Everything you need to know about how to buy on Poshmark

If you don’t already know, I love shopping secondhand! It’s such a thrill to find a vintage piece in pristine condition, or an item that’s being sold for a fraction of its original cost, or one-of-a-kind pieces that are so beautifully unique.

One of my favorite go-to sites for shopping secondhand is Poshmark and, in fact, my most favorite secondhand purchase of all time (my vintage Dior coat) was on Poshmark.

I probably scroll through Poshmark daily… and if not daily, at least several times a week. There are several items on my to-buy list that I’m looking for and haven’t found yet, so I check back often to see what new items have been posted or whether a seller has lowered the price on an item I’m interested in.

I’ve shopped on Poshmark enough to know the ins and outs of what to look for – how to spot a good deal, how to discern whether an item is authenticate or fake, whether something will fit properly, whether a seller is trustworthy or reliable… so many things to keep in mind!

But don’t worry! I’ve put together a list of twenty tips and tricks to help you become familiar with the site, help you learn what you need to know before you even start shopping, how to filter your search so that you’re not scrolling through thousands of items at a time, what specific things to look for on any particular listing, and so much more.

So, if you’re new to Poshmark or simply want learn something you may not know yet, then grab a cup of tea or coffee and settle in for a good long read. I’ve tried to put in absolutely everything that I could think of that would make shopping on Poshmark as easy and stress-free as possible. Seriously, I think this is my longest post to-date! Maybe grab a snack too!

(Note — all reference photos are from the Poshmark app; however, all of these features can also be found and used on their website. I prefer to use the app simply because it’s right there on my phone, but choose whatever works best and is easiest for you to use.)

1.    WHAT IS POSHMARK?

Poshmark is an online consignment site where you can buy secondhand or new items from several different categories, including womens, mens, kids, home, pets, and electronics. When you make a purchase through Poshmark, you are purchasing directly from a seller rather than going through a third-party (such as you would on other secondhand sites like TheRealReal or ThredUP).

What this means is that the seller is responsible for shipping the item to you and the seller gets paid directly after you receive and accept your purchase (Poshmark does take a seller fee, but more on that later). Even though the seller is paid directly from your purchase, the seller does not see your payment details – all of that information goes through Poshmark and is private and secure.

2.    REMEMBER ALL POSHMARK SALES ARE FINAL

One of the shopping “rules” that I really try to stick to is not to purchase anything that is marked “final sale”, especially when shopping online. However, that rule goes completely out the window when shopping on Poshmark because everything is final sale.

Poshmark does have a buyer protection policy, but unless there is an obvious problem with your order (e.g., arrives damaged, seller shipped wrong item, order not as described, etc.), you won’t be getting a refund, and you won’t be able to return it. Because of this, it’s so important to know exactly what to look for so that you’re not purchasing something that doesn’t fit, isn’t in good condition, isn’t authentic, etc.

 

3.    KNOW YOUR SIZE/MEASUREMENTS

As I’ve already written about in another post, sometimes it’s really hard to know whether something will fit you based on the size tag alone, so it’s helpful to know your measurements to be able to accurately determine whether an item will fit you correctly.

Even if you know what size you are in a particular brand, it still helps to know your measurements because sizing can be all over the place even within the same brand. Take measurements of what you already own and what fits you well and keep a record of those measurements in your phone (or somewhere you can readily access them) so that you don’t have to refigure that out every time you shop.

Knowing this information before you start shopping will help you determine whether something will actually fit you properly so you can purchase with more confidence.

4.    CREATING AN ACCOUNT

While you aren’t required to create an account to shop on Poshmark, it’s helpful to have one so that you can track your orders, easily keep up with items that you like, save searches for specific items, and so much more. Creating a Poshmark account is free and it’s easy to do. Simply download the free Poshmark app (or go to their website) and follow the prompts for opening up an account.

Once your account is set up, you can view and edit your profile, save your sizes for specific categories, view your likes, offers, and any saved searches, update any changes to your mailing address or payment methods, and view a history of your past purchases.

5.    LEARNING YOUR WAY AROUND THE SITE

Feed — this tab shows you listings that are curated specifically for you based on your previous searches and/or likes.

Source: Poshmark

Shop — this tab gives you the option of searching by category, brand, or trending categories, as well as showing you your recent likes, recent views, and items just picked for you based on your previous shopping history. Both the “feed” and “shop” tabs also have the option of searching for something by typing it directly in the search bar.

