Poshmark USA: A Real Seller’s Guide to the 20% Fee, "No Returns," and the Customer Service Ghost

Poshmark USA: A Real Seller’s Guide to the 20% Fee, "No Returns," and the Customer Service Ghost

I still have the screenshot of my very first sale on Poshmark USA. It was a pair of beat-up Converse All-Stars that I had almost thrown in the donation bin. I listed them on a whim, poorly lit and barely described, and three hours later, my phone pinged. I made $18. That dopamine hit was dangerous.

It wasn't just about the money, though. It was the realization that the clutter in my closet had liquidity. If you are sitting on a pile of used clothing online inventory—or just your own wardrobe overflow—you probably feel that same itch. But after five years of selling, thousands of packages shipped, and a love-hate relationship with their algorithm, I can tell you that the "easy money" narrative is only half true.

Here’s where it gets interesting: selling on Poshmark com USA isn't just about listing clothes; it’s about navigating a social network disguised as a marketplace.

 


Why Poshmark USA Dominates the Resale Market

When people ask me where to sell used clothes online, I usually point them to Poshmark first. Why? Because the barrier to entry is practically zero. You don't need to understand shipping zones, cubic weight, or box dimensions.

Poshmark com USA has built a walled garden. Unlike eBay, where you are fighting global SEO, or Depop, where you have to curate a "vibe," Poshmark is a free-for-all of brands. I’ve sold everything from a high-end Reformation dress to a used J.Crew flannel from 2012.

But the "social" aspect is what makes it unique. You have to share listings. You have to follow people. It feels less like a store and more like Instagram with a checkout button.

My First "Honest Failure"

I remember my first month taking it seriously. I sourced ten cashmere sweaters, thinking I’d strike gold. I listed them, set the phone down, and waited. Crickets. I didn't know I had to "share" my own items to the newsfeed. They sat for six months until I finally realized that on Poshmark USA, if you aren't sharing, you aren't selling. I eventually sold them at a loss just to move them. Lesson learned.

The Reality of Contacting Poshmark (The Phone Number Saga)

This is the most common frustration I hear. "I have an issue with an order, where is the poshmark customer service telephone number usa?"

Here is the brutal truth: Poshmark customer service number usa is a ghost.

While you might find numbers floating around the internet (often corporate HQs in Redwood City), they are not staffed for seller support. If you try to find a poshmark phone number usa free to call about a return case, you will likely end up in a voicemail loop or dead end.

Does Poshmark Have a Phone Number USA?

Technically, yes, for corporate offices. Practically, for you and me? No.

How to contact poshmark by phone usa is a search query I see constantly, but the answer is: you don't. You use the app.

I had a situation last year where a buyer claimed I sent them an empty box. Panic set in. I frantically searched for a poshmark customer service number usa. I found nothing. I had to rely on their email support (support@poshmark.com) and the in-app case system.

And you know what? It worked. It took 48 hours, which felt like an eternity, but they sided with me because I had my drop-off receipt.

So, if you are looking for the poshmark customer service telephone number usa, stop looking. Open the app, go to "My Sales," click the order, and hit "Problems/Order Inquiry." It is the only way that actually gets results.

Setting Up Shop: The Best App to Sell Clothes?

Is it actually the best app to sell clothes? Let's look at the setup.

When you download the app, you can have a listing live in 60 seconds.

  1. Snap a photo.

  2. Add a title (e.g., "Madewell High Rise Skinny Jeans").

  3. Add size and brand.

  4. Set price.

Done.

Compared to eBay, where you have to select specific shipping services and item specifics like "Closure Style" and "Fabric Type" just to get visibility, Poshmark is a breeze.

However, this simplicity has a cost. Because it is so easy to sell clothing online here, the competition is massive. Everyone and their mother is selling Lululemon leggings. To stand out, your photos need to be crisp. I use a simple ring light setup now, but back in the day, I used to lay clothes on my wood floor next to a window.

(Parenthetical aside: I once tried to sell a pair of boots using stock photos only because I was lazy. Poshmark took the listing down in 2 hours for copyright infringement. They are stricter about this than you might think, so always take your own photos.)

The 20% Fee: The Price of Convenience

Now the tricky part... the money.

Poshmark USA charges a flat commission:

  • Sales under $15: Flat fee of $2.95.

  • Sales $15 and over: 20% commission.

When I sold a Gucci bag for $400, handing over $80 to Poshmark physically hurt. I sat there looking at the screen thinking, "I did all the work, why do they get $80?"

But here is the trade-off. Poshmark USA handles the payment processing (no extra credit card fees) and, most importantly, the shipping logistics.

The Shipping Miracle

The buyer pays $7.97 (price varies slightly by year) for shipping. Poshmark emails you a label. That label is good for any package up to 5 lbs.


 

  • You can use free USPS Priority Mail boxes.

  • You don't need to weigh the shirt.

  • You don't need to calculate zones from New York to California.

If you sell used clothes online on other platforms, shipping can be a nightmare. On Poshmark, it is mindless. For heavy items like winter coats or bundles of jeans, this is a massive advantage.

Live Selling: The "Posh Shows" Revolution

In late 2022/early 2023, Poshmark introduced "Posh Shows"—live video auctions. It turned the app into QVC for Gen Z.

