In this article, I’ll take a close look at Poshmark: a convenient option for selling your clothes online. Team Clark member Beth recently tried out Poshmark to see what you can expect and to figure out how you can maximize your earnings.
5 Things to Know About Selling on Poshmark
If you’re thinking about clearing out some closet space or you’re looking for ways to make extra cash, Poshmark may be worth checking out. Available as an app or online, Poshmark makes it easy to create a listing, connect with potential buyers and sell your stuff. While the company does charge a sales fee, it also covers the shipping costs for sellers. And it’s easy to determine a good price for your items by looking at similar pieces for sale online.
Before you download the app and get started, here are five things to know:
Below, you’ll find detailed information including how to get started on Poshmark, what to expect as a seller and how to earn the most from your listings.
What Is Poshmark?
Founded in 2011, Poshmark has become an extremely popular resale platform that combines shopping with social media interaction. It's available as an app for iOS and Android devices.
Similar to OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark allows users to shop or sell. Specifically, you'll be able to browse or create listings for men's, women's and kids' clothing and accessories as well as household items.
When I downloaded the app and browsed through the listings, most of the clothing I saw was in really good condition. A lot of the items were from well-known brands or popular stores. I also saw posts for shoes and accessories, home decor and essentials, beauty products and more. But it’s clear that Poshmark is mostly aimed toward clothes.
According to the app, you can find millions of clothing items for up to 70% off. And the company claims that “people like you are making thousands of dollars every month” by selling their clothes on Poshmark.
While that may be on the higher end of the scale, you can definitely make some extra cash by cleaning out your closet and posting your old clothes. This is especially true if the clothes are in good condition, in style and/or from a well-known store.
How Does Poshmark Work?
Poshmark works by connecting people who are selling their items with potential buyers who have similar tastes.
Sellers can take a photo of the item they want to sell, write a description and set a price. Then, similar to social media, the post will appear on the app as buyers browse available items. Once someone purchases the item, you can ship it for free.
If you’re thinking about selling clothes on Poshmark, here’s how to begin:
Create an Account
To get started, download the Poshmark app from the App Store or Google Play. You can also visit Poshmark's website. When I created my account, I downloaded the app.
Once you choose how you'd like to sign in, you can enter information including your email address, username, gender and country. Then, you can enter some of your sizes and provide your ZIP code to complete your profile.
Poshmark will have you choose a few brands to follow so that its algorithm can recommend items for you.
Next, you can add your contacts and link other social media accounts if you want to connect with friends who also use Poshmark. Then you can start browsing the feed.
Here, you can follow, like, or comment on items and share posts that interest you. Poshmark will show you items you may like based on the information you provided when you set up your profile.
Of course, if you’re interested in making money instead of spending money, you’ll need to post your own items.
Creating a Listing
Before you create a listing, make sure that the item you want to sell is clean and ready for pictures. Choose a well-lighted place so that your photo will catch a potential customer's eye.
When you’re ready, click the camera icon at the bottom of the screen.
Your phone’s camera will open so that you can snap a picture to serve as the cover photo for your post. Like some other social media platforms, you can edit and filter the picture, but don’t change it too much. You want the buyers to have an accurate impression of your item.
After taking the cover photo, you can add more pictures to show off the features and details of the item. Once you’ve added pictures, fill in your listing details. This will include the name of what you’re selling, a description, the item category, quantity, size, brand and color.
You’ll also be asked if the item is “New With Tags.” If it is, you’ll also be asked whether it should be classified as a boutique listing. This label means that the item was purchased directly from a brand or distributor and that the item is being sold for the first time.
To finish the listing, add the original price of the item and your asking price. If you don’t know the original price, search for your item online. Be as descriptive as possible to find the most accurate price out there.
The listing price you choose will largely depend on the item's condition and original price. If you aren't sure how much to charge, you can search for similar items to see how much other people are charging.
To do this, click the magnifying glass at the bottom of the screen. On some pages, there may also be a search bar at the top. When you search, you can narrow down results by using the filters at the top.