Source: Poshmark

Sell — this tab is for uploading to Poshmark any items that you want to sell.

Source: Poshmark

News — this tab shows you recent activity on the site, including any offers made to you, comments on any bundles you’ve created or responses to your messages to a seller, your bundles, and other information specific to your listings.

Source: Poshmark

Account — this tab will take you to your closet (items you’ve listed for sale on Poshmark), your likes, offers, bundles, saved sizes, recent views, saved searches, purchases, payment methods, saved addresses, and much more.

 Source: Poshmark

6.    USE THE FILTERS/SPECIFIC KEYWORDS

It’s important to be as specific as possible when shopping on Poshmark so that you’re not wasting time scrolling through possibly thousands of items. Poshmark offers several filters for helping you narrow your search so take advantage of and use as many of them as possible. You can filter your search by:

• Category (each of these categories is further broken down into multiple sub-categories –  i.e., shoes, jackets & coats, jeans, sweaters, etc.)

o   Women

o   Men

o   Kids

o   Home

o   Pets

o   Electronics

• Brand

o   All Brands

o   My Brands (favorite brands that you have specifically saved in your profile)

o   Recent (brands you’ve searched for recently)

o   Or you can type a specific brand into the search bar

• Size

  • All Sizes

  • My Size (your specific sizes that you have saved in your profile)

• Color

• Price

• Shipping

o   All Items (regardless of shipping cost)

o   Free

o   Discounted + Free

• Condition

o   All Conditions

o   New with Tags

• Availability

o   All Items

o   Available Items

o   Available + Dropping Soon Items

o   Dropping Soon Items

o   Sold Items

• Type

  • Closet

  • Boutique (boutique listings are brand new items being sold for the first time)

Additionally, if you start your search by using the search bar, be sure to use very specific keywords. For example, rather than searching for “blue sweater”, you might try “blue cashmere turtleneck sweater”. You can then further refine those results by using the above-mentioned filters.

Source: Poshmark

 

7.    REVIEWING & COMPARING SEARCH RESULTS

When results pop up, tap on any listing to view the listing details. If the item is close to what you’re looking for, but not quite right, you can scroll to the bottom of any listing to find similar listings which can be filtered by size, color, or new with tags.

If you find an item that you’re interested in, it can be helpful to take the time to compare it with other listings to see if you can find the same item for a better price or in better condition from a different seller. For example, last year I purchased a Monet cuff for $10 in excellent condition while the exact same cuff was being sold by a different seller for $45!

Additionally, in an effort to ensure you’re getting the best deal, it can be helpful to search for the same item on a brand’s website to see if it is on sale for a better price than is listed on Poshmark. I recently found a “vintage” Seiko watch being sold for $99 on Poshmark, but when I searched through the Seiko website, I found the same watch being sold for $79. I didn’t purchase the watch from either Poshmark or the Seiko website, but taking the time to compare the two would have saved me $20! It also told me that the watch wasn’t truly a vintage piece since it was still available on the brand website.

8.    NOTE AN ITEMS CONDITION

I like to look for items that are new with or without tags, new in box or without box, or in excellent used condition. I mean, there’s no point in purchasing something secondhand that’s already worn through more than half of its life and is showing it! Here are a few terms I see all the time on Poshmark used to denote the condition of an item:

NWT = new with tags

NWOT = new without tags

NIB = new in box

NWOB = new without box

EUC = excellent used condition

GUC = good or gently used condition

When using the condition filter, the only options are “all conditions” or “new with tags”; however, many sellers will use the above descriptors in their listings to help you better understand the exact condition of an item.

Other terms you might see often include:

OS = one size

TTS = true to size

ISO = in search of

9.    FULLY READ THE DESCRIPTION & CLOSELY INSPECT ALL PHOTOS

A good seller will have a well-written, informative description of the item they are selling and several photos showing the item from all angles. The more information you can get about the item, the more informed purchasing decision you can make.

The description should match the photos and vice versa. Sometimes photos will show one thing, and the description will say something different. If that is the case with an item that you think you might like or might want to purchase, you can message the seller by leaving a comment on the listing and asking for clarification.

