When clients, family, and friends ask where I spent most of my time shopping fashion resale, it’s two places: The RealReal and Poshmark, hands down. Yes, I shop and sell across several platforms and businesses — both digital and physical — but TRR and Poshmark are my mainstay staples, part of my habitual rotations and routines.

I’m often asked for my “top tips” on these platforms. You know the kind: the tips that help you unlock a truly outstanding deal, find the piece you’ve been searching for, and make you feel like the savviest person in the room. There’s more of a learning curve to Poshmark than The RealReal (check out Poshmark 101 for a great primer!), but once you’ve got the basics down, these are some of the tips that reliably serve me well. You’re welcome.

The RealReal

Wait to purchase until the item goes on sale… and then on sale again
Fun fact: The RealReal knocks down item prices all the time. For example, if you have your eye on a pair of Salvatore Ferragamo strappy sandals currently listed for $400 (too specific?), favorite the item and walk away (aka close the app). Check back on your favorites every few days (or daily, if you’re up for it). When an item doesn’t immediately sell, TRR will start marking down the price. I’ve managed to get truly remarkable deals (we’re talking under $50 deals) on designer pieces just by being patient for several weeks.
Leverage “Similar Products”
Soooo every once in a while that strategy above will backfire, and another buyer will snag the piece you have your eye on before you do. The RealReal’s “Similar Products” carousel at the bottom of each listing page is a great way to scout out other items that are visually similar and match your sizing. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve discovered an “aha!” piece from this feature.
Instead of cashing out your own sales, opt for Site Credit
Obviously it’s nice to get a little direct deposit surprise every once in a while, but one of the perks of keeping your earnings with The RealReal is you get an extra 5% added to your balance — so, free money, basically. It’s a no-brainer if you regularly shop at TRR.

Poshmark

Always, always, always ask: “Does this item have any stains, flaws, or odors?”
If you’ve taken my Poshmark 101 workshop, you know I harp on this. This question can save you sooooo much heartache. Yes, even if the piece is listed as NWT or NWOT, ask the seller this question. This gives the seller an opportunity to share anything they may have omitted from the listing, and it gives you cover to confidently open up a dispute just in case the item arrives in not-as-described condition.
Look at seller details before making a purchase
The two specific seller details that I always check out: last active date and reviews. If you’re eyeing a piece from someone who hasn’t been active in six months, it’s likely they're totally MIA and will be unresponsive to shipping your item or negotiating an offer (for the record, if a seller doesn’t ship your item within seven days, you can cancel and get a refund). Reviews will also tell you a lot about a seller — if their items are generally as described, if they ship with care, etc.
Negotiate!
Negotiation is half the fun on Poshmark. Don’t hesitate to hit the “Offer” button — see what happens!