I will never forget the sinking feeling I had in my stomach in the summer of 2019. I had just sold a vintage 1990s leather biker jacket—a piece I had hunted for months to find. The buyer paid $150. I shipped it out, feeling triumphant. Three days later, I got a message: "This smells like cigarettes. I want my money back."
I don't smoke. My house doesn't smell like smoke. I knew for a fact the jacket was clean when it left my hands. But on Depop, perception is reality, and a dispute over a "smell" is incredibly hard to disprove. I spent two weeks fighting that claim, sending panicked emails to support, only to eventually lose the case. I had to pay for the return shipping, and when I got the jacket back, it was stuffed in a garbage bag and actually did smell like smoke—likely from the buyer trying to wash it or wear it to a party.
That experience was my brutal introduction to the reality of selling online. It taught me that knowing the fine print of the depop return policy isn't just about reading the rules; it's about protecting your income from the unpredictability of human behavior. Whether you are a buyer trying to get your money back for a fake item or a seller trying to avoid being scammed, understanding the mechanics of returns is the only safety net you have.
What Is Depop's Return Policy? (The "All Sales Final" Myth)
When people search for what is depops return policy, they are often confused by the individual bio of a seller. You will see thousands of shops with "NO RETURNS / NO REFUNDS" plastered in their bio. Sellers think this is a magic shield.It isn't. While it is true that Depop encourages an "All Sales Final" culture, their Terms of Service override your bio every single time.
The Reality:
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Scenario A (Change of Mind): A buyer gets the shirt, decides they hate the color yellow on them.
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Result: Seller wins. You do not have to refund.
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Scenario B (Fit Issues): A buyer gets the jeans, tries them on, and they are too tight.
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Result: Seller wins (usually), provided you listed the size correctly.
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Scenario C (Not As Described): A buyer receives a shirt that was listed as "New" but has a stain on the collar.
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Result: Depop refund is mandatory. The "No Returns" policy in your bio is invalid.
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Here’s where it gets interesting... The definition of "Not As Described" is where the battles happen. I once sold a sweater as "Cream." The buyer opened a dispute saying it was "Beige." It was a semantic war. I won that case because I had uploaded photos in natural lighting. If I had used a dark room with a yellow filter, I would have lost.
Opinion Statement: I honestly believe that sellers who write "I am not responsible after shipping" in their bios are setting themselves up for failure. It makes you look difficult to deal with, and legally/contractually, it is false. You areresponsible until the item is delivered to the buyer.
Does Depop Do Returns? The "Significantly Not As Described" Rule
So, does depop do returns? Yes, but only for specific reasons. This is called a SNAD claim (Significantly Not As Described). To trigger this, the buyer has to prove that the item they received is fundamentally different from the listing.
Valid Reasons for a Return:
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Undisclosed Damage: Holes, stains, broken zippers that were not mentioned or photographed.
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Wrong Item: You bought a shirt; you received a shoe.
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Counterfeit Goods: Listing says "Gucci," item is "Gucci-ish."
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Missing Items: Listing said "Two-Piece Set," only the top arrived.
Honest Failure: In 2021, I missed a tiny bleach spot on the cuff of a sweatshirt. I listed it as "Excellent Vintage Condition." The buyer opened a case. I tried to argue it was "vintage character." I lost. I had to accept the return and pay for the shipping label.Lesson: Inspect your items under bright light. "Vintage" is not an excuse for undisclosed damage.
How to Return on Depop (A Buyer's Guide)
If you are a buyer and you received a dud, you are probably wondering how to return on depop. Unlike Amazon, there is no "Return Item" button that instantly generates a QR code. It is a manual, human process.
The Step-by-Step Workflow:
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Message the Seller: Always start here. "Hey, I just got this, but there is a hole in the armpit that wasn't in the photos. Can we work this out?"
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Why? Many reputable sellers (like me) will just offer a partial refund or accept the return to avoid a bad review.
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Open a Dispute: If the seller ghosts you or says "Too bad," go to the Resolution Center.
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Tap the "Receipt" icon > "Get help with this purchase."
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Provide Evidence: You need clear photos.
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Photo of the damage.
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Screenshot of the original listing description proving it wasn't mentioned.
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Parenthetical Aside: (I once had a buyer open a dispute immediately without messaging me. It hurt my feelings,honestly. If they had just asked, I would have refunded them instantly. We are real people, not warehouses.Communication goes a long way.)
Handling a Depop Refund as a Seller
When you are on the receiving end of a depop returns policy claim, your ego will take a hit. You will feel defensive. "I didn't send it like that!" "They are lying!"
My Strategy for Disputes:
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The Cost-Benefit Analysis:
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If the item was $20, and the return shipping is $5... just refund them.
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It is not worth the stress or the risk of a 1-star review to fight over $15.
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The "Repop" Offer:
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If a buyer says "It doesn't fit," I politely remind them of my policy but offer to let them use my photos to "Repop" (resell) the item on their own page.
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This usually de-escalates the situation.
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This is where I use the Closo 100% Free crosslister. If I end up taking a return, I don't just put it back on Depop. I use Closo to cross-list that returned item to Poshmark and eBay immediately. Why? Because that specific buyer pool on Depop might be exhausted. I need fresh eyes on the item to recover my losses quickly.
How Long Does Depop Refund Take?
If the decision goes in the buyer's favor, how long does depop refund take? It depends on how you paid. Depop has a split payment system: Depop Payments (Stripe/Apple Pay) and PayPal.
