I still remember the Saturday afternoon in 2019 when I decided to turn my spare bedroom into a fulfillment center. I had spent years accumulating "investment pieces"—designer coats I was afraid to wear, denim that was one size too optimistic, and vintage tees I swore would come back in style. I looked at the mountain of fabric on my bed and realized I was sitting on about $3,000 of dormant capital.
My first attempt was a disaster. I listed a heavy wool coat on eBay with "Free Shipping" because I thought that’s what you had to do to compete. I sold it for $40. The shipping to California cost me $22. After fees, I made about $12 for an item that cost me $200. I felt less like an entrepreneur and more like a charity service.
But I didn't quit. I obsessively studied the algorithms, the shipping zones, and the buyer psychology of every major platform. Five years later, I’ve moved over 5,000 units of clothing, from fast fashion to high-end luxury.
If you are staring at a closet full of clothes and wondering how to sell garments effectively, you are entering a market that is more complex than just "post it and pray." It requires strategy. You need to know which platform fits your specific inventory, how to measure a garment so you don't get returns, and how to price it so it actually moves.
The Platform Matrix: Where Can I Sell Clothes?
The most common question I get is simply: where can i sell clothes? The answer depends entirely on what you are holding.
The "Big Three" Breakdown:
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Poshmark: This is the social network of selling. It is the best place to sell clothes online for mid-tier brands like J.Crew, Madewell, Lululemon, and Anthropologie.
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Pro: Shipping is a flat fee paid by the buyer (up to 5lbs). This is huge for heavy items like jeans and jackets.
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Con: The 20% fee is steep, and the culture requires "sharing" listings constantly.
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eBay: The global garage sale. It is perfect for obscure vintage, men's clothing, and volume selling.
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Pro: Massive audience (130M+ buyers). Lower fees (roughly 13% for clothing).
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Con: You have to figure out shipping yourself (weighing items is mandatory).
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Depop: The Gen Z bedroom. If you have Y2K styles, baby tees, or weird vintage, go here.
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Pro: Items can sell for much higher prices if the "aesthetic" is right.
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Con: Buyers are younger and can be flakier or more demanding about communication.
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My Personal Anecdote: I once found a vintage 1990s "Harley Davidson" t-shirt at a yard sale for $1. I listed it on Poshmark for $25. It sat for months. I cross-listed it to Depop, styled it with some baggy jeans in the photo, and it sold for $65 in four hours. Same shirt, different audience.
The Amazon Myth: How to Sell Garments on Amazon
Here’s where it gets interesting... many people assume Amazon is the holy grail. They search for how to sell garments on amazon expecting a simple sign-up process.
The Reality Check: Selling clothing on Amazon is difficult for the average person clearing out their closet.
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Gating: The clothing category is often "gated," meaning you need approval and invoices from authorized distributors to sell major brands (Nike, Adidas, etc.). You cannot just sell a used Nike shirt you found at Goodwill on Amazon.
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Condition: Amazon is primarily for new items. While you can sell used books, selling used clothes is not the norm and is often restricted.
Opinion Statement: Unless you are launching your own private label brand or have a wholesale connection, ignore Amazon. It is not a flea market; it is a retail shelf. Stick to Poshmark and eBay for second-hand goods.
The Social Hustle: How to Start Selling on Poshmark
If you have decided that Poshmark is your venue, you need to understand the culture. Learning how to start selling on poshmark is easy; actually making sales takes work.
The Setup:
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Cover Shot: This must be bright and clear. Flat lays (clothes laid on a white background) or hanging shots work best.
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Title: Brand + Item Name + Size + Keyword.
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Bad: "Cute blue dress."
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Good: "Reformation Blue Floral Midi Dress Size 6 Viscose Summer Wedding."
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Description: Be honest about flaws. If there is a pill, say it. If there is a stain, photograph it.
How to Sell Stuff on Poshmark (The Algorithm): Poshmark relies on "Sharing." You have to share your own items to your followers and to "Parties" (themed events in the app).
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My Routine: I used to spend 30 minutes every morning just tapping "Share" on my phone. It was tedious, but my sales dropped to zero whenever I stopped.
The Luxury Route: How to Sell on The RealReal
If you have high-end items (Gucci, Prada, Reformation) and zero patience, you might look at consignment.
How it works: You send your items to them. They authenticate, photograph, price, and list them. You get a commission when it sells.
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The Benefit: It is completely hands-off.
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The Risk: You have no control over the price.
My Honest Failure: I sent a beautiful silk Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress to The RealReal. I paid $300 for it originally. They listed it for $45. After their commission structure (which takes a huge chunk of low-priced items), I received a payout of roughly $8.
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Lesson: How to sell on the real real profitably requires sending them very high-value items (handbags, watches). For standard contemporary clothing, the payout is often shockingly low. I would have made $50 selling that dress myself on Poshmark.
Local Liquidations: Where to Sell Used Clothes for Cash Near Me
Sometimes you don't want to ship. You just want the stuff gone. When you search where to sell used clothes for cash near me, you usually find "Buy-Sell-Trade" stores.
The Main Players:
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Plato's Closet: Focuses on teen/young adult trends (American Eagle, Hollister).
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Buffalo Exchange / Crossroads: Focuses on hipster, vintage, and contemporary trends.
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Style Encore: Focuses on women's business casual and mature brands.
The Math: Expect to get about 30% of what they will sell it for. If they price your jeans at $20, they will give you roughly $6 cash.
