Selling On Poshmark For Beginners in 2024 | Tips To Make Sales
Last Updated on by Bree
Are you thinking about selling on Poshmark to make extra money from home?
Or do you want to clear your closet or home, create space for new items, and make money?
Then keep reading because this article will show you how to sell on Poshmark, get free shipping supplies, and tips to make sales on Poshmark.
Let’s get started.
Steps for selling on Poshmark in 2023 for beginners
1. Create a Poshmark closet
To sell on Poshmark as a beginner, you must create an account with your email and choose a name for your store.
You can use your real name or make a fun name; it’s up to you.
And you can change it later if you like, but you’d have to contact Poshmark support to do that.
Changing your name on Poshmark isn’t like Mercari.
On Mercari, nobody cares if you change your seller name several times.
Anyway… moving on.
2. Get familiar with Poshmark fees as a beginner
Listing on Poshmark is free, no matter how much you list.
Poshmark selling fees for sales above $15 is 20%, and you keep 80%.
But for sales under $15, Poshmark takes $2.95, and you get the rest.
Shipping on Poshmark costs $7.97 for items under 5 lbs.
But you can upgrade the shipping if it weighs over 5 lbs.
3. Learn how Poshmark pays sellers
Poshmark pays sellers via direct bank deposit.
No, Poshmark doesn’t pay sellers with PayPal.
So make sure to add your bank details to receive your earnings.
4. Find things to sell on Poshmark
Hold up, hold up… Don’t start running to the nearest Goodwill store to spend money yet.
As a beginner Poshmark seller, it’s best to start selling things from your home.
So check your closet first for clothes you haven’t worn in months.
Also, check your living room, kitchen, and house for other things to sell on Poshmark.
A few years ago, you could only sell fashion on Poshmark.
But now Poshmark has a home goods marketplace where you can list rugs, plates, cutlery, etc.
So you can sell almost anything on Poshmark.
But make sure to check for prohibited items.
After making a few dollars on Poshmark, you can start buying things to sell.
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5. Get shipping supplies for selling on Poshmark
You do not have to spend money on shipping supplies to sell on Poshmark.
Just reuse what you already have at home – boxes and poly mailers from your online shopping.
Some online stores ship items in resealable poly mailer bags in case of returns.
Please save those bags to ship stuff on Poshmark.
Another way to get free shipping supplies is from USPS.
Since Poshmark ships with priority mail, order free shipping boxes on the USPS website.
And they will be sent to your address.
But if you feel like buying attractive poly mailers for shipping small items, you can do that too.
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6. List your items
Now that you’ve found stuff to sell and shipping supplies, it is time to list your products on Poshmark.
Don’t worry; listing on Poshmark is free.
You only pay a selling fee after you make a sale.
So let’s list your first item.
How to list on Poshmark
- Take pictures and maybe a short video of the item from several angles, and show the care labels (for clothes and shoes) and flaws, if any.
- Take and show pictures of measurements as some buyers would ask for them,
- Then add the description and how to style it if it’s a fashion item(optional),
- Choose the brand name, item category,
- Mention the condition of the item – new, like-new, good, fair,
- Add the cost, color, and size, and hit publish.
7. Sell, ship, and get your money
When you make a sale on Poshmark, you’ll get an email with the shipping label to ship the order.
Unfortunately, as far as I know, Poshmark sellers cannot ship on their own.
It may be a drawback for some as per the cost of shipping.
But I don’t mind as I’m more focused on convenience.
The shipping is high, yup!
Please pack the item nicely, print it out, and attach the shipping label.
And drop it off at your local post office.
Or schedule a pick on USPS.com, and the mail person will pick it up.
When the buyer receives their order, they have three days to inspect, accept the item, and rate you.
Then your funds would be released to you as store credit.
And you can transfer it to your bank account.
Or shop with it.
What to do when you make a sale
Clean the item.
If you’re selling clothes, make sure they are washed.
Some buyers prefer fragrance-free detergents on their clothes, and they may complain about fragranced detergents.
Now I’m not saying to buy fragrance-free detergent to sell on Poshmark.
Just make sure the clothes you ship to buyers are clean, that’s all.
Don’t overdo anything.
Most people wash the clothes they buy before wearing them.
So…
And for household goods that need dusting, vacuuming, and whatnot, tidy them up before shipping.
Then pack it up and get it shipped to the buyer, and update the order as shipped.
8. Track your sales when selling on Poshmark as a beginner
If you intend to sell on Poshmark as a serious business, you should take the time to track your sales and inventory.
Download a free sales tracker to make it easier for you.
With the sales tracker, you can track your monthly sales and how much you spend on inventory.
