With the advancement of e-commerce every year, the business of second-hand clothes is constantly evolving, and only sellers who keep up with these changes can make the most of it.
As of today, there are millions of sellers who specialize in the sale of second-hand clothes online, and tens of millions who still sell the traditional way. However, only a few of these multitudes are well informed on the specifics of selling second-hand clothes online. With so many websites to sell second-hand clothes, finding the right one to sell on can be a challenge.
Regardless of what you want in sites to sell second-hand clothes, from shipping to payment facilitation, and size of the audience, we have prepared a comprehensive list of some of the best website to sell second-hand clothes.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Website
Before we delve fully into the best websites for selling second hand clothes online, let us examine some of the crucial factors that must be considered when choosing a website to sell your second hand clothes online.
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User Base
The user base is the number of active visitors to a website. Basically, this tells you how popular the website is. After buying top quality second hand clothes in bulk, your aim is to sell fast and make profit, do not list your products on a dormant site.
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Fees and Commissions
When choosing a website to sell your second hand clothes online, ensure to check and confirm their rates, fees, and commissions. Some websites have very outrageous rates and commissions that leave you frustrated after each sale.
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Ease of Use
When looking for the best way to sell second hand clothes online, you must be particular about websites that are easy to use and navigate. It makes listing easier for you, and also makes shopping friendly for your customers.
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Shipping and Handling
Every sale is finalized by shipping, some websites offer shipping, some do not- you might need to engage a delivery service by yourself. There are websites that offer free shipping, some charge you for shipping, and others charge the buyer.
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Customer Support
Customer support is a very important factor to consider, you do not wish to get stuck in the middle of a failed transaction with a customer and not receive any sort of assistance from your online marketplace. The website must be readily available to help both sellers and buyers out when difficulties arise.
Top Websites to Sell Second Hand Clothes
We will now take a look at the best websites to sell second hand clothes, you might want to pay close attention to the Pros and Cons of each when making your decision which to choose.
1. ThredUp
ThredUP is arguably the best way to sell second hand clothes online. This is an e-commerce website that prioritizes convenience, both in selling and buying. It simplifies the whole process of selling and makes it easy to list second hand clothes in bulk.
To sell on ThredUP, you just have to order a “clean out kits,” the website will sort the clothes, decide which ones to sell, list them, then pay you once your items are sold.
You earn a percentage of the sales price, usually between 5% and 80%. For example, if an item is sold at $5 to $19.99, you will earn 5% of this amount, and if it sells for $200 or more, you earn 80% of the sales price.
Note, ThredUP only lists the best second hand clothes on its website, if any of the clothes in your clean out kit is far from new, it will be donated to charity, or you pay a $10 fee for it to be returned to you. Hence, if you wish to make the best out of ThredUP, you must sell items only obtained from the best second hand clothes suppliers.
Pros
- ThredUP offers extremely convenient selling
- A large user base
- You do not need to list or promote clothes by yourself
- Fast turnover rate.
Cons
- You lose money on substandard clothes
- You do not decide prices
- Earn less for cheap items
2. Poshmark
Poshmark is an online marketplace that lets you sell second hand clothes by listing and managing your inventory yourself. It can be accessed via web or mobile app.
For every sale you make under $15, Poshmark charges $2.95, and for sales over $15, you will be charged 20% of the sales price. Payment is made to you within three days of buyers confirming reception.
Poshmark hosts daily “Posh Parties” where sellers can submit clothes that match the day’s designated theme, this makes it extra easy for buyers to find your clothes during these hours.
Pros
- Favorable rates and commissions
- Flat rate shipping
- Large inventory
- Very interactive platform
Cons
- Uploading and sharing items takes a lot of effort
- Requires more time and attention from seller
3. eBay
eBay is considered an OG in selling goods online, this website needs very little introduction as it is one of the world’s most popular marketplaces to sell a product.
