Need help finding places to shop second-hand online? Check out this post for the best place to buy used clothes online.
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Over the past year or so, I’ve made it a priority to try to shop second-hand first. So much clothing ends up in the landfill every year, and I want to do everything I can to help solve this problem.
It’s better for the planet, plus, shopping second-hand allows me to score more unique, better quality pieces, often at a lower price.
While I’ve been on this second-hand journey, I have discovered many places to buy used clothes online. In this post, I will be sharing the best places to buy used clothes online to help you shop second-hand first.
Best place to buy used clothes online:
My top favorite places to buy used clothes online are Poshmark, eBay and The RealReal. Since I am most familiar with these three, I will be providing the top things you should know about those platforms. In this post, I will also be sharing other online second-hand shopping platforms that I may not be as familiar with but have browsed or shopped with before.
My top 3 favorites:
1. Poshmark
I’m an OG Poshmark user, so I love it. However, I know some people struggle to find exactly what they want when searching in-app.
My top tips for finding what you’re looking for on Poshmark are to sort by relevance (it automatically sorts by just shared), implement filters such as colors, brands and categories and try to figure out the exact name of the item you are looking for and search in Google followed by the word “Poshmark” if you are having trouble finding items in-app.
Good to Know:
- Can submit offers
- Easily save and browse recent likes
- Can use sold listings to find similar items below
- Authenticity guarantee on items over $500
2. eBay
eBay is one of my favorite second-hand shopping websites because you can find some of the best deals, plus many sellers allow returns.
Pro tip: if you are shopping for luxury items, try shopping with a seller in Japan. The laws against fakes are stricter in other countries, so it is more likely that the item you are purchasing is authentic (and often at a great deal).
Good to Know:
- Can bid
- Can make offers
- Low prices
- Can link in LTK (for my other content creators)
- Authenticity guarantee on certain items
- Watch items can be difficult to sort through (coming from someone who is used to having likes sorted by most recently liked on Poshmark)
- Items have an end date
- You have to be more attentive with bidding to get what you want
3. The RealReal
I know people have realreal grievances with The RealReal. And I get it – it seems like half the time mannequins on the site aren’t even wearing the items correctly, so how can we know that items really are authentic?
But I do love the layout of the app, and that they offer returns for items that aren’t on sale (however they do penalize if you return too much, which I understand but also struggle with because you don’t have the ability to try on online items first). Plus, if you are looking for a certain style of high quality but don’t necessarily care what the brand is, it can be a great discovery tool. I’ve personally loved it for shopping for wedding guest dresses.
Good to Know:
- Large selection of quality brands
- Allows returns
- New arrivals daily
- A more curated experience
- Items have been sorted through by The RealReal
- Authenticates every item
- Can link in LTK (for my other content creators)
- Items are not always shown correctly on the mannequin
- You can receive strikes if you return too much
- You have to be logged in to browse
Other online second-hand shopping platforms:
4. Independent vintage shops/resellers
Independent resellers are a great place to buy used clothes online, and it is often easier to shop with because they have a hand-curated selection, making it easier to find what you are looking for. Plus, by shopping with independent resellers, you are supporting small! Check out a few re-sellers I follow on Instagram:
5. Facebook Marketplace/Resell Groups
There are all kinds of Facebook groups for certain brands, locations or types of products. If you are an N.C. State Student, sell your shit and tell your shit ncsu is a great Facebook group to join. I was also part of a Lilly Pulitzer buy/sell/trade group back in the day, and many people recommend joining your local “buy nothing” page. Facebook marketplace is also great for household items and furniture.
6. Vestiaire Collective
Vestiaire Collective is a second-hand platform that sells authenticated women’s, men’s and children’s luxury and designer pieces. Items ordered from private sellers on Vestiaire Collective are not eligible for return, but items purchased from professional sellers are.