And also track what sells and restock it.
I’m sure you’d find other smart ways to use the sales tracker as a beginner Poshmark seller.
Now let’s talk about why sometimes you don’t make sales on Poshmark and what you can do to improve it.
Reasons you’re not selling on Poshmark
As a Poshmark seller, it must be frustrating to go week after week without making any sales.
I know exactly how it feels as I have been there.
Even when I know I have done everything right, I still don’t make sales on Poshmark.
I’ve sold only three items since I joined Poshmark.
But I’ve made over 30 sales on Mercari and Facebook Marketplace.
So I decided not to worry about it anymore.
However, I know I am not the only Poshmark seller not making mullah on the selling app.
So here are possible reasons you are not making sales on Poshmark.
1. Shipping with poor supplies
One of the main reasons you’re not making sales on Poshmark is that you ship with poor shipping supplies.
It doesn’t make sense to ship items in a worn-out shipping envelope and patch it up with tape.
Imagine you, as a buyer trying to break through several layers of tape to get to your item.
It is frustrating.
Then imagine ruining the item in the process.
Now, that’s heartbreaking.
And if several buyers leave poor ratings about your shipping supplies, you’d make fewer or no sales.
Some buyers even said sellers ship items in ziplock bags.
That’s just not right.
Please get free priority mailboxes on USPS.
And ship items with care.
Scroll to the comments and read Angela’s experience with sellers shipping poorly.
2. Buyers are returning your items
Poor shipping, inadequate descriptions, and dull pictures can cause conflicts between buyers and sellers.
And this can also lead to Poshmark returns.
Imagine you published a listing and didn’t show pictures of the flaws.
And the buyer receives it and sees the flaws.
They’d immediately open a case against you and ask for a refund.
And if the case goes in the buyer’s favor (in this case, it would), Poshmark would approve the return.
And you’d lose money and time.
3. Window shoppers
Another reason why you are not making sales on Poshmark is because of window shoppers.
Most buyers and sellers on Poshmark are window shoppers.
We browse through listings clicking like, and moving on.
Or if you are like me, you save them for when you have money.
4. You are not selling on Poshmark because your pictures are blurry
Blurry pictures are a possible reason why you are not making sales on Poshmark.
I have seen this so many times.
The worst is when the seller has just one blurry picture.
OMG!
It drives me crazy.
Not everyone has the patience to ask you for more pictures.
And how do you expect anyone to see and want to buy your item if the pictures are blurry?
5. Not replying to questions on your listings
The way the Poshmark app works is that the buyers and sellers communicate under the listing comments.
So every buyer sees all the questions other customers ask about your listing.
And we can tell if you’re not replying because it is right there.
Maybe it’s a dead account.
But Poshmark shows when you were last active on the app.
Customers will assume you don’t want to sell if you’re active on the app and not replying to buyers.
6. Poshmark shipping cost is a possible reason you are not making sales
This reason may not resonate with all sellers and buyers, but it is true.
Poshmark recently increased its shipping cost to $7.97.
And I am not happy with that change.
I guess a few buyers aren’t okay with the shipping rate too.
7. Low-ballers may be the reason you’re not selling on Poshmark
Who are lowballers?
Low-ballers are buyers that offer meager prices for your listing.
For example, you list an item for $10, and someone offers to pay $6 or even $5.
Some would even ask for free shipping on an already low-priced item.
Remember that the Poshmark selling fee is $2.95 for items under $15 and 20% of sales from $15 up.
So how are you supposed to make sales or profit if you always get low-ballers?
Some lowballers send offers, while some ask for messy discounts in the comments.
Now those are the comments you ignore.
Yes, I said it!
8. You are not sharing your listings
Poshmark encourages you to share your listings as often as possible for free.
You can share your listings on Poshmark with your followers, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.
So if you are not sharing enough, it could be why you are not making sales.
I’m guilty of this too.
I’m not saying you’d sell more when you share your listings frequently.
But there’s a chance you will.
So share your and other sellers’ listings too.
Some sellers will return the love and share yours too.
9. Insufficient listing descriptions
It’s also possible you aren’t making sales on Poshmark because of short descriptions.
Are you one of those sellers that list a pair of American Eagle boots and name it “black boots”?
And you didn’t even try to search for the brand name on Poshmark.
Poshmark shoppers love popular brands.
So most of the time, they’d type in a brand name in the search bar.
This means they might not buy shoes if they can’t tell what brand they are.
10. You’re not using the video feature
After taking several pictures of your item, you may be too tired to make videos.
And I get it.
But you may lose possible sales if you’re not using the video feature when listing on Poshmark.
So think about it.
