Depop is poppin’. As a progressive and diverse home for unique fashion, Depop reports over 30 million active users in over 150 countries. Interestingly, 90% of users are under the age of 26. With the primary customers being Gen Z, the top-selling categories on Depop are Vintage, Streetwear, One-of-a-kind, and Y2k.
Depop is not your typical reselling platform- its a vivid assortment of unique, funky, vintage, and trendy fashion flourishing with artistic expression. On Depop, you don’t see a lot of the (boring) images of preppy clothing on clear hangers with a plain white background. In fact, you’ll see the opposite.
On Depop, it is all about the look and #aesthetic
Depop is the perfect place for your vintage, retro, funky, unique, and just plain weird pieces. Selling on Depop makes sourcing fun!
Check out my Depop Shop here.
Fun Fact: Depop launched in 2011 and was acquired by Etsy in 2021 (though it is still operated as a standalone company).
Depop is perhaps the easiest platform to sell on, but one of the toughest to master. Before you get started, be sure to familiarize yourself with Depop; the community guidelines, seller policies, listing process, payment specifics, and shipping practices. I summarize these details in the following video:
I have been selling on Depop for a year now, and it has become one of my best-performing marketplaces. Here are some of my best insights, tips, and tricks to increase sales on Depop.
What Can You Sell on Depop?
Depop is a place for primarily fashion: clothing, accessories, shoes, and jewelry. Womenswear and Menswear are the top categories, but you can also sell homeware, decor, art, records, and more. Click here for a full-guide of what you can sell on Depop.
Based on my own sales data, here is what I recommend cross-listing to Depop:
Vintage
#Vintageondepop is a top seller and hashtag. Anything that is at least 20 years old is vintage, and knowing the decade will help to market your item. This includes early 2000s Y2k pieces. Learn more about sourcing, selling, and dating vintage here.
If your item is not vintage but looks like vintage use the keyword/hashtag retro.
Trendy Fashion
If its currently trending, Depop is the place for it. Right now, retro, Y2k, bohemian and cottage styles, and classics are trending. To stay trendy, check out the Depop Explore Page which features hand-picked items by Depop that are in demand.
Accessories
People love accessories, and they are often sizeless, which vastly widens your prospective customers because they fit everyone! Be sure to get your Belts, Hats, Jewelry, Bags, and Shoes listed on Depop.
Unique Pieces
Depop is all about the look and expression. I sell the weirdest, funkiest (honestly, ugliest) pieces on Depop that would never sell anywhere else. Buyers love one-of-a-kind unique pieces. Of course, this includes handmade, upcycled, and repurposed pieces, too!
You might also be interested in this article: 10 Great Marketplaces Every Reseller Should Consider
How to Create a Depop Account
You can create a Depop account in just seconds on the Depop Mobile App. Depop has a website, but the app has more tools and capabilities. You will also need a Paypal account to connect to Depop to facilitate transactions.
When you create an account you can also create Depop Shop Policies as to your return policy, bundle discounts, international shipping, and if you use eco-friendly packaging.
How to List Items
It is super easy to list an item on Depop. Depop offers one of the most simple listing forms, with photos, a description, and a few drop-downs.
Did you know that Depop is a Vendoo platform? Cross-list your items to Depop in just seconds with Vendoo.
Depop Photos
You can add four photos (only four, so be sure to utilize collages or videos) and 10 seconds of video content.
Depop much prefers modeled or flat lay photography (in fact, you must use one of these for a chance to be featured on the Explore Page). If modeling is not your thing, keep it simple with flat lay photos.
Remember that it is all about the style and aesthetic on Depop, the best Depop shops look more like curated Instagram feeds than stores, give it style and have fun!
Depop Tip: Do not use stock photos on Depop. They will remove them instantly, and your account will be compromised. Depop does not wait until a brand complains about the use of their images- they proactively remove them to promote and protect artistic expression.
Depop Listing Descriptions
Descriptions matter! Every single character in your Depop description is searchable in the Depop search query- make sure your listings contain all the words that buyers are looking for including the item, style, type, size, and descriptive adjectives.
Measurements are very important on Depop as well. If you don’t provide them, you will be asked, or you will be overlooked for a shop that provides the information the buyer needs to purchase with confidence.
Depop Trending Hashtags
The most important part of your Depop listing is the hashtags. Use all five hashtags in your description, and choose them carefully. Trending hashtags will promote your listings in the search field and newsfeed.
How do you find trending hashtags for Depop? We’ve got you covered! For trending style aesthetics, cores, BOLO brands, and hashtags on Depop, check out A Reseller’s Guide to Cores & Aesthetics. We update this list regularly, so bookmark this page!
Depop Style Fields
For best results, fill out the Depop listing form entirely.
You will be prompted to choose the category, select the condition, and enter your price.
Then, you will select the Depop Style Fields:
These fields are super important on Depop. Select the ones that are most relevant to your item.
Depop Tip: Keep in mind that the Depop style fields are arranged by popularity.
Pricing on Depop
On Depop, you cannot look at sold listings for pricing reference, so “comp research” includes only browsing active listings through the search feed.
But comps are not huge on Depop as the buyer is not necessarily as savvy as the buyers elsewhere (nor is the searchfeed as advanced). Plus, your item is worth what someone will pay for it.
