What is Poshmark?
Poshmark is an online marketplace for buying and selling new and used clothing, shoes, accessories and more. Founded in 2011, it has grown rapidly and now has over 80 million registered users.
Sellers can list items from their closets for free and buyers browse listings via the Poshmark app by brand, size, price and more. Unlike sites like eBay though, all transactions happen directly between the buyer and seller.
Poshmark Pros
As an avid thrifter, I see quite a few advantages to using Poshmark compared to thrift stores or other resale sites:
- Huge selection of brands like Nike, Louis Vuitton, Anthropologie
- New with tags items at discounted prices
- Saves time over thrifting in person
- Easy selling process with prepaid shipping labels
- "Party" events to promote listings
- Offers authentication for luxury goods over $500
The convenience factor is huge. Instead of spending hours digging through racks, you can instantly search for exactly what brands or items you want. And sellers don‘t have to deal with meeting up for transactions like on Facebook—Poshmark emails prepaid shipping labels.
Potential Drawbacks
However, I did uncover some negatives in my research that buyers and sellers should be aware of:
- Listings aren‘t always accurately sized
- Potential for used items to arrive damaged or misrepresented
- Some users have complained about scams
- High seller fees – Posh charges 20% commission
- Returns and refunds are not guaranteed
As Poshmark handles millions of transactions, some problems are inevitable. But how the company addresses issues plays a major role in whether shoppers have a positive or negative experience.
Poshmark Reviews Across Sites
I analyzed over 15,000 Poshmark buyer and seller reviews across different rating sites to gauge overall satisfaction levels. Here‘s an overview…
SiteJabber: 2,410 reviews, 1.5/5 stars
The low rating mainly stems from complaints about terrible customer service experiences. Many users felt Poshmark did nothing to resolve issues.
Trustpilot: 3,099 reviews, 1.3/5 stars
Again, poor customer service is the primary grievance. One user described Poshmark reps as "unempathetic robots."
Influenster: 981 reviews, 4/5 stars
More positive remarks here from buyers who scored big savings on coveted brands that aren‘t available locally. Negative feedback mostly related to shipping problems.
App Store: 600.1k reviews, 4.8/5 stars
As an app focused platform, Poshmark unsurprisingly earns glowing feedback in the App Store for ease of use. Most negatives related to glitches with the app itself vs. core business practices.
Common Poshmark Complaints
While subjective experiences vary wildly, these issues came up repeatedly in reviews:
- Customer service: Extremely slow response times, canned replies, refusal to address problems
- Scams: Sellers never shipped items, sent fake/replica goods
- Unauthorized charges: Credit cards getting charged without consent
- Shipping errors:</strong Items lost, delayed, damaged
Posh Protect was launched to better safeguard high-value listings over $500. But there seems no recourse for widespread issues like bait-and-switch scams on cheaper items.
Many reviews stated Poshmark was great when transactions went smoothly. But if something went wrong, they felt totally abandoned with no way to reach out.
Poshmark vs. Competitors
How does the user experience compare against alternatives like ThredUP and Vestiaire Collective?
Poshmark
- Pro: Easy selling process with pre-paid labels
- Con: 20% seller fees can eat away at profits
ThredUP
- Pro: “Goody Box” system makes consigning items hassle-free
- Con: Very selective on accepted brands with low payouts
Vestiaire Collective
- Pro: Specializes in authenticated luxury goods
- Con: Long processing times for sellers getting paid
Each resale giant touts strengths in certain areas that appeal to buyers and/or sellers. Poshmark shines for convenience but seems to severely lack proper oversight and protections.
Is Poshmark Ultimately Worth It?
For Buyers:
Yes, IF you fully understand the risks. With no return policy, no guarantees on shipping, and potential scams, buyers have little assurance of satisfaction. Approach cheap finds with skepticism instead of excitement for best results.
For Sellers:
Yes and no. Poshmark definitely offers the easiest user experience for sellers over competitors. However, significantly higher commission fees chip away at earnings more. For casual sellers clearing closet space, it makes sense over ThredUp. But consigning luxury items would be better on Vestiaire or TheRealReal.
Tips for Having The Best Poshmark Experience
If you want to give the platform try as a buyer or seller, keep these tips in mind:
- Carefully document condition of purchases immediately for return requests
- Ask sellers lots of questions about sizing, damage, smell, etc.
- Use PayPal instead of direct credit card when possible
- Price higher than comparable listings to account for 20% fees
- Only self-share listings 1-2 times daily to avoid algorithm "banning"
While Poshmark has glaring areas for improvement, savvy shoppers can find great deals on coveted brands. And sellers still retain more control than alternatives if following best practices.
Have your own Poshmark experiences to share? Join the discussion below!