The photos should be clear and crisp, not blurry or dark. The item should be shown from all angles – front, back, sides, inside, etc. The photos should clearly show the condition of an item. If there are any flaws or issues with an item, the seller should mention that in their description and show photos of the issue(s). Make sure you zoom up as close as you can in all of the photos to inspect the condition of the item as thoroughly as you can.

If you’re interested in something but feel that there aren’t enough photos to clearly show its condition, you can always message the seller, asking them to post more photos in general or specific photos of areas you have questions about. Sometimes the seller will do this pretty quickly, but sometimes you may not hear back from them. If a seller doesn’t respond and you’re still unsure about the overall condition of something, simply keep searching until you find something that you know is exactly what you’re looking for.

As I’ve already mentioned, everything on Poshmark is final sale and you don’t want to purchase something that you think is in great condition only to find that isn’t the case after you receive it. Not only have you spent your hard-earned money on that item, but now you’re stuck with it!

Sometimes a seller will only post stock photos of an item from the brand website without posting images of the actual item they are wanting to sell. If that is the case and it is something that you’re specifically looking for, message the seller asking them to post photos of the actual item. That way you can determine for yourself the condition of the actual item for sale.

Also, sellers will sometimes post a stock photo as the cover photo which can make it appear that the item is in brand new condition, but when you go to that specific listing and see the photos of the actual item, it’s obvious that it’s worn or nothing close to brand new. I specifically remember this happening when looking for a pair of Arizona Birkenstocks… so many sellers had stock photos as their cover images, but the photos of the actual shoes showed obvious wear.

 

10.  WHAT TO LOOK FOR WITH SPECIFIC LISTINGS

In an effort to make the best, most informed purchasing decision, there are a few things I always look for with specific listings. This obviously isn’t an exhaustive list of every single category or type of item available for sale on Poshmark, but it should give you a good idea of the level of detail that should be included in any listing, regardless of category.

• Clothing

  • Measurements (sometimes written in the description or shown in the photos)

  • Tag showing fabric content

  • Whether any buttons are functional or merely for aesthetics

• Shoes

  • Photo(s) showing the size

  • Photo showing material (i.e., leather, man-made materials, etc.)

  • Whether or not they run true to size

• Luxury Items

  • Receipt showing original purchase (if possible)

  • Tags or stamps on the item proving authentication

  • Poshmark will authenticate an item that is more than $500 which can help give you peace of mind that the item you’re purchasing is truly authentic

  • If the price is too good to be true and the seller hasn’t posted any photos proving authentication, then your best bet is to pass on that item from that seller and look for a similar item elsewhere

• Watches

  • Video showing it is in working condition or description stating that it is running/has a working battery (some sellers will say that it is in working condition but needs new battery – I prefer to look for listings that say it has a new battery installed, just to be sure that it does in fact work properly)

  • Length of wristband or photo/description stating inside circumference

• Jewelry

  • Level of patina, if any

  • Size (length/width of earrings, length/circumference of bracelets, length of necklace, size of ring, etc.)

  • If seller writes in the description that the item is gold or silver (i.e., 10K, 14K, sterling, etc.), there should be a photo confirming that

Something I’ve noticed a lot more recently are descriptions that have been generated with AI. Often, these descriptions are fairly short and don’t provide any helpful information about an item’s condition, its measurements, whether something is authentic, etc.

As I’ve already mentioned, the description should be as informative as possible so that you, as the purchaser, can make the most informed purchasing decision. If the description is vague or lacking specific information, you can message the seller asking them to provide you with the specific information you’re looking for.

11.  LIKING AN ITEM

Tapping the heart icon that is at the top of a listing will save this item to your “My Likes” folder on your account page. This makes it easy to see all of your liked items in one place. If you start to accrue several liked items, you can easily search for specific ones using the filters at the top of the page. Liking an item does not mean you have to purchase it; it simply helps you keep up with which items you might be interested in.  

A seller will receive a notification any time one of their items has been liked and will often send an offer either to you individually or to all likers. All offers expire after 24 hours so if it’s an offer that you really like on an item that you think you’ll love, don’t wait too long to hit that accept button!

12.  CREATING A BUNDLE

If you like multiple items from a single seller, you can “bundle” those items that you want to purchase which means the seller will send all of the items in one shipment and you’ll only be charged a single shipping fee. To add items to a bundle simply tap the “add to bundle” button at the bottom of the listing description. To view your bundles, go to your account tab and click on “My Bundles”.

