How to Shop on Depop: Tips for the Virtual Thrifter

Are you a Sustainable Baddie who loves thrifting, but gets overstimulated when sifting through Goodwill bins and color-assorted racks? Yes? Walk with me babe—we’re going to download Depop now. 

Depop is an online global marketplace. You can think of it as both a virtual thrift store and a platform for small designers and businesses to set up shop. You might’ve heard rumors that Depop is either “too expensive” or “it’s impossible to find cute clothing.” Objection: hearsay! In reality, Depop has pieces and prices for everyone.

Since joining Depop back in 2018, I’ve made over 50 purchases on the app. I say this not so you can point out my serious shopping addiction, but to let you know that the following tips come from a veteran Depop shopper.

Know Your Measurements

Depop is a time travel machine. You’ll find sellers from all over the world selling pieces from every fashion era in history. Sizing is going to be different based on what time period you’re looking at, what country the garment is from, and which body type the piece was originally made for, amongst other factors. Thankfully, many sellers on Depop understand that letter and number sizing is not universal and they will add flat measurements and model measurements to the listing to help buyers better understand how the piece will fit.

I highly recommend writing your measurements down before buying an item on Depop. Some common measurements that sellers will note are bust/chest, waist, armpit to armpit, arm and leg lengths, hips, and shoe size. Also, double-check whether they are listed in inches or centimeters!

Be Specific

Depop’s search function takes things very literally. You will want to be as specific as possible when searching for items. Try searching different variations of the item you’re trying to find. For example, if you’re looking for a pair of black chunky boots you might want to search “tall black thick boots,” “black platform boots,” or “black platform goth shoes”. 

If you’re not searching for a specific item, but have a general idea of the style you’re going for, tailoring your search to a specific aesthetic is a great way to discover new garments. Some of my personal favorite aesthetic keyword searches are “cottagecore,” “dark academia,” “punk,” “regalcore,” “baroque,” and “gothic.''

Build Your Feed: Follow People

Depop isn’t just a shopping app. Depop is a media platform and a resource for style inspo and exploration. Follow as many shops and stylists as you can. Look through your Instagram feed and see if your friends or style icons have a Depop account. You’ll be able to see what they’re buying, selling, and liking and inspire yourself in the process. Even if the style creators you follow are posting higher-priced vintage or secondhand designer they can inspire you to search for a cheaper alternative in the search bar. If I find a shop I like, I’ll often look to see who they’re following to find similar shops to follow.

Bag is from the shop @loverzealous

Tell Depop What You’re Into

Some social media platforms know us better than ourselves (TikTok, I’m gonna need you to stop reading me), but we need to interact with them for them to truly get to know us. Like things as much as you can! The more you interact with posts the better Depop will understand your style interests. At the top of your Depop homepage, you’ll see your “Suggested For You” list, a list of curated pieces that Depop thinks you might like. This list is a gold mine for finding one-of-a-kind pieces at reasonable prices. Set your sizes and tell Depop about a couple of brands you like. Check out their recommendations under the “Recommended Sellers”, “$20 and Under”, and “Based on Your Likes and Saves” lists. I have probably bought more things that Depop has recommended to me than things I actually searched for. Depop’s “Sellers to Watch,” “The Depop Edit,” and “Hot on Depop” will also help you find new trending shops and items.

Is It OK to Negotiate? 

Yes, but within reason. Depop is great because it offers buyers and sellers a little leniency around pricing. It’s a safe place to send offers or ask for discounts or waived shipping if you’re buying multiple items from one store. Depop recommends sending offers between 5-20% off of the original price. Of course, it’s up to you how much you’re willing to offer for an item. But remember that fees and shipping take a big portion out of a seller's profit and for many, selling on Depop is their main source of income.

Read Before Buying

Every shop and seller is different. Some shops accept returns while others don’t. Some shops offer bundles and discounts for repeat shoppers, while others don’t. Some shops are inactive! Make sure you take a minute to read a shop's policies before purchasing and ensure that their policies align with your purchasing needs. You can check to see if a shop is active on their profile page. Above their bio, you’ll see “Active today,” “Active this week,” or “Active over a week ago.” If you want to buy an item from a shop that hasn’t been active for over a week, message the seller before buying to ensure that they are still an active seller.  

Don’t Get Scammed

The internet is full of scammers; although Depop tries to keep their buyers safe, the app is full of these sketchy people. Sus activity you should keep an eye out for when shopping:

• People who ask you to pay outside of the app.

  • Ummm, sorry but no babes. If you pay a seller outside of the app, you lose all protections that Depop offers buyers. Not today, satan!

• Trading.

  • Trades are tricky because honest people will trade an item with you with no problem, but it's still possible you’ll get scammed. Take extra precautions when trading. Get the person's socials or purchase each other's shipping labels and ask for solid proof.

• Drop Shipping Scams.

  • Dropshipping is when a seller purchases a product from a third party at a highly discounted price and resells it to a buyer at an inflated price without ever actually having the item in stock. The item is sent from the third party directly to the buyer. A seller might be dropshipping if they say shipping will take a long time. Dropshippers take forever to ship because the items they’re selling are usually overseas. Dropshippers will also use stock photos for their posts because they don’t physically have the item with them. Dropshipping is banned from Depop. If you see them, report them!

Now my dear baddie, *sniffles and fixes your hair* I think you’re ready for your first Depop shopping spree. Keep these tips in your back pocket as you scroll through the thrift wonderland that is Depop and I know you’ll find unique pieces that will last a lifetime. Off you go now! 🤧