7. WhatNot
WhatNot is a live-stream shopping and marketplace in which sellers host live streams to sell their products. It appears that not all products on WhatNot are second-hand, but I have seen YouTubers, including Laini Ozark, sell their secondhand pieces on WhatNot. Plus, WhatNot promises to make things right if you are unhappy with your purchase.
8. ThredUp
ThredUp is an online consignment and thrift store that strives to solve the fashion waste crisis by making second-hand clothing options more accessible and attainable. I haven’t purchased from ThredUp, but I have browsed their selection numerous times (and I get their Facebook ads), and I have found that their items seem to be relatively affordable in comparison to other second-hand sites. ThredUp items are purchased from sellers then listed and shipped by the ThredUp team, and ThredUp does offer returns.
9. Dora Maar
This is one that I need to check out myself. Dora Maar sells “curated luxury fashion from the most coveted closets.” Basically, it’s designer clothing sourced from influencer and celebrity closets. Dora Maar does offer returns.
10. Vinted
Vinted is a second-hand shopping website that helps the world sell and buy second-hand wardrobe items. The platform seems to offer very affordable pieces, and for a small additional fee, you can add buyer protection to your purchase.
11. Curtsy
Curtsy is a former personal closet clothing rental company turned second-hand resell platform. I have worked with Curtsy in the past, and I found that the platform is very similar to Poshmark, with a smaller selection. Items are listed and shipped by the sellers, and you can submit offers. Returns are typically not an option, but I had a few issues with items having damages that were not disclosed, so I texted customer support and they quickly got back to me to process a return.
12. Etsy
Not everything on Etsy is vintage since it is mainly a marketplace for small businesses and independent sellers. Because of this, you have to be a little more intentional and investigative when shopping second-hand on Etsy, but you can find some really great vintage pieces! Many Etsy sellers do offer returns.
13. Depop
Depop is another resale platform very similar to Poshmark on which you purchase directly from sellers. I like to think of Depop as the Gen Z Poshmark. As someone who is in between a millennial and Gen Z, I haven’t shopped on Depop much, but I know it is a favorite for many second-hand lovers. Depop does offer returns, but only if the item is not as described, so again, similar to Poshmark.
14. Mercari
Mercari is another great place to buy used clothes online that is built very similarly to Poshmark. I used to use it back in the day to sell items, and I found that you could often find Poshmark-sellers on Mercari who wear listing the same items at a lower price because Mercari didn’t take as high of a percentage of the commission as Poshmark (you can also find this situation on eBay). On Mercari, you purchase directly from sellers, and returns are only offered if the item is not as described.
15. Goodwill
Did you know that Goodwill has an online shopping option? I’ve personally never shopped on Goodwill Finds, but after browsing while writing this post, I think I should give it a try! I thought that the website wouldn’t have much organization to it and would be like a true online thrifting experience (which, honestly, sounds kind of like a nightmare), but the site does have a variety of ways to sort through product, including category, brand, condition, price, material, size, etc.
16. Rebag
Rebag is a luxury handbag, fine jewelry, accessory and small leather goods buy-sell-trade company. Specialists individually inspect and certify every item before listing, and returns are accepted.
17. Grailed
Grailed is a resale website that specializes in authentic men’s and women’s streetwear. The platform focuses on the expression of personal style with curated selections. Buyers purchase directly from sellers, and returns are only allowed if the item arrives differently than described.
18. Everything but the House (EBTH)
EBTH brings the estate sale experience online through an auction site full of hidden gems sourced from home clean-outs. All items starting bid is $1, and items are authenticated. EBTH accepts returns if items were not represented correctly.
19. Resale sections on brand sites
Did you know that many brands now have second-hand sections on their site? I love that brands are taking this step to keep their products in circulation longer. There are some conversations to be had about brands that continue to overproduce and how this is counterproductive to their second-hand initiatives, but I think it is a great step in the right direction. Brands that have second-hand sections on their websites include:
- Coach
- Patagonia
- lululemon
- Carhartt
- Outerknown
- Eileen Fisher
- REI
- Athleta
- Ulla Johnson
- Juicy Couture
- Hanna Andersson