13.  SCOPE OUT THE SELLER

There are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of accounts on Poshmark and it’s likely that the majority of those accounts are sellers (although there are people who use Poshmark almost exclusively for purchasing). With the vast number of sellers that operate on Poshmark, it can be a little bit tricky to know which ones are reliable and trustworthy, so it’s important to know how to scope out a seller.

I can usually get a pretty good idea of how thorough and thoughtful a seller is by reviewing their photos and description of an item. A thorough description with lots of photos is usually a good indication that the seller has taken the time and effort to be as helpful as possible for any potential purchasers. That level of detail and care is always a good start.

If the seller has been thorough and thoughtful with their photos and description, then the next thing I do is scroll to the bottom of a listing to look at the “About the Seller” block. This includes whether the seller is a Posh Ambassador (denoted by a red badge with white star beside the sellers name) or a Posh Ambassador II (denoted by a gold badge with white star beside the sellers name), when the seller was last active, the number of their listings, the number of their sold listings, their average ship time, and the number of love notes they’ve received.

Clicking on the seller icon to the left of the block will take you to the seller’s closet where you can click on the “About” button at the top of their closet to view even more detailed information about the seller.

A Posh Ambassador or Ambassador II badge indicates that the seller has accomplished certain milestones within the Poshmark community, including selling a certain number of items, having a certain number of items listed in their closet, and receiving a specified number of “love notes” from purchasers (meaning the purchaser gave them a good rating).

Badges can be good indications that the seller is reliable and trustworthy, but just because a seller doesn’t have a badge does not mean they aren’t reliable or safe to purchase from which is why you have to look at all of the other information about a seller in addition to their Posh status.

Knowing when the seller was last active is important because there are several accounts that are technically active and you can still view the listings, but the seller hasn’t actually been active for weeks, months, or years. Not every seller checks on their listings every day or week or has notifications turned on if someone likes one of their items, but if a seller hasn’t been active for an extended length of time, I wouldn’t purchase anything from their closet without messaging them first to see whether they respond.

You can also look at the very top of the listing to see when the seller last updated it. If it is recent, then it’s highly likely that the seller is still active. If it isn’t recent, then you can check the seller’s “About” page or the “About the Seller” block at the bottom of the listing to see when the seller was last active.

Love notes are the ratings and reviews that a seller receives from purchasers. Lots of love notes means lots of good reviews which typically means that they’re a good seller that you can purchase from with confidence. However, keep in mind that new sellers who haven’t listed or sold many items likely won’t have many (or any) love notes yet.

If the seller is relatively new and hasn’t sold many items, meaning you don’t have a lot of information to scope out, then the main thing to look for is the level of detail in their listings and whether they respond quickly if you message them.

One more thing to keep in mind (and something that I have come across several times) is to be wary of sellers who have several listings of only luxury/designer items priced ridiculously low. If something that would typically cost $3000 is priced for only $300, it’s probably too good to be true, so I wouldn’t waste my money on a dupe.

14.  BUY NOW OR MAKE AN OFFER

If you find an item that is exactly what you’re looking for at a great price, you can choose to “Buy Now” at the price listed without ever adding that item to your likes list. As I’ve already mentioned, sellers will often send discounted offers to any likers, so if you choose the “buy now” option without liking an item, you won’t get any offers from the seller but will pay the full price listed along with the shipping cost and any taxes and fees.

If you find an item that you like, but don’t love the price, you have the option to make the seller an offer using the “offer” feature beside the “buy now” button. If you choose to make an offer on an item, keep in mind that Poshmark takes 20% in seller fees for sales of $15 or more or a flat rate of $2.95 if the sale is under $15, so the seller is already losing a portion of whatever they have the item listed for.

The ability to make an offer on an item is one of the many things I like about Poshmark. You can negotiate back and forth with a seller until you find a price that you’re both happy with.

15.  SHIPPING COSTS

Poshmark orders ship via USPS priority mail for a flat rate cost of $8.27 per item (or per order if you bundle multiple items from the same seller). Update: As of September 12, 2025, Poshmark orders now ship via USPS ground advantage for a flat rate cost of $6.49. Unless the seller has a discounted shipping cost already applied to an item or unless they offer you discounted shipping on an item you like, you as the purchaser will pay the full shipping cost.

 

16.  SAVE YOUR SEARCHES

You can type something specifically into the search bar (e.g., blue cashmere turtleneck sweater) and then save that search by tapping the little bookmark icon that appears to the right of the search bar after you hit “search”.