Do not be afraid to price high on Depop. The majority of users are young (perhaps with disposable income), and are willing to pay up for trendy, unique, and vintage styles.
You can’t sell high if you don’t list high, period. Many Depop sales are outright purchases, without offers or messages requesting a discount. I price high for this reason. However, Depop does have an offer feature (offers are not binding, however) and it is more common to receive a message requesting a discount or inquiring as to your “best price.”
Did you know that your items are twice as likely to sell if you offer free shipping on Depop?
Managing Your Depop Shop
Depop is not a “list it and leave it” platform, it requires a little attention. First, Depop requires constantly refreshing your listings. This is SO IMPORTANT. You must refresh your items on Depop at least once daily to make sales. Refreshing your items is the only way to bump them to rank higher in the search bar. To manually refresh your items, open a listing, click “edit,” and click “save.”
Depop Tip: Manual sharing becomes tedious, so I recommend using Seller Aider to refresh your Depop Listings. This is my favorite Depop Bot! (Note: Use at your own risk as the use of automation software is not technically allowed on Depop)
Other ways to promote engagement and sales is to list new items consistently, be responsive to messages and offers, and of course to ship quickly.
You might also be interested in this article I wrote: Ten Steps to Increase Your Sales on Depop.
Depop Fees: What Percent Does Depop Take?
When you’re sourcing for Depop, assume that Depop takes approximately 15% as a quick estimate to determine if your items are worth it.
In reality, they’re a bit less than that. Depop fees are a little complex to calculate. There are no account fees, subscription fees, or listing fees: you only pay Depop fees when you make a sale.
However, the Depop fee depends on the way in which the buyer pays:
If the buyer uses Depop Payments (credit card, Apple pay, Google Pay, etc.) there is a ten percent Depop fee, and a standard transaction fee (currently 2.9%).
If the buyer uses Paypal, there is a ten percent Depop fee plus the Paypal transaction fee (currently 2.9% plus $0.30, but varies based upon location, Paypal subscription type, and other factors).
For example, if I sell an item for $20.00 (without any shipping discounts), I will make between $17.12 and $17.60 depending upon the buyer’s mode of payment.
Overall, Depop fees are decent in comparison to the other marketplaces.
Depop Shipping: How Does Shipping Work on Depop?
On Depop, there are many shipping selections available to sellers. When listing, you must select whether to:
-
Ship with Depop or ship on your own;
-
Offer free shipping or charge shipping; and
-
Use USPS, FedEx, or UPS.
Each Depop listing has a shipping section for this information. If you select to ship with Depop, Depop will email you a USPS label upon sale. However, you will need to enter the item’s approximate weight (including packaging) when you list to select the label tier.
The current rates for shipping with Depop are great, ranging from $4.05 for extra small packages weighing under 4oz to $15.75 for extra large packages weighing up to 10lbs. That is an incredible rate to ship to any United States territory, especially for heavier items.
Electing to ship on your own requires purchasing your own shipping label and providing Depop with the tracking information for the package. When you ship on your own, you can purchase through any carrier. I suggest using Pirate Ship for the best rates.
When offering free shipping to buyers (meaning that you pay), it can be beneficial to ship items on your own, for lighter items especially.
However, Depop prefers that you ship with Depop. Plus, they offer frequent free shipping promotions where Depop covers shipping for purchases during sales, and this only applies to items you elected to ship with Depop.
International Shipping with Depop
Expand your exposure by offering international shipping. Depop exists in over 150 countries worldwide, and buyers love American Vintage! You must ship on your own when you offer international shipping (you cannot use Depop labels).
International shipping can be very expensive, so be mindful of the same. In the listing field, I generally put $100 for international shipping, and when a buyer sends me a message inquiring as to a rate, I request their address (or a nearby address) to calculate a more accurate rate using Pirate Ship.
You have the choice to offer free shipping (pay it yourself) or charge your buyers. You can also select the shipping carrier you are most comfortable with based on your items, location, and business preferences. My business model is offering low or free shipping on all items (accounting for the same in my listing prices) and shipping on my own using Pirate Ship for the best rates.
Depop Return Policy
Depop does not allow returns (although you can, as a seller, if you choose). However, the buyer is protected in the event that the item is not received, not authentic, or not as described. When a buyer opens a claim with Depop, you do not see the claim or get a chance to respond. Depop will likely side with the buyer.
Similarly, when the buyer pays through Paypal, they enjoy Paypal protection. Paypal commonly favors the buyer, which means they are likely to be successful in forcing a return if they attempt to do so. When this happens, you jeopardize your Paypal account.
Ultimately, if a buyer wants to return an item, they’re going to. Avoid the hassle, risking your Depop account and Paypal account with infractions, and preserving your relationship with buyers buy just allowing returns. It is better to receive your item back in its original condition (and avoid getting “in trouble”) than to have infringements on your account or cause an angry teeny-bopper to damage your item for the purpose of forcing a refund claim.
Depop is unlike the other marketplaces. Really browse the app, the feature pages, and listings from other sellers. Understanding Depop Culture and the Depop Community will help you to connect with buyers, enhance your Depop shop, and be more successful on Depop.
You might also be interested in this article: Make More Sales on Depop and Become a Top Seller
Do you sell on Depop? Share your best tips and tricks below.
