Depop Review: Is It Actually A Trustworthy Site?

Here’s what you should know about Depop before you buy or sell anything on the platform.

If you’ve browsed used clothing online, there’s a good chance you’ve encountered Depop.

This clothing marketplace is somewhat different from the others. Even if you’re already familiar with platforms like Grailed and Poshmark, you’ll probably still need to take some time to get used to Depop.

So, who is Depop for? What kinds of clothing can you find? Is it safe? I’ll answer these questions and more in this comprehensive review.

What Exactly Is Depop?

Depop is a social e-commerce platform focused on clothing, jewelry, and beauty. Like similar platforms, it’s primarily used for buying and selling new and secondhand clothes.

It was founded in 2011 and quickly gained popularity, especially in the UK and US. In 2021, Etsy acquired Depop, but the two sites continue to operate separately from each other. Currently, the platform has over 15 million users, 90% of which are under 26.

Depop fills an interesting niche in the world of clothing marketplaces. It’s similar to Grailed in that it tends to lean toward more expensive items, but Depop’s target audience is much younger on average, so you’ll see a lot of streetwear and bohemian items. That said, you can also find a lot of unique thrifted garments.

In terms of layout, it’s pretty similar to Instagram. The main way to shop is to browse photo listings on sellers’ profiles. And like most marketplaces, you can use the built-in search engine and apply filters to look for specific items or browse certain categories.

Buying on Depop

In general, buying on Depop is similar to buying on any clothing marketplace. For more information, check out our guide to buying used clothes online.

After that, a good next step is to get familiar with the platform.

Depop’s interface is pretty different from other marketplaces. The most noticeable difference is that the listings don’t show titles when you’re browsing — you just get a photo and a price. In order to get more information on what the listing is, you have to click on it.

This can be annoying, especially since platforms like Grailed and Poshmark display information like title, size, and even condition when in browsing mode.

The best way to combat this is to apply all necessary filters before browsing. For example, if you’re looking for medium sizes only, be sure to tick that size box in the filters instead of just including “medium” in your search.

Even though browsing is a bit of a pain, the actual listings are formatted quite nicely. All the information is clearly laid out, and the description section is nice and big.

You’re also able to see information about the seller, including their location, rating, activity, and number of items sold. This is useful for quickly checking a seller’s validity without having to go onto their profile.

If you like an item, you can buy it outright or use the make offer button to counter with a lower price. (At this time, the “make offer” feature is only available on the mobile app).

As with all clothing marketplaces, communication with the seller is key. It’s not a bad idea to message the seller beforehand — even if you’re planning on buying from them — to evaluate how communicative they are.

Depop’s feedback feature is much better than some of its competitors, and this is useful when shopping around. By clicking on the number next to the seller’s star rating, you can see their reviews complete with written customer feedback.

Selling on Depop

When it comes to selling, Depop is also pretty similar to other platforms. (You can read our guide to selling clothes online for more information.)

Here are some of the basics you’ll want to know before tossing up your first listing.

First, the fees: Depop takes a 10% platform fee, and you’ll also get a payment processor fee from either PayPal or Depop payments. These fees also vary depending on the country you’re in — you can read more on Depop’s fees page.

Second, you have to approach your listings a little more critically.

Because Depop is even more image-centric than its competitors, it’s crucial to take high-quality photos of your items.

It’s so important that Depop has an entire Photography and Curation Guide outlining best practices for images. While good photos are important for any clothing marketplace platform, they’re arguably even more important for Depop.

Third, you should be aware of how Depop handles shipping. US sellers can either ship through Depop (for mainland addresses) or cover it themselves. Depop shipments are priced by weight, which can be more convenient than having to use one flat rate for all items.

In addition, you can also choose whether to cover shipping costs or pass those on to the buyer. All of that information, along with shipping rates, is here on Depop’s shipping guide.

Something else to take into account is Depop’s audience. Because Depop is mostly used by younger people, items tailored to that demographic will generally sell better.

That doesn’t mean you’ll have trouble selling other kinds of items, but you may need to be more strategic with your listings to make sure that they get in front of interested buyers.

Taking great photos, using the right tags, and writing informative descriptions can all go a long way toward selling an item.

FAQs About Depop

Here’s some more info about Depop. 

Can You Get Scammed on Depop?

As with all clothing marketplace platforms, the answer is technically “yes,” but you generally don’t need to worry as long as you’re doing your due diligence when shopping.

Of course, you’ll want to be wary when dealing with higher-priced items. You can also read up on some common scams to stay updated.

Are Depop Purchases Protected?

Depop does have a buyer protection policy that protects transactions for up to 180 days after the date of purchase. Only items purchased through the Depop app qualify for protection—you can see all the information here.

Does Depop Verify Items?

Currently, Depop does not offer any authentication services. That said, it is against their terms of service to sell counterfeit items.

Wrapping Up: Should You Use Depop?

When compared to other platforms for selling clothes online, Depop stands out in many ways. But is it actually worth using?

The biggest factor here is the audience. If you’re planning on selling clothes that are currently popular in youth culture, then Depop is probably your best bet.

For pretty much everything else, Depop is just okay. It won’t hurt to cross-list your items on the platform, but depending on what you sell, it may not prove to be that useful for you.

If you’re just planning on selling menswear that caters to a slightly older audience, then you’re probably better off using a combination of eBay, Grailed, and maybe Poshmark.

Questions? Comments? Leave them below!