11. Sometimes selling sucks
Reselling is not an easy business to do.
And you might try everything and still make little to no sales.
There will be high and low days.
Sometimes shoppers are broke or shopping from other selling apps.
You’ll never know.
Sometimes selling online sucks.
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Tips to make sales on Poshmark for beginners
Reply to comments on your listings.
To sell more on Poshmark, reply to comments on your listings.
It shows you’re serious about selling.
Nobody likes to buy stuff from a seller that never replies to inquiries about their listings.
Even if you’re busy, reply when you’re free.
Better to reply late than never.
List to sell, not to make a fortune.
Another great tip to make quick sales as a beginner seller is to price your items to sell.
Not to make a fortune.
Buyers might ignore your listings if your prices are already close to retail prices.
People shop on Poshmark to get good items for less than they retail.
So it won’t make sense that you’re listing at retail price.
Besides, selling and getting paid is better than keeping inventory.
Ship items with good shipping supplies
Another tip for selling more on Poshamrk as a beginner is shipping your items with good supplies.
You’d think it doesn’t matter.
But most buyers read sellers’ ratings before buying from them.
And if they see that you ship with poor shipping boxes, they’ll ignore your listings.
Also, you’ll get returning customers when you ship with good supplies.
Send offers to likers.
To make sales on Poshmark, send offers to buyers that like your listings.
When you see a lot of likes on your Poshmark listings, it means people are interested in them.
So you can send an offer to your likers but with a lower shipping rate.
Sending offers to likers does not guarantee you’d make a sale.
But sometimes, it works.
So it’s worth the shot.
How to send offers to likers on Poshmark
Take note: the buyers may accept, counter, decline, or even ignore your offer.
Show several pictures of your items and describe them well
Some sellers take only one picture of their items, which may work for them.
But it is always better to have more pictures that show what you’re selling from different angles.
Also, take pictures of the label or brand name of your item.
If you don’t have these pictures, buyers will either ask for them or buy from someone who does
So make sure to describe your listings well.
Add a video of your listing.
You can add up to 12 pictures of your listing when selling on Poshmark.
But now you can add a short video of your listing on Poshmark.
If you sell clothes or shoes and want to model them for your buyer, a video would work better than pictures.
And I think it can help you sell more on Poshmark.
To sell more as a Poshmark beginner seller, share your listings on social media.
To sell more on Poshmark, share your listings on social media.
You can share your listings on Poshmark, Twitter, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Also, there are apps for sharing your listings daily.
Just search Google; I’m sure you’ll find one.
Share your listings on Posh parties to make sales as a beginner Poshmark seller
Posh parties are another way to sell more on Poshmark.
The posh parties usually have a theme.
It could be a denim party, kids’ clothing, etc.
Just follow the theme when you’re invited to posh parties.
Share your listings and other sellers’ listings too.
Cross-list your items on other reselling marketplaces
Yeah, it’s about selling on Poshmark.
But trying other reselling apps can increase your odds of making more sales.
So look for where your buyers hang out and list your items there.
Try Facebook marketplace, Mercari, eBay, Depop, and many others.
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Now, what are the benefits and downsides of selling on Poshmark?
Perks of selling on Poshmark
- First, you’d make money selling on Poshmark, like on Mercari, eBay, or even Facebook marketplace.
- Secondly, most resellers love selling on Poshmark because it is posh… In my opinion, it is the Instagram of reseller marketplaces in terms of the outlook of the app, the fashion, and how some sellers showcase their listings. It is very cute.
- It’s an excellent way to declutter your closet or home and make side money if you dislike donating.
Downsides of selling on Poshmark
- When you make a sale, Poshmark takes 20% of the cost. That’s higher than 10% on Mercari or even lower on the Facebook Marketplace. Read more about Mercari VS Poshmark – Which Is Better For Selling Online?
- Another drawback is that you must share your listings for buyers to see. Like, who has time to share their listings several times every day? Some people do…
- Also, the Poshmark flat rate shipping of $7.97 is higher than other reselling platforms. So imagine selling a shirt for $10, and the buyer has to pay almost $8 for shipping. I think it’s kind of high.
- You can only send offers to buyers with discounted shipping. I think that’s too much for a seller to carry. You’re selling on Poshmark to make money, not to pay $3 out of $7.97 shipping even after offering the buyer a lower price and paying Poshmark a 20% selling fee. Do you see what I mean?
Conclusion on selling on Poshmark for beginners.
So that’s how to start selling on Poshmark as a beginner and tips to make sales.
Remember, you don’t have to spend money on your Poshmark closet yet.
Start with the things in your home, then branch out to shopping from thrift stores to resell.
