Being an online reseller isn’t easy at all! You have to take care of everything from market research and sourcing to selling, shipping, and managing returns. Online marketplaces are best when it comes to online reselling as they offer more convenience than building and managing a website.
Marketplaces offer online resellers a powerful combination of convenience and reach. By leveraging established platforms like Poshmark, eBay, Etsy, or Vinted, you gain instant access to millions of buyers without the need to build your own e-commerce website.
However, what’s challenging for most online resellers is choosing the right marketplace where they can find less competition and more sales. In this Vinted vs Poshmark guide, we will compare two of the most popular marketplaces and find out which marketplace is overall better for you as an online reseller.
So, let’s begin!
What is Vinted and How Does It Work?
Vinted is a popular online marketplace focused primarily on secondhand clothing, shoes, and accessories.
On Vinted, sellers can easily list their pre-owned items by taking photos, describing the product, setting a price, and publishing the listing.
Buyers can browse through these listings, communicate directly with sellers, and purchase items they like.
The platform provides a user-friendly mobile app and website that makes it simple for people to sell their unwanted clothing and accessories from the comfort of their homes.
What is Poshmark and How Does It Work?
Poshmark is an online social commerce platform that enables users to buy and sell clothing, accessories, home decor, and beauty products.
For sellers, Poshmark offers a straightforward process where they can create a shop known as “Closet” in which they can add items they want to sell, by taking photos of their items, writing detailed descriptions, and setting their own prices.
The platform encourages social interaction, enabling sellers to follow other poshers, share listings, and engage in a community-like environment.
Sellers can package and ship their items directly to buyers once a sale is made, with Poshmark providing shipping labels and facilitating the transaction to ensure a smooth selling experience.
Vinted vs Poshmark: Competition
When choosing a marketplace for selling, the first aspect you need to consider is the competition in that marketplace.
Vinted has a more expansive global presence with 105 million registered users spread across 18 countries and more than 800 million listed items.
On the other hand, Poshmark has a more concentrated market with 80 million users and 200 million listings, predominantly US-centric.
So, it’s quite clear that it’s easier to get sales on Poshmark than Vinted. However, Vinted caters to the international market while Poshmark has deeper penetration in the North American market.
Vinted vs Poshmark: Sellable Items
Another important consideration to make when choosing a marketplace to sell on is what items you can sell on it.
Both Vinted and Poshmark have almost the same list of sellable items that include clothing, fashion accessories, electronics, home decor, and pet supplies.
However, Poshmark offers slightly more options, explicitly including handmade items and personal care products that are always in demand.
So, if you are exclusively selling handmade items, Poshmark is a better marketplace. Otherwise, both marketplaces are almost the same.
Vinted vs Poshmark: Selling Fees
The marketplace’s selling fees directly affect the profitability of the seller and no seller wants to sell on a marketplace with hefty selling fees.
Overall, Vinted emerges as the more seller-friendly marketplace as it charges zero listing or selling fees, allowing sellers to retain 100% of their sale price.
On Vinted, it’s actually the buyer who has to pay the buyer protection fees that include a fixed fee of £0.3 to £0.8 and a variable fee ranging from 3-8% of the purchase price.
Comparatively, Poshmark has a more traditional selling fee model. A flat $2.95 fee for sales under $15 and a 20% commission on sales $15 and above, leaving sellers with 80% of their revenue.
Also Read: Poshmark Reverses Its New Fees Structure
Vinted vs Poshmark: Shipping
When it comes to shipping, Poshmark offers a more convenient experience for sellers.
Poshmark provides a prepaid, pre-addressed USPS Priority Mail shipping label for packages up to 5 lbs, eliminating the need for sellers to purchase stamps or handle shipping logistics. Moreover, sellers have a generous 7-day window to ship their items.
In contrast, Vinted requires sellers to use the specific shipping provider chosen by the buyer, with a stricter 5-business-day shipping deadline.
In addition, Vinted will cancel the order if the package is not sent by the designated shipping method, making the process more complicated for sellers.
Vinted vs Poshmark: Getting Paid
The payment process greatly differs for sellers between the two marketplaces.
Vinted provides faster access to earnings, releasing funds to the seller’s Vinted Balance within 2 business days after order completion. Sellers can then transfer these earnings to their bank account.
Poshmark, on the other hand, holds the funds for 3 days after the item is delivered and offers more flexible withdrawal options, including Instant Transfer, PayPal, Venmo, direct deposit, or even a check.
Vinted vs Poshmark: Final Verdict
When comparing Vinted vs Poshmark, each marketplace has its own advantages for sellers.
Vinted stands out with its zero listing fees, global user base, and faster fund release, making it attractive for international sellers outside of the US.
Poshmark excels in the US market, providing a more streamlined selling experience with prepaid shipping labels and diverse payment options.
The choice ultimately depends on your specific selling goals. If you’re targeting a broader international audience and want to maximize profits through zero fees, Vinted is ideal.
However, if you’re a US-based seller or selling handmade items, Poshmark offers compelling benefits. Consider your product type, target market, and selling preferences when making your decision.