One very obvious advantage of selling on eBay, is the freedom that comes with it. You can list any kind of clothes and at your chosen price too. Expanding into second hand branded clothes wholesale, a successful niche on eBay, is also made easier.
A factor that must be noted however is that, to become relevant on eBay, sellers must maintain a reputation of selling only high quality items.
Pros
- eBay has one of the largest international user bases
- First 250 listings are free of charge
- Sellers can decide to use a fixed-price or an auction-style format.
Cons
- Sellers handle shipping themselves
- Products without great descriptions or keyword insertions are hard to find.
4. Depop
Launched in 2011, Depop is an online marketplace that focuses more on trends and therefore, is an ideal website to sell second hand clothes for younger people.
With over 30 million active users, you are guaranteed a ready buying audience, so far your second hand clothes are of top quality. Becoming a seller on Depop is very easy, all it takes is creating an account with your phone number, then proceeding to set up your store by uploading a cover image and a description.
Depop charges just 10% on every completed sale, and you can choose to carry out shipping yourself, or pay a small fee for Depop to send you a shipping label.
Pros
- Vibrant and dedicated audience
- Large user base
Cons
- It is too niched down
5. Mercari
Another top website that is perfect for selling second hand clothes online is Mercari. Using this website is very easy- create a free account, take photos of your items, write a detailed description for each item, set a price, choose who pays for shipping, then straight up to listing.
You can access Mercari via web or mobile app. This platform is more open-ended and gives sellers a little bit more control than most other websites.
Listing is free on Mercari, you are however charged 10% on every sale completed (sometimes more).
Pros
- User-friendly interface
- Seller flexibility
Cons
- You do everything yourself
- Fees are relative
6. Vinted
Vinted is a great market place that sells not only second hand clothes, but every other thrift fashion item. After purchasing your second hand clothes and second hand shoes in bales from your supplier, list them on Vinted and once it is sold, you keep 100% of your profits. Yes, Vinted does not charge any money for listing or selling on their website.
If Vinted does not charge you, how then do they make their money? We’ll answer that, FROM THE BUYERS. For every purchase, buyers are charged a fixed fee of $0.70, and another 5% of an item’s price.
Pros
- Sellers keep 100% of their earnings
- Easy communication with sellers and freedom to bargain
- Affordable shipping
Cons
- Has a smaller audience
7. Grailed
Grailed was formerly a menswear-only store, but now, has opened up for all kinds of clothing including second hand clothes for men, women, and children.
Selling on Grailed is easy, simply open an account, upload pictures of items, give a description for each, set the sale price, and hit publish. Your uploads undergo a digital authentication process for Grailed to verify your items.
Grailed will charge you a fixed 9% commission on every sale, and you also pay the standard PayPal fees.
Pros
- Affordable shipping
- Fixed and cheap commissions
- A wide inventory allowing for all kinds of clothes
Cons
- Payment is via PayPal only.
Tips for Maximizing Sales
Now that you know the best website to sell second hand clothes, below are some tips to help you sell faster:
High-Quality Photos
Take high quality photos of your clothes, utilize natural lighting and ensure to capture from multiple angles. The background must be clean and uncluttered.
Detailed Descriptions
Accurately describe your items in the field provided for description. Giving a detailed description with the relevant keywords makes it easy for buyers to find the clothes.
Competitive Pricing
If the website lets you input your own price, set a price that is not too high, nor too low. You can carry out a little research on how much other sellers are listing something similar, try to beat that.
Marketing Your Listings
After listing your clothes, you can copy links to them and share on social media, you can also politely ask friends to help you share. Doing this increases your chances of selling out fast.
Managing Customer Communication
Customer communication is very important when selling online. Many of these websites allow communication with buyers, ensure to make the best use of it.
Conclusion
When you purchase great second hand clothes in bulk, you need an equally standard website to sell them on. Our selection of the best 7 websites to sell second hand clothes based on the essential factors mentioned at the early stage of this article- user base, rates, ease of use, shipping, and customer support, makes it easier to sell your second hand clothes online.