I hope you find this post helpful.
If you have any questions about how to sell on Poshmark, please ask.
I’ll be right here to answer them.
Thanks for reading.
Please share this post on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
xx, Bree.
Hi Buayifa,
Thank you so much for such an informative & detailed post. It was a Very enjoyable read!
Although I have been selling on Posh for quite some time I still found some helpful tips.
Xox
Hi DM,
I’m glad you found my post about selling on Poshmark, helpful and informative.
Happy poshing!
xx, Buayifa.
I think it’s important to point out that packing items for shipment should be considered. For instance, I bought a 22″ leather Away bag for $99. The seller, however, SQUISHED it into one of those small Fit Fab Fun boxes. Then it was delayed in shipping, and I didn’t receive it until 10 days later. Immediately upon receiving the package, I knew it wasn’t going to be good. Now the leather has permanent crease marks in it and the zipper (while it works) has issues because of the heavy leather creases. Poshmark would not allow a return because it’s not considered damage. Go figure.
Secondly, I ordered a name-brand chiffon evening gown, and it arrived so stuffed in the polybag. As you know, poly bags are tear-resistant and they need to be opened with a sharp instrument. But not only did the seller overstuff the bag, but she also taped every corner and flap, literally making it impossible to open carefully (my husband commented that there was more tape than envelope!). I painstakingly attempted to open the bag with a tiny pair of scissors, but still managed to cut the dress and put a hole in it–it was THAT stuffed! Of course, there’s no return policy on buyer error, but I fully feel unjustified in this case. That was an expensive dress!
In both these cases, I kindly reported to the buyer my issues and received no comment back. I will not be buying from them again, but at least my comment is permanently on their page so other buyers can see how they might expect to receive potential shipments. And I don’t feel bad about doing that. Transparency is important when we’re buying second-hand items that generally cannot be returned. It’s my hope these buyers are a little more conscientious.
I do want to point out that in all my years of buying/selling online, I find that ebay, Facebook and Mercari sellers are less conscious of the way they pack items for shipment. Except for the two cases mentioned above, 99% of the time my Poshmark purchases are indeed packed with greater care, and I commend most sellers for their efforts.
Over all platforms, sellers need to pack clothing in boxes or poly bags that are big enough to respect the size and cost of the product. Leather goods should be first stuffed with paper/tissue/plastic to maintain its shape and placed in a box worthy of its size with good packing around it. Furthermore, if sellers use polybags, they need to remember that these bags, in most cases, have to be cut open. Sellers may consider using the zip open envelopes without overstuffing the bags or taping down the seals. It’s critical to leave enough room in the bag and PLEASE stop using so much tape!
Buayifa, if you update your 2021 post for 2022, would you consider adding these shipping guidelines? I hope it can be helpful to sellers and buyers in resale markets. Also, as a side note, Mercari is getting ready to increase its shipping rates and it may be worth an update on your posts.
Thank you for such an informative post! I hope we can continue to improve the resale market with the strategies you’ve noted.
Hi Angela,
I’m very sorry you experienced this on Poshmark.
While some sellers pride themselves in reusing shipping boxes, envelopes, or poly mailers, forcing several clothes into a torn poly mailer and using a roll of tape to patch it up is just not right.
And also I cannot stand creases on leather bags, so I’d be unhappy if that happened to me too. I wonder why anyone would sell such an expensive bag or dress and ship them so poorly.
Poshmark sellers can get free priority-mail boxes from USPS, so using rubbish shipping supplies is unacceptable.
And the worst part is that they’re not even concerned in the slightest.
As for shipping leather bags in slightly bigger poly mailers, I think that’s not even a good idea because the bag might be stuffed under other heavy things in the shipping truck. So a box is best for bags and shoes or any other item that might get squished. But I understand your point.
I always say even if you have 5 days to ship on Poshmark or 3 days on Mercari, it doesn’t mean you have to wait that long, especially without communicating with the buyer.
Thanks for sharing your experience shopping on Poshmark with me. Also, I appreciate your suggestion to update this post with some shipping tips. Thank you so much.
I got the email about Mercari updating their shipping costs as well, so I’d update my posts accordingly.
Again, I’m sorry your dress was ruined. It must be heartbreaking.
Thanks for this lengthy and informative comment.
I appreciate it.
xx, Buayifa.
You can’t even speak to a human when you have issues and you don’t even get an E-mail reply. Red flags.
Hi Tiffany,
Yeah, it’s annoying when you have problems on Poshmark and don’t get immediate answers.
But they sent emails the few times I reached out to Poshmark support. And honestly, I regretted it because the staff sounded condescending.
Anyway…