Thrifting becomes more popular every year and it’s not difficult to see why. It’s more sustainable, it’s cheaper and it prevents a huge amount of clothing waste. There are now countless trendy thrifting shops and if you want to browse online, there’s a diverse pool of apps, selling everything from shoes to sweaters. If you’re looking for a new thrifting outlet, here are four of the best apps around.
eBay
eBay is a company known to have pioneered the concept of online thrifting, allowing people from across the world to buy and sell anything from clothes to cars and electronics. Starting out in 1995 in America, eBay is now worldwide and has over 138 million buyers across the world.
Compared to other thrifting apps, eBay is huge and offers a lot of options. Pricing is usually very reasonable, with options ranging from very cheap to moderately expensive. If you’re looking for quantity or something very specific then eBay is a great place to start. There are listings from across the world, meaning that you will often be able to find what you’re looking for, or something very similar. The search function allows you to very clearly refine your search by options such as brand, colour and quality.
eBay also has very strict policies protecting buyers, so if you find that your item isn’t right, and you have trouble contacting the buyer, you have a number of options allowing you to access a refund.
The downside of eBay is that shipping times may be longer and due to eBay’s bidding option, you may be competing with others to buy the item you desire. Due eBay’s sheer size you may also spend longer searching through items, as well as the waiting time if you’re bidding on an item.
Should You Use eBay?
If you don’t mind spending time searching for what you want, or bidding on items, then eBay is a great place to thrift. There is a lot of protection in place for buyers and you won’t be short of options! Once you download the app and make an account (for free), you can begin browsing!
Depop
Depop is a relatively new thrifting app that’s known for its eclectic and vibrant styles. Starting out as a social app in 2011, Depop was adapted to a selling platform and has seen a lot of success. It promotes people who are launching their own brands as well as selling their own clothes. Depop is known for creating unique looks, re-inventing trends and always creating something new.
Depop’s appeal is rooted in the niche styles you can find on the app and its easy functionality. Whilst it is a lot smaller than somewhere like eBay, Depop provides a place for specific styles. The app sells clothes that are on trend and allows you to search for certain styles, rather than just items. It also cuts away a lot of the red tape around buying items. Instead of bidding you can buy an item outright or make an offer to the seller, meaning the process usually goes a lot quicker than some other apps. Prices on Depop are very reasonable and often depend heavily on the brand of the item.
On the other hand, due to being quite a niche thrifting app, this might mean that you can’t necessarily find a style you like, and if you do, there are limited options for what you’re looking for. Depop is also not as cheap as other apps, due to it often selling designer and sought-after clothing.
Should You Use Depop?
No matter your style, it’s worth checking out Depop to see if you like the type of clothing that’s often sold there. Depop is a haven for many people as it makes it easy to find styles of clothes that would be difficult to purchase elsewhere. It’s worth bearing in mind that Depop might not be for you, and that it can be pricy, but it’s worth checking out. Download the app for free and make an account to begin browsing!
Vinted
Vinted is an app that’s been around for a while but has been gaining more traction in the past couple of years. Starting out in 2008, Vinted began with one person who wanted to downsize their wardrobe before moving, but has since ballooned to a worldwide app, with over one thousand employees and 65 million members.
Where Depop is niche, Vinted is a place that caters for all types of trendy clothes and brands. It has a myriad of options and allows you to refine your search to exactly what you want. You can also personalize your account to only show items that you’re interested in and that are in your size. The pricing is often very reasonable and you can make offers to sellers and easily chat with them about their products.
On the flip side, Vinted does come with some caveats. Due to Vinted’s popularity, items sometimes don’t stay on the app for long, meaning you might need to be quick in order to be able to buy what you want. In addition to that, in order to have buyer protection, you have to pay an additional price on top of the item you’re purchasing. For example, a $30 dollar coat will cost you an additional 70 cents, as well as 5% of the item cost.
Should You Use Vinted?
Vinted is an all-rounder, providing trendy, reasonably priced clothes in many different styles. It’s worth taking a look at Vinted because it will very likely be a great place to shop regularly, however you should bear in mind the additional fees for buyer protection and that you might need to buy items quickly!
Vestiaire
Vestaire was launched in 2009, growing from a French company to a global brand, with 7 million members in 50 countries across the world. Specialising in selling luxury and designer brands, Vestaire is the perfect thrifting app for those looking to splurge on designer goods.
Every item on the app is checked by specialists, ensuring that it conforms to the seller’s description, the authenticity and quality standards and the condition in which it is due to be sold. The app is perfect for those who want to buy discounted luxury goods, as it provides a great variety of options. They offer express shipping and provide clothes for men, women and children. Its only main shortcoming is that only items sold by professional sellers can be returned. If you buy from an individual and decide you don’t like the item, you won’t be able to return it.
Should You Use Vestaire?
Vestaire is a very niche thrifting app and will be a great option for you if you’re looking to buy luxury goods. There are a lot of options and there are protections in place to ensure you’re getting a good quality item. Whether you’re regularly looking for designer goods or a one-off for a special event, it’s worth checking out the options on this app. On the other hand, if you’re looking to buy more moderately priced clothing, then this thrifting app might not be for you!
Which thrifting app should you use?
There are a lot of great thrifting apps out there, however, all of them often come with caveats. Regardless of which one you choose to use, you should always be wary of scams, and of sellers that have no reviews or suspicious profiles. Luckily for sustainable shoppers, there are so many options out there, and one of these four thrifting apps is bound to be a great fit for what you’re looking for. Figure out what style you’re looking for and browse away with some guilt-free sustainable shopping!
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Photo: Oberon Copeland via Unsplash; Mike Von via Unsplash; Angela Bailey via Unsplash; Gabrielle Henderson via Unsplash
