Tips for Newbies Shopping Secondhand Online

For a multitude of reasons, there is an increase in the popularity of shopping resale online. It can be intimidating and overwhelming if you are new to shopping secondhand online. I wanted to share my tips for newbies shopping resale online, so you can dip your toes into it and see if it may be for you.

We have all noticed the decline in quality since the pandemic. Tariffs, supply chain issues, venture capitalists, fast fashion, and influencer culture have caused retailers to make cost-cutting decisions to keep prices competitive. Even so, prices have increased. It is hard in this day and age to purchase quality clothing at any price… if you are purchasing new. Second hand and resale… that is another matter.

Online secondhand shopping has only improved in the past few years. New sites, new tools, and new ways to buy gently used clothing that is often better quality and lower price than what is currently for sale. If you are new to shopping online for secondhand fashion, I want to share how I go about it because it is not complicated but has proven to be effective.

Before you start shopping, you need your measurements

First, you need your measurements, and you want to remeasure yourself every few months because life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and measure yourself once in a while, you could miss the changes. But seriously, gravity, activity, stress, health, even climate and seasons can affect our shape and size so it's smart to keep it updated.

You will have the most success getting your measurements with a friend. When you have to bend and stretch to get them, you can alter the results. You need a soft measuring tape; they're not expensive and last forever (I still use one my mom had when I was a little girl). The more measurements, the better, but in general the ones you will need are:

• Bust: Measure around the fullest part of your chest, under your armpits, keeping the tape level.
• Waist: Find your natural waist (where the body naturally bends) or where you would like the waistband to sit.
• Hips: Measure around the fullest part of your hips and buttocks, with feet together.
• Inseam: Measure from your crotch to your ankle bone or desired hem length.
• Shoulder Width: Measure across your back from shoulder tip to shoulder tip.
• Sleeve Length: Measure from the shoulder tip, down the arm, to your wrist bone or desired sleeve length.

When it comes to secondhand clothing, you need to factor in washing and drying, how the garment was stored (hanger, folded), possible alterations, and missing size tags. Also, we all know sizing has changed over the years and a size Medium in 1999 is different from a Medium in 2009 and a medium in 2019. Know your measurements, and don't be afraid to ask online resellers the measurements of the garment you are interested in. A quality online seller will be happy to provide them to ensure a happy customer.

Make a shopping list to stay on track

You will find when shopping online, you will fall in love with things you didn't even know existed. And if you don't stick to a shopping list, you will find you're spending more than buying new and not having any more useful of a wardrobe.

Go through your closet, make a list of what you feel you need to complete your existing closet, and any items you wish you could replace in better condition/fit/color. Then, consider what items you have always wished you owned, be it a specific piece from a label or a fantasy garment or accessory. This is a list of wants and needs, but even being this broad, it will still keep you on track when shopping secondhand online.

As with your measurements, revisit this list seasonally to be sure it still fits your needs, your body, and your lifestyle.

Know which online resale site is right for the kind of fashion you desire

These days, there are several different online resale sites. While some are good for a variety of types of secondhand fashion, others are very specific. A few of my favorite places to shop online for secondhand fashion and why:

• Depop: I used to find Depop mainly for GenZ fashion, but lately I have found great vintage and designer items for less than other places, and it's a great place to find collab pieces like the Target Designer Collections, Adidas collabs, and pieces labels made specifically for retailers like Farm Rio plus size for Anthropologie. Depop is also a place where you can make offers that are lower than the offered price; do not be afraid to ask for less but still keep it a reasonable ask.
• eBay: eBay is still the G.O.A.T. for most any kind of fashion, but it is my favorite for finding very specific items (you know the label and the style name or number) and vintage fashion. If you “heart” an item, there's a good chance the seller will contact you same day with a discount. Many eBay sellers offer the ability to make an offer; again keep it reasonable, no seller will say yes to 50% off their listed price.
• Facebook Marketplace: Originally for old sofas and lawnmowers, you can now find fashion and accessories, especially vintage and one-of-a-kind. Be careful to search distances that make sense, ask plenty of questions, and if you meet in person, always choose a public place (our city has a specific spot in our police station parking lot for such transactions).
• FASHIONPHILE: I don't know about you, but I have been hit seriously hard in the past few months with FASHIONPHILE marketing. With ambassadors like Martha Stewart, this luxury resale site focuses on bags, but also carries accessories, jewelry, shoes, and watches. Unlike the other luxury resale sites, FASHIONPHILE does not sell apparel. And unlike The RealReal, if you are selling to them, you need to send photos before they'll even consider working with you. As a shopper, this means you get far better condition items, though less likely to get bargain prices.
• Mercari: Mercari sells everything, and it can be seriously overwhelming. But if you're looking for a low price and know what you want, it can be worth wading through the selection. I find this site best for things like “J. Crew Breton Top,” “Spanx Jeans Flare,” “Ann Taylor ponte blazer,” and keywords like that for specific categories, not specific items.
• Poshmark: Poshmark, IMO, is best for the “mall” brands. If you're shopping Chico's, ELOQUII, Talbots, cabi, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Ann Taylor, etc. this is the site. Create a profile, shop by your specific sizes, and play with keywords in the search field. Don't be afraid to ask questions for more photos, measurements, etc. and be wary of sellers who don't reply.
• The RealReal: If you're looking for higher-end labels, you can get some great scores on The RealReal. You can search by label, category, and all sorts of keywords. Play with the keywords, as items are often miscategorized. For example, if you're searching leather also search lambskin. And if you're looking for a category, play with descriptors. For example, a coat could also be a jacket, a peacoat, a car coat, a trench, a bomber, a bolero, puffer, parka, Chesterfield, duffle, Mac, Mackintosh, slicker, teddy, cloak, shell, or robe.
• ThreadUp: ThreadUp is where you likely will find the best prices on popular “mall” brands, but descriptions and photos can be misleading. For example, if you're looking for Universal Standard, you may find it as Universal Thread, and you may find a Universal Standard XS (10/12) categorized with a standard XS (0/2). Items sell FAST, so save to your cart and don't wait to buy.
• Vestiaire Collective: An alternative to The RealReal, Vestiaire is a great place to find secondhand luxury pieces. Since Vestiaire provides better commissions to sellers, this is a good place to find better condition pieces from luxury labels, while The RealReal is a better place to find an unexpected gem of a score.
• Vinted: I personally haven't shopped Vinted yet, but it's another popular online resale site that offers buyers protection for a small fee.

Many of these online resell sites work best with the app; Vinted and Poshmark are the first that come to mind. Others, like eBay and The RealReal provide equal experiences on a desktop. I recommend if you're shopping secondhand on a mobile device, download the app for the best experience.

Consider using Gem to shop across multiple resale sites

Gem is a free tool that will search across multiple resale sites for you. You can visit the site or app any time and pop in keywords to search and it will share results from places like Poshmark, eBay, and The RealReal all on one page. Tap the listing to go to the page on the app or other site.

With Gem, you can also set search alerts. For example, I am on the hunt for a pair of red Lotta Volkova for Adidas mules. I made a search for this, and now each time a pair is listed on a site, I get a morning email notifying me. This is also great if you are looking for a specific brand or designer in a specific size, a certain category of accessory, or a category of vintage.

Ask questions before clicking “buy”

Don't be afraid to ask questions. Asking questions shows you are a serious shopper. It also increases the chance you will be a happy customer, and happy customers leave positive reviews to boost the seller on the app, and are more likely to follow the seller and shop again. Some questions to ask:

• Can you share a photo of the label? This helps you determine the year of the item, if it was bought from a sample sale or outlet (may be cut, missing, or have black line through it), and how much it has been laundered. Also feel free to ask for a photo of the label with the laundry instructions and fabric composition.
• Can you provide the measurement from shoulder seam to shoulder seam/shoulder seam to wrist hem/waistband to crotch/length of zipper/width of leg opening? Questions on measurements are good, and help both you and the seller.
• Is this from a pet-friendly/smoking home? If you have severe allergies, it makes sense to ask this. For everyone else, assume you will have to launder upon receipt, and maybe also spray down with vodka and/or leave outside on a sunny day to get out any odors.

Check out a seller's profile before you shop

It only takes a moment to click to find out more about the online reseller. What country are they in? How many previous sales have they had? What is the feedback from previous customers? What kinds of other things do they sell? Do they offer discounts for buying multiple items at once? Do they have sketchy listings (multiple listings for the same exact item, calling items vintage that are not vintage or using designer names when the item isn't from that designer, not responding to customer questions, all listings are photos from websites not the actual product they photographed)? Trust your gut; if it feels sketchy, don't buy.

Never pay outside the platform

If a seller contacts you and offers a reduced price or a multiple price discount if you pay via Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, or another manner outside of the resale platform, decline. This is sketchy, could be a scam, and goes against the platform's terms of service.

Leave feedback on your secondhand online purchases

Online resellers are usually folks just like you and me. They're trying to make a living, and if they did a good job, share. Leave feedback, offer scores, and when you feel comfortable, share photos. If you have a negative experience, try to resolve it with the seller before leaving public feedback. Give them a chance to redeem themselves before you affect their livelihood.

Shopping secondhand online can feel intimidating, but it's smart for the wallet, smart for the environment, and smart for creating a longterm wardrobe of items you truly want, not what you settle for because it is the best available. It's not instantaneous, but with a little work, you may find it far more satisfying!