Vintage clothing is once again all the rage (if it ever really wasn’t), meaning buying and selling clothes online can be a goldmine. While local thrift stores are a fun way to hunt for special finds, online shopping has opened the door for finding those grail (shopper lingo for rare finds) items you’ve been hunting for. One website that often pops up during searches is Poshmark.
But is Poshmark legit? Let’s take a look
What is Poshmark?
For those who’ve limited their thrifting to brick-and-mortar shops, Poshmark is essentially an online marketplace for people to sell things like apparel, decor, electronics, and accessories. So, if you’re hunting for a specific dress, handbag, shoes, or shirt from some seasons (or years) past, Poshmark gives you a chance to find it no matter where you live.
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Likewise, if you have a hot-ticket vintage item you’re ready to part ways with, Poshmark can help you find a buyer willing to pay what the item is worth. Not to get too ahead of ourselves, but to quickly answer the question “Is Poshmark legit?” The answer is, yes, it is!
How Poshmark Works
Buying on Poshmark
To buy on Poshmark, you simply search for the item you’re looking for in the search bar or use the menu to find items that might catch your eye. If you notice a specific seller that consistently has some top-notch finds, you can also follow their listing to make sure you don’t miss out on any new items they list.
Selling on Poshmark
To sell, you just need to snap a photo of your item, write an accurate description, and then list your items through the Poshmark app. Once you make a sale, Poshmark provides a pre-paid, pre-addressed label ready to be placed on a box and sent off through USPS.
Is Poshmark Safe?
If you’re worried about buying and selling with strangers, Poshmark has protections in place to ensure safe shopping through their Posh Protect program. Although you can’t return a purchase due to a change of heart, you can ask for a full refund on any item that does not match the description given.
However, since anyone can sell on the platform, both buyers and sellers must engage with some level of caution. While not entirely common, there have been plenty of occurrences over the years of people running into scammers on Poshmark. As with any online transaction, you must protect your money and your identity, ensuring that you engage in a fair exchange.
Common Poshmark Scams
Like we said, Poshmark is legit and safe. But that doesn’t mean you’re fully clear of the occasional scammer making an attempt at your money, items, or personal information. To be completely confident when using Poshmark, just be aware of these common scams:
1. Counterfeit Goods
When it comes to buying second-hand items there is no shortage of counterfeit items floating around. If you’re buying a vintage designer handbag, clothing item, or accessory, you’ll want to look for the following:
- Proof of authentication (items over $500 can be authenticated via Posh Authenticate)
- Odd variations such as incorrect tags or care cards
- Poor quality in the stitching, zippers, or material
- Unreasonably low prices (if it seems too good to be true, it is)
- Seller account history (brand new account = sketchy; well-established account = probably safe)
2. Return Fraud
This scam isn’t exclusive to Poshmark, but many second-hand marketplaces deal with return frauds. In this scam, buyers misuse the return policy, claiming an item is “not as described” to initiate a return and refund. The scammer then sends back a completely different (worthless) item, keeping the item they bought and leaving the seller out of both money and the original item.
To protect yourself as a seller, you’ll want to detail every aspect of your process, including ample photos of the item when listing, additional photos when packaging, as well as any other picture that can help you prove your case should you get into a battle over return fraud. For expensive items (over $500) you can also have Poshmark Authenticate verify the authenticity of an item, leaving buyers less room to claim they received a fake.
3. Fake Emails
Another common scam is just the (unfortunately) tried-and-true phishing scam. There are two ways scammers will go about this:
- Buyers will reach out to you saying that they can’t see the listing very well (blurry photo, won’t load, etc.), and will then ask you to email them the details. They will then send you an email containing a phishing link, in an attempt to steal your personal information.
- You’ll receive an email claiming to be from Poshmark about some issues like failed payment, account deactivation, or your account being compromised. Whatever the claim is, they will include a link for you to “fix” the issue, but surprise, it’s just another phishing link.
As a general internet practice, never click a link you aren’t 100% certain is safe!
4. Off-platform Payments
Buying and selling on Poshmark involves paying directly through Poshmark. This includes some fees, but also the guarantee of a safe transaction. Scammers, however, use the fees as an excuse to try and get you to move to off-platform payment methods in order to dodge Poshmark’s fees. This can be enticing, as who doesn’t want to make/save some extra bucks? The problem is once you’re off Poshmark, you’re on your own. And oftentimes, you’ll end up either never receiving the item, or receiving fraudulent payments that fail to actually come through.
Your best bet? Just stay on Poshmark for the entire process since a little fee hurts a lot less than being completely scammed.
How to Stay Safe on Poshmark
1. Use Poshmark’s Authorized Payment Method
Poshmark’s authorized system includes most of the primary digital wallet systems such as ApplePay, Venmo, and PayPal, as well as all of the major credit cards. When you use Poshmark, your banking information is protected. Never agree to use an unauthorized payment method for any reason, whether for convenience or to save money. If you do, Poshmark will not back you if there is a problem. If the item is lost in transit, arrives damaged or the condition is misrepresented, you’re on your own.
2. Don’t Cash Checks for Buyers
Along those same lines, scammers may give you a plausible reason why they can’t use PayPal. They offer a cashier’s check, so what’s the problem? No matter how tempted you are to accept a check, even one written for several dollars over the asking price, don’t do it: A few days after you make the deposit, the bank notifies you that the check is no good, but it’s too late because the goods have already been shipped. However, if you’re following rule number one (ahem!) regarding conducting your transactions within the Poshmark system, you shouldn’t have this issue.
3. Know Your Merchandise
Before you buy brand name or luxury goods, do your homework. Visit the designer’s website to look at styles and price points. Google how to identify counterfeit goods. For example, the logo may be slightly off, the colors unusual or the stitching crooked. If you examine the sole of a counterfeit Nike shoe, for example, you may notice that the tread is not uniform. Ask for close-up pictures of stitching, tags, fabric, hardware, and more. An honest seller will gladly supply them.
4. Take Plenty of Photos
Whether you’re buying or selling, you need photos. As a seller, you can avoid having your items rejected by taking pictures of every defect, no matter how minuscule. If you are a buyer and you have a problem with the item, you’ll need to carefully photograph the issue. If you are trying to prove something is counterfeit, it’s important, also, that you have pictures of the genuine article.
5. Review the Posher Profile
Each Posher has a profile. You can tell how long they’ve been a member, how much they list, and if they have followers. You’ll also see “love notes,” which are reviews from other users. Read the profile carefully — It should be complete and older than a few months.
When you’re dealing with high-end items, be particularly careful and avoid doing business with Poshers who have an insufficient history of transactions.
Shopping on Poshmark
Want extra assurance that you’re dealing with an upstanding Posher? You can use a people search tool like Spokeo to look up a particular Posher, verifying that the name and location details match. You may also be able to enter a Poshmark username, or any other information you may have about a buyer/seller (such as an email address or phone number) in Spokeo to find aliases used on other social media platforms. Now, go ahead and find those vintage steals on Poshmark, just make sure to remember what you’ve learned!