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Anecdote: I took a bin of 50 items to Plato's Closet. They took 4 items and gave me $14. It felt like a waste of gas, but it cleared space.
(Parenthetical aside: Do not be offended when the teenage buyer at the counter passes on your favorite shirt. They are buying based on strict corporate inventory data, not personal taste. It happens to everyone.)
The Logistics of Garments: Measuring and Photographing
To successfully learn how to sell garments online, you have to become a data entry specialist.
The Measurements: You must provide measurements. Sizing varies wildly between brands. A "Medium" in 1990 is a "Small" today.
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Pit to Pit: Across the chest.
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Length: Shoulder seam to hem.
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Inseam: Crotch seam to hem (for pants).
My Honest Failure: I sold a pair of expensive raw denim jeans on eBay for $150. I listed them as "Size 32" because that's what the tag said. The buyer received them, measured them, and they actually measured 30 inches (because raw denim shrinks).
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The Result: I had to accept the return, pay for the return shipping, and refund the buyer. I lost $20 on shipping fees because I didn't measure.
Lighting: You don't need a professional studio. I use a ring light or simply open a window.
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Tool Name: I use a simple Neewer Ring Light kit I bought on Amazon. It ensures the colors look accurate so buyers don't complain that the "red" shirt is actually "orange."
Volume Selling: How to Sell Something on eBay for Free
If you have a lot of items, fees add up. People often ask how to sell something on ebay for free. Technically, you can't avoid final value fees (usually ~13%), but you can get free listings. eBay usually gives you 250 "Zero Insertion Fee" listings per month. This means you don't pay to list the item, only when it sells.
My Strategy for eBay:
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Batching: I take photos of 10 items at once.
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Drafting: I create drafts on my phone while watching TV.
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Listing: I launch them all on Sunday evening, which is historically a high-traffic time.
Now the tricky part... Inventory Management. If you list a jacket on Poshmark AND eBay to double your chances of selling (a smart move), you risk selling it twice. I use Closo to automate this process – saves me about 3 hours weekly – because it allows me to cross-list items instantly and manages the delisting process so I don't accidentally sell a sweater to two different people.
People always ask me...
"Is it better to clean the clothes before selling?"
Common question I see. Yes. Absolutely.
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The Smell Test: Thrift store clothes smell like a thrift store. Your own clothes smell like your house (or your pets).
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The Fix: I wash everything. For dry-clean only items, I use a steamer. If an item arrives smelling fresh, you get 5 stars. If it smells musty, you get a return request.
"How do I price my garments?"
People always ask me this. Never guess. Use data.
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The Method: Search for your item on the platform (e.g., "J.Crew Field Jacket").
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The Filter: Filter by "Sold Items".
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The Reality: It doesn't matter if someone else has it listed for $100. If it has only consistently sold for $40, then it is worth $40.
"What is the best way to ship clothes?"
People always ask me this.
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Under 1lb: Use a simple poly mailer (plastic bag). On eBay, ship via USPS Ground Advantage.
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Over 1lb: On Poshmark, use the free Priority Mail boxes from USPS. On eBay, try to fit it in a "Flat Rate Envelope" if possible, or use a poly mailer with calculated shipping.
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Tool Name: I use a Rollo thermal printer for labels. It saves a fortune on ink and tape over time.
Conclusion
Learning how to sell garments is a journey from "getting rid of junk" to "managing a supply chain." It changes how you shop. You stop seeing clothes as disposable and start seeing them as assets with residual value.
But you have to be realistic. You won't get rich selling fast fashion (Shein, Forever 21) because the resale value is near zero. The profit is in the mid-range brands and unique vintage pieces.
My advice? Start with 10 items from your own closet. Download Poshmark. Take clear photos in daylight. Measure the pit-to-pit. Experience the cycle of listing, negotiating, and shipping. Once you hear that first cha-ching notification, you'll understand why the resale market is exploding.
If you are ready to take your garment selling seriously, check out our guide on Inventory Management for MultiPlatform Sellers to keep your stock organized. And if you are tired of the manual grind of posting to multiple apps, read how The Best CrossListing Apps for 2025 can do the heavy lifting for you.
FAQ
Here's something everyone wants to know: Is it worth selling cheap clothes online?
Generally, no. If an item sells for under $15, the time it takes to photograph, list, and ship it usually outweighs the profit (often less than $5 after fees). For low-value brands (Old Navy, H&M, Shein), it is often more efficient to sell them in bulk lots (e.g., "Lot of 5 T-shirts") or take them to a local buy-sell-trade store like Plato's Closet.
Common question I see: Which selling app has the lowest fees for clothes?
Vinted technically has 0% selling fees (the buyer pays the fee), making it the cheapest for sellers, though it has less traffic in the US than others. Poshmark takes a flat 20%. eBay takes roughly 13-15%. Depop recently removed selling fees in some regions but traditionally took 10%. Mercari has also shifted to a 0% seller fee model recently, shifting costs to buyers.
People always ask me: How do I handle returns on clothing?
On Poshmark and Mercari, returns are generally not allowed for "fit" (i.e., it doesn't fit the buyer). They are only allowed if the item was undisclosed damage. On eBay, you can choose your return policy (No Returns, 30 Days, etc.). However, if a buyer claims "Item Not As Described" (e.g., a stain you missed), all platforms will force a return. This is why accurate descriptions and measurements are vital.
