Aaron Bostrom | 

How to Shop, Sell and Save at Poshmark

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The temptation to buy a new pair of jeans can sometimes be overwhelming. It’s out of our budgets. It’s not practical. But it is oh, so fun to have something new to wear! Poshmark is the best of both worlds. It’s a site loaded with clothing, shoes, and accessories other women are selling to clear out their own closets. And it’s an opportunity to make some money by selling those jeans that no longer fit or anything that isn’t worn frequently enough to be part of the regular rotation.

Here’s how to make the most of all Poshmark has to offer.

What is Poshmark

Think of Poshmark as the Craigslist of fashion. This virtual community (transactions are done through a free app) allows users to list clothing they want to sell. Ever hear the phrase “shop your closet?” Poshmark encourages users to shop the closets of others instead. Items for sale by Poshmark members are displayed in “closets” that are named for each seller (“Megan’s Closet,” “Christy’s Closet,” etc.). Browse by style or size to keep the hunt focused; with so many closets to admire it can be tempting to impulse buy, which defeats the purpose of bargain shopping.

Prices vary depending on the label and condition. A cute blouse from Express is $13. A pair of Forever 21 jeans was recently listed for $12, but fans of high-end designer labels like True Religion will pay more; a pair of dark wash True Religion jeans were recently listed for $75. On the other hand, for anyone who has always dreamed of owning some True Religion jeans, this could be the way to make it happen. Just list a few items for sale on Poshmark, and use the money to fund those dreamy jeans.

Poshmark users must have an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, but Poshmark has future plans for a website for buying and selling and an app for Android users.

How it works

Set up a free Poshmark account. It’s easiest to sign up through Facebook, but an account can also be created using an email address.

Poshmark gets 20 percent of each sale and the remaining 80 percent is deposited into the seller’s Poshmark account (that account is established during the signup process). When an item sells, Poshmark sends the seller a pre-paid, pre-addressed shipping label. The seller packages the item and uses the label to send to the buyer’s address. The shipping rate is $7 for anywhere in the U.S., and the buyer pays for shipping. Buyers pay for items (and shipping) with a credit card, and the transaction goes through Poshmark.

Sellers can keep their earnings in their Poshmark account and use it to purchase items they want to buy or can withdraw money at any time by transferring funds to a banking account.

Selling

Photos do all the talking on Poshmark, so the key to selling something fast is to making it look irresistible.

Clothing should be freshly laundered and stain-free and wrinkle-free. For shoes, make sure there are no scuff marks.

Take a pretty picture! Sellers must create what Poshmark calls a “Covershot” each time they list something for sale. Here’s how to take a photo like a pro:

  • Click on “Create a Covershot” to get started.
  • Sellers are encouraged to wear the items they want to sell as part of an outfit to make it more appealing.
  • If the item can’t be worn, display it against a plain background to eliminate distractions.
  • After taking a photo, upload using the Poshmark app and give it some pizzazz using one of their filters. Options like vintage, retro, modern or chic give each photo a different hue.

Poshmark shoppers often ask sellers questions, so be ready to respond and do it as quickly as possible. Comments are made in a process similar to Facebook commenting. People are identified by username, and comments appear beneath the items listed for sale. Some buyers negotiate the price, and sellers are free to adjust the price whenever they like. Once an item sells, the seller is notified by Poshmark and the pre-paid shipping label is sent. The money from the sale is deposited in the seller’s Poshmark account after the buyer receives the item and verifies receipt with Poshmark.

Buying

Poshmark is set up to protect the buyer from scams and ripoffs. For example, payments aren’t released to the seller until the buyer confirms the shipment has been received. Poshmark encourages buyers to follow some additional guidelines in order to stay safe. Buyers should never offer to purchase an item offsite (through PayPal or simply by sending money directly to the buyer). Direct trades are strongly discouraged.

Other things to keep in mind:

  • Poshmark notifies buyers by email if their purchase has been accepted by the seller.
  • It takes one to two weeks for the order to be received by the buyer.
  • When the order arrives, the buyer must go into the “My Purchases” tab under “My Accounts” and click on “Accept” so that the payment can be released to the seller.
  • If an item isn’t what the buyer expected (it is damaged, doesn’t match description or is the wrong item), contact Poshmark immediately (support@poshmark.com). There is no return policy, but Poshmark promises to work with customers when problems occur to ensure they are satisfied with a purchase.

Posh Parties

Members can participate in real-time shopping events called Posh Parties, which are scheduled frequently and accessed via the Poshmark app. Each party has a theme, making it easier for sellers to market their products to a focused audience and for buyers to find a specific item. Recent Posh Parties have featured boots, jewelry, and items from designers like Louis Vuitton and Gucci. Click on the “Party” button to see a list of scheduled Posh Parties. Poshmark members can always add their items to an upcoming party by clicking on the “Share” next to anything they want to have included in a party. Poshmark contacts sellers when their product can be featured in an upcoming event.

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