If You Need a Sign to Shop Second-Hand Online Here It Is

If you’ve been following my blog or Instagram for a while now, you know I’m a big advocate for shopping second-hand. A little over a year ago, I started thrifting at a Goodwill that was five minutes away from my house. Fast forward to today, and the world of second hand has grown rapidly. No really, ThredUp is expected to make $64 billion (yeah, that’s with a ‘B’) by 2028. Even The RealReal estimates their 2020 revenue to be $406 million and their 2022 revenue to be $700 million (source). Resale is a multi-billion dollar a year industry and is just expected to keep on growing.

So why should you care about this? This is the best way to get unique clothes at an affordable price point. Some of my favorite second-hand finds so far have been a J.Crew jacket (with original tags), two Everlane sweaters, my favorite pants, and so much more. Although all of those purchases were from physical resale stores, I’m starting to find more second-hand items online.

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Sweater + Jeans (Snagged from my mom’s eBay store) | Boots | Scarf (old but similar) | Hat (old but similar)

Pros of Shopping Second-Hand Online

• The obvious: you can do it from the comfort of your home. It’s easy and painless.
• You can cater what you’re looking through by brand, color, style, item, etc.
• You are more likely to find brand new items with tags.
• By shopping second-hand you’re giving items a new opportunity to be loved (both online and in-store).
• You can negotiate a lower price unlike at a Goodwill or Salvation Army.

Cons of Shopping Second-Hand Online

• With older items, sometimes things do not fit the same way. For example, you may be a certain size in 2019’s Levi’s but for vintage Levi’s you may want to size up one or two sizes. This is hard to know if you’re shopping online and not trying on the item.
• It is harder to find a ‘surprise’ item from brand you wouldn’t typically shop at. Shopping online means you sometimes miss out on those unique items.
• It typically tends to be more expensive because you have to pay for shipping.
• The extra packaging is a little counter productive if you’re buying second hand to help the environment. If you receive a package try to reuse that box or packaging if you can.

Difference Between Poshmark and eBay

There are some people who will say that there is no big difference between Poshmark and eBay… and to that I say they’re wrong. In my own opinion, eBay has a much wider selection of vintage items. You will also see a bigger selection of toys and ‘nicknacks’. Poshmark on the other hand is much better if you have items that are still in style or timeless such as high-waisted jeans, wool coats, striped shirts, and classic jewelry. One downside of Poshmark is that the fees are much more expensive than eBay (sales under $15 will cost flat fee of $2.95 and if the cost of the item is higher than $15, Poshmark will take a 20% cut).

Post Your Own Things Too

I used to have 60+ items on my eBay store before I moved to Jersey. When I moved, I decided to leave my things behind and allow my mother to sell the clothes. After a few months went by, I missed the thrill of selling items. That is when I decided to open a little Poshmark store (you can see it here). It is much easier to list items on your phone and it calculates shipping for you so that you do not have to worry about a thing. Since I lost some weight, I listed a few pairs of pants that have done really well. I have a few more pairs I need to start listing.

My Biggest Tips for Buying Second-Hand Online

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you’re buying a coat, don’t be afraid to ask if the coat comes from a smoke-free environment.
• Save all your measurements on a note in your phone. This helps save you time and helps you figure out if the piece will actually fit.
• Always try to negotiate a price.
• If you want more photos of the item, ask for it! At the end of the day the buyer just wants to get rid of the item.

Other Posts You May Like:

• It’s Been a Year Since I Started Thrifting
• Why You Need a Thrifting Wish List + What’s on Mine
• 6 Thrifting Bloggers to get Inspiration​ From
• DIY Thrifted Wrap Skirt (Resizing)

Do you ever shop second-hand online? If so, do you have any tips? Let me know in the comments down below.

As always,

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