Depop Appeal: Complete Guide (Real Seller Walkthrough for 2025)

Introduction

I still remember the morning my Depop account got flagged — it was March 2022, a Monday. I’d just uploaded 15 new vintage crewnecks, a pair of Jordan 1 “Royal Toes,” and a vintage Prada nylon bag. Then suddenly, the app froze: “Account under review.” My stomach dropped.

I wasn’t a scammer. I wasn’t selling replicas. I was just scaling faster than their trust system could handle. I filed my first appeal that day, panicked and wordy — it got ignored. My second one, shorter and evidence-based, worked. Depop reinstated my shop two days later.

Since then, I’ve helped friends (and even competitors) navigate the Depop appeal process the right way — no drama, no emotion, just clarity. So if you’ve been restricted, suspended, or shadow-limited, here’s exactly how to handle it — with real examples from my own mess-ups.

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Why Depop Flags or Suspends Accounts

Depop’s moderation has improved since 2020, but it still feels random sometimes. Usually, the system flags accounts for one of these buckets:

• Authenticity concerns (luxury or sneaker listings)

• Policy violations (photos, descriptions, duplicate posts)

• Excessive cancellations or low rating

• Payment or shipping irregularities

• Rapid sales growth without verification

Here’s where it gets interesting: the algorithm flags first, human reviews later. So if you appeal fast, you’re catching the issue while it’s still reversible.

Anecdote — October 2023

My vintage Nike hoodie listing got pulled for “suspected counterfeit.” I added proof photo of the care tag + receipt from the thrift source. Account reinstated in 19 hours.

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How to file a Depop appeal (step-by-step)

1. Check your email and in-app message.
   Depop always sends an automated suspension notice.

2. Open a support ticket.
   Use their Help → Contact Us → Appeals section or reply directly to the suspension email.

3. Keep your message under 150 words.
   Clear, factual, polite. Avoid emotional tone.

4. Attach evidence.

   • Purchase receipts (for sneakers or designer items)

   • Screenshots of authenticity checks (LegitCheck, StockX, GOAT)

   • Previous successful sales of same brand/style

5. Wait — but not silently.
   If no reply in 48h, reply once with “Following up to confirm you received this appeal.”

My successful appeal template (used twice)

“Hi Depop Team,
My shop [@username] was suspended for authenticity review. All items are genuine and sourced from verified retail or thrift channels. Attached are receipts and photos of interior tags.
I’d appreciate a review and reinstatement.
Thank you.”

Worked twice in 2022 and 2023. Third one (policy issue) — denied, which taught me what not to do.

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Honest failures & lessons from three Depop appeals

1️⃣ March 2022 — overreacted.

Sent a three-paragraph email. Sounded defensive.
Result: ignored.
Lesson: shorter = better.

2️⃣ October 2022 — calm and clear.

Attached receipts, photos, and prior sales links.
Result: reinstated in 48 hours.

3️⃣ June 2023 — duplicate listing violation.

Had three nearly identical vintage Levi’s posts.
Appealed anyway. Denied.
Depop hates duplication — even with color variants.

Uncertainty admission: sometimes you can’t win an appeal. That’s part of selling at scale.

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Common Depop appeal reasons (and what to include)

If Depop flags you for “policy” but doesn’t say which, check your last 5 listings. Usually something small — watermark, duplicate photo, or external link.

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Depop appeal for luxury items

Luxury appeals are tricky because Depop uses automated AI flagging plus random human checks.

My strategy:

• Include macro photos of serial number, interior tag, and hardware logo

• Mention where you sourced it (thrift store name, consignment, own collection)

• Reference brand authentication standard (“matches reference photos from Entrupy/Real Authentication”)

Anecdote — May 2024:
My Dior oblique pouch flagged mid-sale. Sent a 3-line appeal with photo proof of stitching pattern. Reinstated within 24h.

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How long Depop appeals take

Most responses land between 12–72 hours.
Complex cases (counterfeit or payment) can take a week.

Opinion: speed and tone matter more than brand or value. Depop’s team reads a lot of emotional emails. Calm clarity stands out.

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Preventing future Depop flags

After three appeals, here’s my prevention checklist:

• Avoid duplicate listings (even color variants)

• Don’t link to outside marketplaces

• Keep photo background clean — no watermarks

• Tag items with specific categories, not “Other”

• Ship within 3 days consistently

• Keep at least 4.7★ rating

I use Closo to automate crosslisting + delist/relist cycles, which helps me keep listings unique across platforms — saves about 3 hours weekly and prevents duplicate errors.

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If Depop denies your appeal

Here’s what I did when one appeal failed (June 2023):

1. Waited 5 days, then emailed back requesting final clarification.

2. Asked if I could open a new verified shop with same PayPal.

3. Created a new shop under my registered business name, uploaded receipts for all first listings.

Result: approved clean within 72h.
Sometimes starting fresh is faster than fighting endlessly.

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Depop appeal vs other marketplaces

eBay feels corporate, Depop feels personal — but slower.

Opinion: Depop appeal process could use transparency, but at least humans still review them.

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People always ask me… “Can you lose your Depop permanently?”

Yes. If you repeatedly violate policy (especially counterfeit or unsafe item flags), Depop can permanently restrict your account and linked PayPal.

But most sellers lose access temporarily. 80% of appeals I’ve seen succeed when you attach receipts and communicate professionally.

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Common question I see… “Should I create a new account instead of appealing?”

If you’re suspended for a simple issue, appeal first.
Depop tracks device and PayPal data — new accounts can get flagged instantly.
If your ban is permanent, use a new business PayPal and fresh email, and avoid reusing identical photos or titles.

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After your Depop appeal succeeds — rebuild trust fast

Once reinstated:

• List gradually (5–10 items at a time)

• Respond to every buyer within minutes

• Ship lightning fast for a week

• Ask 2–3 repeat buyers to leave reviews

Anecdote — December 2023:
After a 10-day restriction, I regained full algorithm reach within a week by being hyper-responsive.

Now the tricky part: Depop’s trust score resets quietly after reactivation, so overperform those first few weeks.

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Worth Reading

If you’re rebuilding after a Depop appeal, check the Closo Seller Hub — especially the guides on crosslisting automation and seller protection workflows. The breakdown on duplicate listing prevention saved me from a second flag entirely.

Explore inside Closo Seller Hub: https://closo.co/pages/closo-seller-hub
(It's my go-to when scaling between Depop, Poshmark, and eBay.)

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Conclusion

Depop appeals feel scary the first time — but they’re fixable. Keep it factual, attach proof, and write like a partner, not a protester.

Across vintage, sneakers, and small luxury resale, I’ve faced three suspensions and recovered from two. Every one taught me to build cleaner workflows and automate duplicate control.

Now I manage all crosslisting through Closo, which saves ~3 hours weekly and keeps listings synced. That consistency alone has kept me flag-free since mid-2023.

Depop’s trust system isn’t perfect — but if you understand it, you can navigate it and get back to selling faster than you think.