If you love to buy designer clothing and accessories, you’ve probably heard of Depop. With more than 35 million registered users, 34 million listed items, and 180,000 new listings every day, Depop is one of the popular marketplaces for buying and selling pre-loved fashion items. However, there is a common concern among buyers that does Depop sell fake designer items.
In this blog post, we’ll find out if Depop really sells fake items. We’ll discuss the marketplace’s policies and measures to combat counterfeits and share tips on how to spot fakes. So let’s get started:
What is Depop Policy about Selling Fakes?
Depop has a strict policy against the sale of fake items on its platform. Depop takes intellectual property rights very seriously and aims to protect both buyers and legitimate brands from the dangers of counterfeits.
According to Depop Policy, the sale of any replica, counterfeit, or fake items is explicitly banned. This includes fake designer clothing, shoes, accessories, jewelry, watches, and other luxury goods that infringe on a brand’s trademark or copyrights.
Depop’s team actively monitors listings for potential counterfeits and relies on user reports to flag suspicious items. If a listing is found to be selling a fake item, it will be swiftly removed from the marketplace, and the seller may face temporary account suspension or even a permanent ban.
However, Depop also recognizes that it is a challenge to distinguish between genuine and counterfeit items, especially for casual sellers who may not be experts in authenticating designer goods.
As such, the platform encourages sellers to be transparent about an item’s authenticity and discourages the use of misleading descriptions or tags that could imply an item is genuine when it’s not.
If a seller is unsure about an item’s authenticity, he is advised to clearly state this in the listing description and avoid using brand names or logos that could be construed as an attempt to deceive buyers.
For buyers, Depop recommends exercising caution when buying designer items and conducting thorough research before making a purchase.
Does Depop Sell Fake Designer Items?
Yes, unfortunately, fake designer items are often sold on Depop by sellers, despite the platform’s strict policies prohibiting the sale of counterfeit products.
Likewise any other marketplace, buyers on Depop often complain about getting fake items. You can go to social media platforms like Reddit and you will find dozens of complain posts where a buyer receives a fake designer item. Here’s an example:
While Depop takes measures to combat counterfeits, such as monitoring listings and relying on user reports, it is still almost impossible to completely eliminate the selling of fake items on the marketplace.
How to Spot Fake Items on Depop?
Examine Listing Details Closely:
One of the first steps to spot a fake item on Depop is to examine the listing details closely. Look for inconsistencies in descriptions like poor grammar or vague information about the item’s authenticity. Be cautious of listings with multiple identical items from the same seller, as this could indicate replicas being sold.
Scrutinize Product Photos Carefully:
Scrutinizing the photos is equally important. Check for blurry or low-quality images that may be hiding flaws or details. Keep an eye out for obvious errors or misalignments in logos, stitching, or hardware that authentic items wouldn’t have. These discrepancies can be telltale signs of fakes.
Research the Seller:
Research the seller’s profile and history on the marketplace. Check his ratings, reviews, and feedback from previous buyers. Be cautious of new sellers with no history or those with negative reviews regarding authenticity. A seller’s reputation can provide you an insight into the legitimacy of his listings.
Compare prices:
While price can be an indicator, it’s not always definitive. Extremely low prices compared to retail or resale values could signify counterfeits. However, some genuine items may be priced reasonably if the seller needs a quick sale, so don’t rely solely on price as a deciding factor.
Ask for More Details:
If you have doubts about an item’s authenticity, don’t hesitate to message the seller and request more close-up photos, details about the item’s provenance, or proof of authenticity. Legitimate sellers will always provide this information without hesitation.
How to Report a Fake Item on Depop?
- To report a fake item on Depop, you first need to visit the “Submit a Request” page on Depop.
- Next, click the “Contact Us” icon just under the “Submit a Request”
- Then, fill out the form by entering your details such as email address and username.
- Select “Safety, Reporting & Appeals” under “What can we help you with?”
- Lastly, describe your issue in the description box, add proofs as attachments, and click the “Submit”
Once you submit a request, Depop will review it and get back to you with an update on the issue.
It’s also important to know that you can also report a listed item on Depop that you haven’t bought but believe is counterfeit.
To report a product listing that you feel is counterfeit, you just need to tap on the three dots on the product listing page and tap “Report Item.” From the reasons, select “The Item is Fake,” give an explanation of why you think the item is fake, and tap “Submit.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can a seller get banned for selling fakes on Depop?
Depop will remove your listing as soon as they find out that you are selling a fake product. Moreover, Depop will suspend your seller accounts temporarily or permanently.
Will Depop refund the buyer if he receives a fake item?
If a buyer buys an item from Depop and it turns out to be fake, then he will get a full refund which includes the sales price (excluding shipping cost).