I have mixed feelings here. I tried hosting a show once. I felt ridiculous holding up a wrinkled t-shirt to my iPhone camera for 45 minutes while three people watched. I sold two items for $5 each.

However, I know sellers who only do live shows now. They move hundreds of items a week. If you have the personality for it, it can be lucrative. But if you are an introvert like me who just wants to list items and go to sleep, the constant notifications about "So-and-so is LIVE now!" can be annoying.

Navigating Returns: The "All Sales Final" Myth

One of the biggest perks of Poshmark USA is the return policy. Ostensibly, returns are not allowed for fit or "buyer's remorse." If the shirt doesn't fit the buyer, they are supposed to "Re-Posh" it (resell it themselves).

But... there are loopholes. A buyer can open a case for "Item Not As Described."

I once sold a vintage silk blouse. The buyer received it and opened a case claiming it was polyester. It wasn't. It was 100% silk. But because I hadn't photographed the inner care tag clearly, Poshmark sided with the buyer. They returned it.

This is a risk when you sell clothing online. My advice? Photograph every tag. Photograph every flaw. If there is a tiny hole in the armpit, point to it in the photo. Over-disclosure is your insurance policy.

My Tech Stack: Automation is Key

If you are just selling a few items from your closet, the native app is fine. But if you are trying to make this a side hustle, you need help.

I use Closo to automate the sharing process. Remember how I said you have to share your closet to make sales? Doing that manually for 300 items takes 40 minutes. Closo does it in the background while I sleep. It saves me about 3 hours weekly, and frankly, my thumbs would have fallen off by now without it.

I also cross-list. I don't just rely on Poshmark com USA. I use tools like Vendoo or List Perfectly to take my Poshmark listings and push them to Mercari and eBay.

Poshmark vs. The World

Feature Poshmark USA eBay Mercari
Fees 20% (flat) ~13-15% (variable) 10% + fees
Shipping Simple Flat Rate Complex/Calculated Calculated
Returns Case-based only Seller Choice (mostly) 3-Day Window
Audience Fashion/Social Everything Garage Sale
Speed Slow (requires sharing) Fast (SEO based) Medium

Sourcing: Where to Find Inventory

If you want to sell used clothes online for profit, you can't just sell your own old Gap t-shirts forever. You need a supply chain.

I hit the local Goodwill bins (the "Outlet") where clothes are sold by the pound. I recently found a Patagonia Synchilla fleece for roughly $1.50 (based on weight). I sold it on Poshmark USA for $65 within two days.

(Another aside: Be careful with "mystery boxes" sold by other resellers. I bought a "Reseller Box" for $100 once, hoping for designer goods. I got a box of stained mall brands. Stick to sourcing what you can see.)

Strategies to Beat the Algorithm

The Poshmark USA algorithm is a mysterious beast, but here is what we know works:

1. Consistent Listing: Listing 5 items every day is better than listing 35 items on Sunday. The algorithm loves activity.

2. Relisting Stale Items: If an item hasn't sold in 60 days, it is "stale." Editing the price doesn't help much. You need to delete the listing and create a brand new one. This puts it back at the top of the "Just In" feed. I use Closo to automate this delisting/relisting process because doing it manually is soul-crushing.

3. Offers to Likers: When someone "likes" your item, they are interested. I send an offer of 10-20% off with discounted shipping within 15 minutes of the like. My conversion rate on these immediate offers is around 15%, which is high for e-commerce.

Common Questions I See

People always ask me... Can I sell things other than clothes?

Yes! Poshmark com USA has expanded. You can now sell Home Goods, Electronics, and even Pet supplies. I've sold a few coffee mugs and a used Fitbit. However, the core buyer is still looking for fashion. If you are selling a drill, go to eBay. If you are selling a Le Creuset pot, Poshmark is actually decent because the 5lb shipping label covers that heavy pot for just $7.97.

Common question I see... Is the Poshmark Ambassador status worth it?

You will get a notification eventually saying you are eligible to be a "Posh Ambassador." It requires a certain number of sales and shares. Honestly? It doesn't mean much for sales. It unlocks some "benefits" like being recommended to new users, but I didn't see a massive spike in income when I got my gold star. Don't stress about hitting those metrics; just focus on listing good inventory.

Honest Assessment: Is It Worth It in 2026?

After years on the platform, my relationship with Poshmark USA is stable.

I don't love the 20% fee. I don't love that poshmark customer service number usa is nonexistent when I have a crisis. I don't love the pressure to be "social."

But, it is the most reliable place to sell clothing online. The interface is beautiful, the shipping is foolproof, and the buyers are generally willing to pay higher prices for fashion than they are on eBay or Mercari.

If you are just starting, don't get bogged down in the details. Go to your closet, find a jacket you haven't worn in a year, and list it. Don't worry about the perfect lighting yet. Just get it live.

And if you find yourself drowning in the manual work of sharing and cross-listing, look into automation. It’s the only way to scale without burnout.

For a deeper dive into how to manage your inventory across multiple platforms, check out this guide on the Closo Seller Hub. It breaks down the tools that power the top sellers.

If you are struggling with pricing your items to account for that 20% fee, read this article on Poshmark Fees 2025. It helps you calculate your margins before you even list.

And finally, if you are debating between platforms, this comparison of Poshmark vs eBay vs Mercari is essential reading.