When you enter your list price, you'll see how much you'll earn if you sell at that price. While it's free to list items on Poshmark, they do charge a sales fee. For sales under $15, Poshmark takes a flat $2.95 fee. For sales over $15, Poshmark takes 20% of the listing price.
Once you’ve filled in the details, click “Next” in the upper-right corner. You can share your listing to Facebook, Snapchat, Pinterest, Twitter and Tumblr from this page. Sharing your post to other platforms gives it more exposure and could lead to a quicker sale.
To finish, click “List.” Your post will be shared with your followers and other Poshmark users. Then, you just have to wait for a sale!
Shipping Your Item(s)
Once you've made a sale, you'll get a confirmation email with a free shipping label attached.
You’ll have to print the shipping label and attach it to the outside of your shipping box. It’s important that you use this label so that Poshmark knows when the item was delivered. It’s then that the company will release your earnings.
Poshmark recommends that you use a free USPS priority mailing box or a regular brown box. Make sure to pack your item with care, especially if it's fragile. Once you've packed it up, drop it off in a USPS mailbox or directly at the post office.
For more information on how to ship your item once it's sold, visit Poshmark's website.
Getting Paid
As long as there are no returns or other issues on the buyer's end with the item, the company will release your earnings to your Poshmark account within three days of delivery.
You can click on the money symbol in the upper-right corner of the app or click “My Balance” under the account tab. There, you’ll see your earnings.
There are three ways to redeem what you earn:
- You can keep the earnings as credits and spend it within the app.
- Set up direct deposit to transfer the earnings to your bank.
- Have a check sent to you.
According to the website, direct deposit typically takes 2-3 business days. If you ask for a check, it should get to you within 10 business days.
For more information on redeeming your earnings, check out Poshmark's website.
Tips For Maximizing Your Earnings
If you’re thinking about selling some items on Poshmark, there are a few tips that may help you maximize your earnings.
When deciding what to sell and creating your listing, keep these tips in mind:
- Sell items that are in good condition. Most of the items you'll see on Poshmark are in good condition. People who are using the app are typically looking for quality, fashionable items that are often brand-name or from a well-known store. Listing items like this is a great way to maximize your earnings.
- Make sure the pictures look good. Since potential buyers won't be able to see the items in person before purchasing, it's important to include an accurate, quality photo. Take the time to make sure the lighting is good, the display space is clutter-free and that the item you're selling is clean.
- Include an accurate description. Be sure to include the color of the item, the material it's made of, what brand it is, the size, and anything else you can think to include. You never know what people will be searching for! Plus, an accurate description will help you avoid any unsatisfied customers or potential returns.
- Price your items competitively. Even if you have an idea of what price you want to ask for your item, take the time to search on the app and see what your competition looks like. Seeing the other prices for similar items is a great way to make sure the price you're offering is fair and competitive.
- Share your listings and be active on the app. The more exposure that people have to your listings, the more likely you are to sell. Post your listings to your social media pages to get more eyes on the item. Also, since the Poshmark app works so similarly to social media, be active there as well! Follow, like and comment on other posts to gain followers yourself.
How to Delete Your Poshmark Account
If you’ve sold the items you wanted to get rid of, you can keep your Poshmark account active to shop for discounted clothes or stay active on the app to build your following for future sales.
If you want to delete your Poshmark account, visit the account tab in the app. From there, select "Poshmark Support Center," click "Manage Account Status," and then click "Delete My Account."
To delete your account on the web, you can click here to submit a request.
Once you’ve deleted your account, be sure to delete the app from all of your devices and clear your browser history, cookies and cache.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to clear out your closet, selling your clothes online can be a great option. And Poshmark may be an app worth checking out.
Since Poshmark is set up similar to a social media platform, it’s easy to connect with potential buyers. Plus, you can search for similar items before listing your own to get an idea of how much you should ask.
Once you've made your sale, remember that Poshmark will charge a sales fee. For sales under $15, that fee is $2.95. For sales $15 and over, the fee increases to 20% of the total listing price. Still, Poshmark does cover the shipping charges.
For more information on Poshmark, be sure to visit the company's website and FAQ page.
Where do you sell your stuff to make the most money? Let us know in the comments below!
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