How to start finding gems straight away
By now, a lot of consumers are aware of the environmental and humanitarian impacts of garment production. But let's be honest, whether your size or style has changed, or those pesky dorm dryers are putting extra wear and tear on your favorite pair of jeans, there are lots of times when you need or want new clothes. But oftentimes, sustainable fashion brands are just a little out of the budget. This is often the case for me, which is why I turn to secondhand shopping as a sustainable alternative. There is currently enough used clothing in circulation to dress the next SIX generations, which is enough for all of us to find something great to wear. I am passionate about getting more people to shop secondhand, as it is a great way to reduce waste and recycle. The complaints I most often hear that keep people from shopping second hand is “I can never find things I like,” “I don’t live near any thrift stores,” “It’s hard to find things in my size,” or “I can’t shop secondhand when I’m shopping for a formal event.”
Luckily, online secondhand retailers are a great way to shop for a huge selection of gently used clothing. They give you the ability to narrow your search and browse clothing from anywhere. The vast offering of clothing on these sites can be overwhelming, so I wanted to round up some of my best tips for finding hidden gems and great deals when shopping online.
Poshmark is a secondhand marketplace site where users can list used clothing in good condition. Poshmark is particularly good for finding “hot” brands, whereas Depop is more eclectic, having some fresh brands but also a lot of good vintage and retro finds. Similarly, eBay can be a good place to find vintage clothing, since its userbase includes an older demographic than Poshmark and Depop. I’ve had particularly good luck with finding vintage items from the 80s-90s and even the 60s there.
Tips for shopping on Depop, Poshmark, and eBay:
1. Search by brand
Depop and Poshmark both allow users to search for specific brands. This can be a really good option if you know exactly what you’re looking for. I would recommend you search by brand, and then narrow by size to make sure the search results are accurate.
2. Search by style type
This one really only works on Depop. Depop listers can tag their items with keywords like “athleisure” or “street style,” which you can use as search terms if you aren’t exactly sure of what you’re looking for. I would recommend you don’t use these terms by themselves, because the answer may be too broad. You can combine them with other search terms or specific items of clothing.
3. Use the algorithm
Depop has a great function where it will recommend items based on things you like. Even if you’re just browsing, make sure to make an account and heart every item you like. Depop will start to recommend items based on your “likes,” which is a great way to find new listings! Poshmark has this functionality too, though I have found their algorithm is not as reliable as Depop’s. In the same vein, a lot of sellers on Depop and Poshmark will list a lot of items at once, so if you see an item you like, check out the seller's page as they might have items of a similar style listed.
4. Take advantage of advanced search tools
All these sites have advanced search tools which allow you to limit your search to items of a certain color, size, or price. This can be especially useful if you are starting out with a broad search term like “red dress.”
5. Bundle to save money
If you DM sellers on eBay, Poshmark, or Depop, they will sometimes give you a lower price or a discount on shipping if you purchase multiple items. It’s just like haggling in real life!
6. Tips specifically for eBay
No gatekeeping here, I have to admit eBay is one of the hardest online sites to navigate and find good items on. eBay can be a great place to find good deals, since it is not primarily a clothing marketplace. Many sellers sell clothing along with other items for low prices just to get rid of them. Since eBay is not only a clothing marketplace, however, there is no way to search for broad styles or broad items of clothing. So the more specific your search terms are on here, the better. For example, “jeans” might leave you with way too many options to search through, but “Wrangler 90s men's jeans good condition” or “Levi 515 jeans” will give you more luck.
7. Cardinal rule: lowball whenever possible
If the seller has enabled the “offer” feature, it allows you to make an offer lower than the listing price. This tends to be especially effective when the item has been listed for a long time or has little engagement (likes, in people’s shopping carts, etc).
Macey Jacobs is a blog writer for Revolution. This article was edited by Meliha Ural.
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