To find your saved searches, go to your account tab and scroll until you see “My Saved Searches”. Once you go into your saved searches folder, you can see all the searches that you’ve saved.

A little red dot will appear next to searches with new items, so you can easily see if anything new has been listed since the last time you searched. This is a great time-saving feature if you’re searching for (and haven’t yet found) something specific and don’t want to scroll through all of the results every time you search.

17.  STAY FOCUSED

It can be so easy to get distracted while you’re scrolling through the sometimes thousands of results. This is especially true if you’re just randomly scrolling through the “just picked” items that Poshmark has curated especially for you rather than searching specifically for something that is on your to-buy list.

I recently came across a vintage red blazer that was exactly my size and goodness, was I tempted! Gorgeous? Yes! On my to-buy list? No!! Still thinking about it and might purchase it? Maybe… I will hopefully have enough willpower to hold out and purchase the items on my to-buy list first!

That being said, it is so important to stay focused so that you’re not making lots of impulse purchases that don’t positively contribute to your wardrobe. Keep your to-buy list handy, know what your wardrobe needs most, and search for and purchase those items first.

18.  BE PATIENT

Any kind of secondhand shopping (whether in-store or online) takes patience. There are often hundreds, if not thousands, of results for any one specific item and it can take a long time to scroll through all of those results.

Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to scroll through the results and remember that you may not find what you’re looking for the very first time you search for it (this is where the “save your search” feature comes in handy).

Don’t settle for something that you’re not 100% happy with. If the condition isn’t as pristine as you’d like it to be, or if the cost isn’t right and the seller doesn’t accept your offer, or any other reason that makes you hesitant to purchase, just wait until you find exactly what you want. With the thousands of items listed daily, the chances are good that your perfect item will become available soon.

 

19.  PLACING YOUR ORDER

Double (or even triple) check that the item you’re about to purchase is exactly what you want – that you’re happy with its condition, that you know it will fit you properly based on the measurements, that it is in good working condition, etc. – before you place your order.

Buyer’s remorse is a real thing (not that I know anything about that!), so be sure you know what you’re going to get before you spend your money.

Whether you choose to “buy now”, “make an offer”, or accept an offer that a seller sends you, Poshmark will confirm your address and payment method before finalizing the order. If you choose to create a Poshmark account, you can save your preferred addresses and payment methods in your profile so that you don’t have to input the same information every time you place an order.

After you’ve placed your order, you can track it by going into your “My Purchases” folder on your account page and tapping on that order.

20.  ACCEPTING YOUR ORDER

Once you receive your order, Poshmark will send you a notification letting you know that your order has been delivered and asking you to accept it. (You can also find this notification in your “News” section or by going into your “My Purchases” folder on your account page and tapping on the item you’ve just received).

Inspect your item to ensure that it is exactly as described. If there is an issue with your order, you can go to that order on your “My Purchases” tab and scroll down to where it says “problems/order inquiry”.

As I’ve already noted, Poshmark has a buyer protection policy so if your item is damaged, not as described, or simply the wrong item, you can report the issue to Poshmark and/or the seller to see whether you can get a refund. (Unfortunately, something not fitting correctly is not an accepted reason for a refund).

Accepting your order releases payment immediately to the seller. If you don’t (or for some reason can’t) accept your order within three days, Poshmark will auto-accept the order for you and will deposit your payment into the seller’s account.

After you accept your order, you have the option to rate it and/or leave a comment. Comments are “love notes” or reviews, so if you’re really pleased with your order, it’s helpful and thoughtful to leave a good rating and a nice comment.

THE END!

Phew! That was a lot! I hope you’re still with me and that you learned a ton of new things… well, at least twenty new things!

Remember, the more you shop on Poshmark the more familiar you’ll become with the site, the easier it will be to navigate everything, and pretty soon, learning to find the best items at the best price will become second nature to you.

Let me know if any of these tips were helpful or if you have a few tips of your own you’d like to share!

As always, you can email me any comments or questions at hello@awellroundedwardrobe.com or submit them directly through my contact page.

Amber

Hi, I’m Amber

Creator and founder of A Well-Rounded Wardrobe. Whether you’re looking to start building a wardrobe from scratch or simply want to fine tune what you already have, you’re in the right place. Start exploring.