Want to declutter your wardrobe and make some extra money at the same time? In today’s digital age, there are numerous apps you can use to turn your unwanted clothes into cash. This guide dives into the world of reselling apps, drawing from a year-long experiment of selling clothes on Poshmark, Mercari, Depop, and Vinted. We’ll explore how these platforms work, the potential earnings, and which apps might be the best fit for you to start making money from your closet.
Before we jump into the apps and earnings, it’s important to consider the bigger picture. Beyond the financial benefits, reselling clothes plays a crucial role in sustainability. The fashion industry has a significant environmental impact, and extending the lifespan of garments is a powerful way to combat waste. The original experiment we’re referencing aimed to keep clothes out of landfills, a goal that aligns perfectly with the growing movement towards conscious consumption.
The process was simple: identify clothes no longer needed, list them on resale apps, and give them a year to sell. Items that didn’t sell online were then offered to consignment stores, local community groups, and finally, as a last resort, donation centers. This multi-step approach drastically reduced textile waste compared to simply donating everything.
Note: As the original article does not contain images and the provided link is a placeholder, a representative image URL and alt text related to clothing life cycle is used here for demonstration. In a real scenario, a relevant image from the original article would be used if available, or a suitable stock image could be selected and properly attributed if allowed.
Alt text: Clothing Life Cycle Diagram: Illustrating the journey of clothing from production to consumer use, resale, recycling, and waste management, emphasizing the environmental impact and the importance of extending garment lifespan through reselling.
This detailed approach highlights a critical issue: the fate of donated clothing. Contrary to popular belief, only a small percentage of donated clothes are resold in thrift stores. A significant portion ends up being processed by textile companies, often exported to developing countries, where they can contribute to environmental problems and disrupt local economies.
By actively reselling clothes, you’re not just making money; you’re participating in a more sustainable system. However, it’s also crucial to be aware of the trade-offs. Shipping items across the country has a carbon footprint, and packaging adds to waste. Finding a balance between convenience, profit, and environmental responsibility is key.
Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of making money with apps. The experiment tracked earnings from December 1, 2020, to November 30, 2021, across four popular platforms. It’s important to note that earnings are only counted when the buyer receives and approves the item, ensuring a fair transaction for both parties.
Here’s a breakdown of the findings, app by app, to help you decide which platforms might be the best for your reselling journey and maximizing your earnings.
Poshmark: Top Platform for Sales and Community
Total Earnings: $874.09
Items Sold: 66
Average Earnings Per Item: $13.24
Fees: 26% (including split shipping costs)
Poshmark emerged as the top-performing app in terms of both total earnings and the number of items sold. Despite having a fee structure of 20% of earnings, which increased to 26% due to split shipping incentives offered to buyers, Poshmark proved to be a lucrative platform. This success can be attributed to an established seller profile and a larger existing following.
Poshmark’s strength lies in its community aspect and established user base. While the platform encourages social interaction, focusing on daily listing shares and weekly offer sends proved effective in maintaining visibility and driving sales without excessive time investment. Poshmark is ideal if you’re looking for a platform with a strong existing market and are comfortable with a commission-based fee structure.
Mercari: User-Friendly Tools for Efficient Selling
Total Earnings: $532.96
Items Sold: 56
Average Earnings Per Item: $9.52
Fees: 28% (initially inflated by free shipping offers)
Mercari secured the second-highest sales volume, although the average earning per item was slightly lower. The platform stands out for its user-friendly selling tools, particularly the auto-price drop feature. This tool automatically reduces prices incrementally, keeping listings fresh and competitive in search results with minimal effort from the seller.
Initially, offering free shipping (as suggested by Mercari) increased the fee percentage to 28%. However, discontinuing free shipping later did not significantly impact sales, suggesting that absorbing shipping costs might not be necessary. Mercari is a great option for sellers who appreciate efficient selling tools and want to minimize time spent managing listings while still making consistent sales.
Depop: High Value Items and Unique Finds
Total Earnings: $344.10
Items Sold: 20
Average Earnings Per Item: $17.20
Fees: 38% (due to free shipping offers)
Depop, while having the lowest number of items sold, yielded the highest average earnings per item. This indicates that Depop’s user base is more inclined towards unique or higher-value clothing items, rather than just bargain deals. The platform requires minimal maintenance, with just weekly relisting needed to maintain visibility.
Similar to Mercari, offering free shipping on Depop significantly inflated fees, reaching 38%. Depop’s lack of transparency regarding seller profits and shipping costs is a notable drawback. Despite these issues, Depop remains a viable platform for making money, especially if you’re selling unique, vintage, or higher-priced clothing and are targeting a style-conscious audience.
Vinted: Seller-Friendly with Buyer-Paid Fees
Total Earnings: $437.90
Items Sold: 29
Average Earnings Per Item: $15.10
Fees: 0% (fees charged to the buyer)
Vinted stands out as the most seller-friendly platform due to its unique fee structure – buyers are charged a 10% platform fee, meaning sellers keep 100% of their listed price. There’s also no pressure to offer free shipping, further simplifying the selling process and maximizing profits. Despite having a smaller user base compared to Poshmark or Mercari, Vinted delivered respectable sales and a good average return per item.
One downside is the paid option to “bump” listings in search results, which can be costly without guaranteed sales. Relisting items regularly (every couple of months) is a free workaround to maintain visibility. Occasional glitches and issues with stock image detection are minor inconveniences. Overall, Vinted is a top choice for sellers seeking a straightforward, fee-free platform to maximize their earnings from selling clothes online.
Grand Totals and Key Takeaways
Total Earnings Across All Apps: $2,189.05
Total Items Sold: 171
Average Earnings Per Item (Overall): $12.80
Average Fee Percentage (Overall): 25%
In total, over $2,000 was earned in a year by reselling clothes on these four apps. The average earning per item across all platforms was $12.80, with an average fee of 25% taken by the platforms (including shipping incentives).
These results demonstrate the real potential of using apps to make money selling clothes. While it does require time and effort – estimated at potentially over 160 hours in a year for this experiment – the financial and environmental benefits can be significant.
Choosing the right app depends on your priorities. If you value community and high sales volume, Poshmark is a strong contender. For user-friendly tools and efficient selling, Mercari is a good choice. Depop caters to a niche market of unique and higher-value items. And if you prioritize maximizing your profit and a seller-friendly experience, Vinted is the standout platform.
Ultimately, these apps provide accessible avenues for anyone to declutter their closet, participate in sustainable fashion, and make money online. By understanding the nuances of each platform and optimizing your selling strategies, you can successfully turn your unwanted clothes into a profitable side hustle.
