee. I try to be selective about what I order to try and avoid this!
LIKE IT + WAIT - In my experience, it’s best to “like” something and give it a few days. I regularly get discounted prices this way and unless it’s something I need right away, a few days can go a long way. ThredUp similarly does sales frequently and you get a better price/reduced shipping if your order is over a certain amount. I like to wait for a good sale and then order a few things I’ve had “liked”.
MAKE AN OFFER - Nobody likes a lowball but 9 times out of 10, people are ready to keep items moving! This only applies to Poshmark.
CHECK THEIR CLOSET - I’ve found some of my favorite pieces by checking out a seller’s closet that I’ve previously purchased from to see what else they have. Often we have similar styles!
Madewell denim jacket from Poshmark
There’s definitely a learning curve to shopping secondhand online but I’ve found some amazing pieces this way. I hope this helps!
