How Trustworthy Is Poshmark? 11 Things To Know Before You Shop
Written by
Angela Mae
Edited by
Melanie Grafil
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Poshmark is an online platform that lets you buy or sell secondhand items like shoes, apparel and household goods. Many of these items are listed at a discounted price so, as a buyer, you could save money by shopping on the website. As a seller, you could also turn a profit on things you own but no longer need or want by creating listings for each item and setting reasonable prices to attract prospective buyers.
Regardless of whether you’re a buyer or seller, it’s important to make sure that any platform you’re using is safe and legitimate. So, if you’re wondering “how trustworthy is Poshmark?” the simple answer is that it is indeed a trustworthy shopping platform.
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But as with any online shopping site, there are certain things you need to know before buying or selling items from Poshmark. After all, you want to ensure you’re not getting scammed out of your money.
With that being said, here are the top 11 things you should know before using Poshmark.
What Is Poshmark?
Founded in 2011, Poshmark is an online, user-run marketplace that lets you buy or sell used items at a discounted price. The platform has over 80 million members and more than 200 million items up for sale at any given time.
How To Shop on Poshmark
You can shop from the website or the app on Android or iOS. To buy or sell items on Poshmark, you’ll need to create an account. You can do this by connecting your Facebook, Google, or Apple account to the platform. Or you can use your email address.
As a buyer, you can browse items for sale based on categories, brands, and other criteria. Once you’ve selected an item to purchase, simply input your payment information and shipping address. You can also make an offer on auctioned items.
Poshmark Guide for Sellers
As a seller, you can create your own listings with product descriptions, images and pricing. You can then promote them to the platform’s customer base or share them on social media. Sellers also have a “closet” that prospective customers can check out to see what else they’re selling.
When you buy something on Poshmark, the seller receives an email with information about that item, including a pre-addressed shipping label. The seller is then responsible for packaging and shipping that item.
What You Need To Know Before Using Poshmark
Here are the top 11 things — good and not so good — to know when shopping on Poshmark.
1. Items are Used
Most items you find on Poshmark are pre-owned. This includes clothing and shoes, as well as other goods. Sellers will typically provide details about the condition of the item in the listing, but not always.
2. Refunds are Tricky
With Poshmark, most sales are final. In some cases, you may be able to file a return and get a refund on something you’ve purchased, but the process isn’t easy.
To request a refund, you’ll need to take several clear photos of the item you received. You’ll also need to give a thorough description of why the item did not meet your expectations and should be refunded. Upon submitting your request, the seller will look it over. If they accept it, you’ll need to send back the item to get your money back.
Poshmark does have a feature called Posh Protect that can help you get a refund if the item does not match the description or if it never shipped. In all other cases, however, you will not get your money back.
3. Reviews are Low
When determining how trustworthy Poshmark is, it’s also important to look at online reviews. On reputable sites like Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau, this platform has relatively poor reviews. Most negative reviews are due to customer service issues, item returns, or poor item quality or condition.
4. There May be Scams
Be aware of scams when shopping on Poshmark. One common scam occurs when a customer falsely claims a product never arrived or was damaged to try to get their money back. Another common scam is when a seller claims an item is designer or otherwise authentic when it isn’t.
To avoid scams, look for sellers who’ve been around for a while. Reputable sellers often have titles, like Posh Ambassador, indicating they’re a legitimate member of the Poshmark community.
Also, only make transactions from the Poshmark app or website. This makes it easier to track purchases in case something happens. If a seller or buyer wants to do a transaction outside of the platform, it may be a scam.
5. You Can Verify Item Authenticity
One feature that makes Poshmark a little more trustworthy is Posh Authenticate. When you purchase an item for $500 or more, it’s automatically sent to either Poshmark HQ or a reputable independent supplier that can verify its authenticity. If the authenticity cannot be verified, the you’ll receive a full refund.
6. Shopping is Easy
On Poshmark, you can shop for a variety of items, including apparel, home goods, certain electronics and select cosmetics.
When shopping, you can set more detailed parameters about the type of item you want to purchase. For example, you can select “Home Category” and then filter for specific items, brands, colors and so forth. Or you can search by item name to see if it’s available on the platform.
7. Some Items are Restricted
Poshmark does prohibit certain items. Prohibited items includes specific electronics, perfumes, and fake or replica designer goods. If you’re caught selling these goods, you may be temporarily or permanently banned from the platform.
8. You Can Shop Via Posh Shows or Posh Parties
Another way to buy items on Poshmark is through Posh Shows, which are live streams in which a seller shows off their items. Posh Shows are sometimes structured like auctions, meaning you can bid for items instead of buying them outright.
Alternatively, you can shop via a Posh Party, which happens in real time. These occur at set times during the day and have their own themes — like “hot handbags” or “just jewelry.”
9. Poshmark Charges a Fee
Although Poshmark sells goods at a discount, some items on the platform may still be more expensive than what you’d find at a thrift store. Part of the reason for this is that sellers sometimes increase their prices to mitigate Poshmark’s fees.
Poshmark’s fees are fairly straightforward for sellers. For sales under $15, Poshmark takes out a flat amount of $2.95. For sales at or above $15, Poshmark takes out 20%. The remainder goes to the seller.
This might beg the question: Is it worth selling goods on Poshmark?
If you’re only planning to sell a few, cheap items, it might not be worth the fee. But if you’re looking for a consistent side hustle where you regularly sell items online, it could be worth it.
10. Profits are Taxable
As a Poshmark seller, you’ll be responsible for paying taxes on any earned income over a certain amount — $600 in 2023. You should receive a 1099-K tax form so you can report your income on your tax return.
11. Poshmark Has Time Restrictions
As a seller, you’re responsible for shipping any purchased item within five days of receiving the shipping label. As a buyer, you have three days after receiving the item to confirm receipt, dispute it or request a refund. If you do nothing in this time, the funds will be automatically sent to the seller.
