Is Poshmark Safe and Legit? (Surprising Facts)

Michelle Wilson - October 24, 2021

The concept of Poshmark is simple; users can buy and sell used or new clothing and accessories. Launched in 2011, this eCommerce store quickly became a multimillion-dollar retailer. In fact, by 2019, Poshmark had doubled the revenue it paid to sellers from $1 billion to $2 billion in only one year.

What sets Poshmark apart from other internet retailers like Etsy and eBay is its social component. Poshmark is a social eCommerce platform, meaning that in addition to buying and selling, users can follow others and engage with their clothing listings by liking, sharing, and commenting.

Additionally, Poshmark offers daily virtual “Posh Parties,” where users can list qualifying items in a live party. This live party allows sellers to have more eyes on their listing. For example, a party for Lululemon attire would be the ideal time for sellers with Lululemon products to gain exposure for their listings.

Buying and selling used clothing is a trend that is increasing in popularity from year to year. For example, in 2019, 70% of consumers over the age of 18 said they were buying or were open to buying used clothing. However, by 2020, this percentage increased to 86%. Furthermore, in 2020 alone, 33 million people bought secondhand apparel for the first time. These statistics imply that people are becoming more aware of the cost-saving and environmental benefits of shopping secondhand. Statisticians predict that this trend will continue to gain popularity, believing that by 2025 the used apparel market will have a worldwide value of $77 billion U.S. dollars.

Although Poshmark offers people the opportunity to sell and buy secondhand apparel, is it safe to do so? Unlike Etsy and eBay, which have a track record of being secure sites, what do we really know about Poshmark? Read on to find out whether you can trust Poshmark for your secondhand buying and selling needs.

Poshmark, Is It Legit?

According to people who have used Poshmark to both buy and sell, this site is reputable. In other words, buyers can purchase actual items, and sellers actually receive money for selling things. However, there is no guarantee that the people buying and selling on the platform are legit despite the site’s legitimacy. Fortunately, Poshmark has protections in place for both buyers and sellers.

For instance, buyers have the option to either accept or return an item after they get it. In fact, the buyer’s payment won’t be released to the seller until the buyer acknowledges the receipt of the item and approves the purchase. Furthermore, a seller’s shipment is protected by Poshmark so long as they use the site’s pre-paid, pre-addressed shipping labels. Additionally, they require signatures on any orders with a value of over $400.

What about Buyer Safety?

When it comes to keeping your cash and identity secure, you need to be cautious about who you give your information to. This is why, even though Poshmark is a secure and legitimate site, you still need to take several precautions to protect your money, privacy, and purchase.

Transaction Safety

The way Poshmark works is that you give your payment information to the site and not the seller. Consequently, the seller never sees it. Instead, Poshmark processes your payment and then pays the seller directly after you’ve confirmed that you received and are happy with your purchase.

Even though Poshmark’s platform is secure, safe, and private, buyers should be aware that there is always some risk involved when making a purchase online. For instance, a seller could misrepresent an item or disguise its defects. However, if this happens with a product bought on Poshmark, it’s very easy to resolve. All you have to do is take pictures of the item and then open a dispute with the site. In addition, Poshmark promises that they will return your money if the item is “not as described.” In other words, you have complete transaction safety.

User Privacy on Poshmark’s Platform

Poshmark protects your identity in several ways. For starters, the platform allows you to choose any username you desire. Therefore, you can disguise your real name. Additionally, you aren’t required to provide any information about yourself. It’s up to you to decide how much you want to share on your Poshmark profile page. Essentially, the only thing you will have to share about yourself with sellers is your mailing address. This is necessary because they need to be able to ship your purchase to you. This is a common practice for most eCommerce platforms, including Etsy and eBay. However, you can always set up a P.O. box if you have concerns about a stranger knowing your home address. Alternatively, you can have the item shipped to your workplace.

Common Poshmark Scams You Should Know About

Unfortunately, there are always going to be people who try to scam you online. Therefore, you must always be on the lookout for con artists. To ensure you’re protected on Poshmark’s platform, let’s look at three of the most common scams found here.

Not Transacting on Poshmark’s Platform

There isn’t a messaging feature on Poshmark. Therefore, the only way for buyers and sellers to communicate is by leaving comments on an item. In these comments, a common scam that you’ll see is people asking that the seller or buyer make contact through email or other messaging apps.

Poshmark states explicitly that it does not cover transactions that take place outside of its platform. Therefore, you’re taking a huge risk if you agree to buy or sell something outside Poshmark.

False Damage Claims

One of the most reported issues on Poshmark is buyers claiming an item is damaged and sellers insisting they shipped the item in very good or brand new condition. Unfortunately, the only way to dispute a false damage claim as a seller is to take a video or photograph of your items before you ship them, so you have proof of the condition they were sent in.

Designer Products that are Fake

As the popularity of luxury designer items increases, platforms like Poshmark are increasingly beset with people selling counterfeit items. Therefore, as a buyer, you should look at several things before purchasing a designer product:

• When was the account created? Be wary of any newly created accounts with no feedback.
• How much are they charging? If they have a lot of brand new but very cheap designer goods, you should be cautious.
• Do they want to transact outside of Poshmark? This is a sure sign you shouldn’t trust them.
• Are their pictures blurry? This is a sign that the product might be counterfeit.
• Does something seem off? Trust your gut.

If you end up buying something that turns out to be counterfeit, you can open a claim with Poshmark. If your claim is approved, you’ll get a return label and a refund.

However, if you’re a seller and someone claims you sold them a fake item, you’ll need to have supporting documents and other proofs to prove you sent an authentic product.

If you want to avoid the issue of authentication altogether, as either a buyer or seller, you should consider Poshmark Authenticate. With this service, the seller will ship the item to Poshmark directly, and they will authenticate it before sending it to the buyer.

So, is Poshmark Worth your Time?

Poshmark is a great way for consumers to help the environment while getting great deals on clothing and accessories. Sellers also help the environment by preventing used clothing from ending up in landfills and making a profit while doing so.

Overall, Poshmark is a safe platform for buyers and sellers. However, you still have to take responsibility and know how to protect yourself as a buyer and about protecting yourself when selling online.