Ah, the wonders of technology — making life easier one app at a time. Gone are the days of sifting through rack after rack at Goodwill to find that perfect vintage dress. No longer will you have to carry that huge bin of clothes to sell at Plato’s Closet. With the recent creation of the mobile application, Poshmark, buying and selling secondhand clothing and accessories can be done right from your iPhone.
Poshmark is just one of the many startups that has flourished from the phenomenon of fashion e-commerce. The concept is simple: users go through their closets and find clothes they no longer want or wear. From there, the user creates listings complete with photos and brief descriptions of the item being sold. The seller decides on a price for the item and publishes the listing. After that, the majority of the work is done.
I have explored this app over the past few months, and I’ve come across both advantages and drawbacks.
The Poshmark app is available for free in the iTunes App Store, but upon selling an item, Poshmark takes a hefty 20-percent commission from each sale in addition to the $7 flat-rate shipping charged to the buyer. With such high fees, sellers often experience an undercutting in profits and are forced to sell items for much less than they intended in order to move merchandise. The buyers are often ruthless when negotiating prices because they are taking into account the high shipping rate they must pay as well.
In spite of all of this, I have sold a great deal of old clothes on Poshmark. While the shipping cost is steep for buyers, the prepaid shipping label makes it easier for sellers to ship items. The flat-rate shipping labels remove guess work and alleviate the need to make trips to the post office.
Once the buyer receives his or her item in the mail, the funds are then released to the seller. There’s no limit before you can cash out your account. No matter if you have $1 or $100, you will always have access to your funds. When you decide to cash out your account, your earnings go straight into your bank account through direct deposit.
What I love most about Poshmark is the community. Most users I’ve encountered are friendly, helpful and honest. Many people may wonder what would be the difference between shopping on Poshmark and shopping on Ebay. Frankly, it’s the community. Poshmark is more social than Ebay. When someone buys something on Ebay, the seller ships the item and most likely won’t hear from the buyer again. On Poshmark, sellers build somewhat of a rapport with their buyers, which makes a world of difference.
Poshmark is quite similar to Etsy. I could go on for days admiring the quirky, handmade and vintage items on Etsy. Etsy is more of a hipster haven, while Poshmark can have a teeny-bopper feel to it at times. I often find myself scrolling through listing after listing of Hollister & Co. shirts and Dooney & Bourke bags. Etsy is great for finding pieces that you know no one else will have. Poshmark is better for finding that perfect bag that sold out in stores before you could get your hands on one or vintage luxury apparel at deeply discounted prices.
Poshmark has a vast variety of clothing and accessories. I’ve seen everything from Chanel to Forever 21 to American Apparel. There is something for every style at every price point. Poshmark is a great way to earn some extra cash on the side and find unique pieces for awesome prices. Try it once, and you’ll be back for more.
