Tips for Shopping Secondhand Online
Thrifting and secondhand shopping have grown enormously in the past few years as trends lean more toward environmentally friendly options along with fashion from previous decades returning to the runways. Although all secondhand shopping tends to take a lot of patience and sorting, doing so online can be particularly tricky. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you find what you’re looking for while secondhand shopping online.
1. Find your preferred platform or website.
There are numerous websites and apps dedicated to reselling used or sometimes even unused items. Popular stores include ThredUp, Poshmark, Depop and Swap. Depending on what you’re looking for, you may also look into stores that are more curated with strictly designer or vintage clothing and accessories. Once you have visited these online stores and got a good understanding of their platforms, you may find that you prefer one over the other.
2. Know what you are looking for.
Shopping at any store without a plan can be overwhelming. These online secondhand stores have countless items in every category imaginable so it is especially important to have an idea of what you are looking for or at least what brand you would like to shop under. Otherwise, you might be stuck scrolling through pages and pages of random items.
3. Make use of every filter setting when searching.
This is probably the most important thing I would recommend when online thrifting. Unfortunately, on many of these sites, specifically searching “blue sparkly dress” in the search bar won’t always guarantee that you will see strictly blue sparkly dresses. For this reason, utilizing the filter options can be very helpful. For example, on Poshmark you can select the department, the color, the item type, the brand, the price range, and the condition of the item, whether it has been used or not. This is extremely helpful and will save you so much time and stress.
4. Work with what you know.
Most of these online secondhand stores do not have return options so it can be helpful to shop brands and sizes that you already know will fit and know you will like. You can also look for descriptions and reviews of the item on the original store’s page to get a better idea of the sizing, fit, or material.
5. Don’t give up.
Secondhand shopping online takes time, practice and patience so don’t be discouraged if you don’t find what you’re looking for on the first try. Continue to play around with filters and edit your search, and you’ll be on your way to finding the perfect new (or old) pieces to add to your wardrobe.