The Timeline:
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Depop Payments: Usually takes 5–10 business days for the funds to reappear on your bank statement after the refund is processed.
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PayPal: Often faster, sometimes instant or within 48 hours, but can take longer if the seller has to transfer funds into their PayPal balance first.
Crucial Note: The refund usually doesn't happen until the seller gets the item back. You (the buyer) must ship it. You must upload tracking. Once the tracking shows "Delivered," the clock starts for the refund.
Preventing Returns: The Art of Description
The best way to handle the return policy depop enforces is to never have a return in the first place. This means your listings need to be bulletproof.
My Listing Checklist:
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Measurements: Never just say "Size Medium." Say "Pit to Pit: 20 inches, Length: 26 inches."
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Why? If a buyer opens a "Doesn't Fit" case, and you provided measurements, you win. Period.
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Flaw Disclosure: Photograph every loose thread.
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Material Content: Is it wool? Is it polyester? People have allergies.
Sourcing Better Items: Part of preventing returns is selling items people actually want to keep. I use Closo Demand Signals to ensure I am buying high-desirability inventory.How Closo helps predict demand & trends 6 weeks ahead is by showing me that "Carhartt Detroit Jackets" are spiking in search volume. When an item is "hot" and hard to find,buyers are much less picky. They are so happy to secure the item that they overlook minor flaws. Selling high-demand goods drastically lowers my return rate compared to selling generic "mall brands."
I use Closo to automate my sourcing research – saves me about 3 hours weekly of guessing what brands are trending.
The "Repop" Strategy: Don't Return, Resell
If you bought something and it doesn't fit, and the seller legitimately described it well, you are stuck with it. You cannot force a how to get a refund on depop situation here. But you aren't out of money. You just have inventory.
The Pivot: Instead of fighting for a return, become a seller. Use the "Repop" feature on Depop to list it. Better yet, use the Closo 100% Free crosslister to list it on Vinted, Mercari, and Poshmark too.
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Anecdote: I bought a pair of vintage Levi's 501s for $50. They were too small. The seller had listed the measurements correctly; I was just optimistic about my waist size.
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Instead of harassing the seller, I cross-listed them using Closo.
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I sold them on Poshmark for $75.
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I turned a "sizing mistake" into a $25 profit.
Common Scams and How to Spot Them
When dealing with depop returns policy, you have to watch out for bad actors. Both buyers and sellers can be scammers.
The "Empty Box" Return:
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The Scam: Buyer gets a refund approved. They ship a box back to you. You open it. It is full of old newspapers.
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The Protection: Always film yourself opening return packages. This is your only evidence to show Depop support that you were scammed.
The "Switcheroo":
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The Scam: You sell a brand new pair of Jordans. The buyer returns them. The pair inside the box is an old, beat-up pair of Jordans.
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The Protection: Photograph serial numbers or unique identifiers before you ship.
Opinion Statement: I stopped selling designer handbags on Depop for this exact reason. The risk of a "switcheroo" return scam is too high on high-ticket items. I prefer platforms with authentication services (like eBay Authenticity Guarantee) for anything over $200.
PayPal vs. Depop Payments: The Dispute Difference
Navigating return policy depop disputes is different depending on the payment processor.
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Depop Payments: The dispute is handled in-house by Depop support. They tend to be more balanced and understand vintage clothing nuances.
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PayPal: The dispute is handled by PayPal. PayPal notoriously favors buyers.
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Warning: A buyer has 180 days (6 months!) to open a dispute on PayPal.
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I once had a buyer open a "Not as Described" case 5 months after buying a sweater. Who knows what happened to that sweater in 5 months? But I still had to fight it.
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Advice: Always try to keep the transaction within the Depop app conversation. If a buyer takes it straight to PayPal, it gets messy.
Common Questions I See
People always ask me... Can I return an item if it doesn't fit?
Technically, no. If the seller provided the correct size or measurements, fit is the buyer's responsibility. Depop support will usually side with the seller in these cases. However, if the seller listed it as a "Large" but the tag says "Small," then yes,you can return it because it was misdescribed.
Common question I see... Who pays for return shipping?
If the item is "Not As Described," the seller is usually responsible for the return shipping costs. Depop may issue a label and charge the seller, or the seller may have to reimburse the buyer. If the seller agrees to a return for "fit" or "change of mind" (which is rare), the buyer typically pays the shipping.
People always ask me... What if the seller refuses to refund?
If you have a valid SNAD claim (damage, wrong item), the seller's refusal doesn't matter. You escalate the issue to Depop Support. They have the power to force the refund from the seller's account. The seller does not have the final say; the platform does.
Conclusion
Mastering the depop return policy is about managing expectations and evidence. For sellers, it means describing items with forensic accuracy and using data to sell high-quality goods that people want to keep. For buyers, it means checking measurements and asking questions before buying, not after.
My honest assessment is that returns are an inevitable "cost of doing business." You will eventually lose a dispute you thought you should win. You will eventually have to refund a rude buyer. Don't let it destroy your motivation. Treat it as a learning expense.
If you are a seller looking to mitigate the cost of returns by moving your inventory faster and smarter, use the Closo Seller Hub to professionalize your operation.
For more on how to expand your selling empire beyond just Depop, read our Kidizen Closure Guide (many principles apply to Poshmark too!).
And if you want to know what items are safe bets to sell right now, check out Trending Products Forecast 2026
