Top 7 Sites for Buying & Selling Preowned Clothes in Canada
Tired of searching for that perfect piece of preowned apparel that’s never in your size or the right color in local thrift stores? Or maybe you’re searching for the right place to sell a key piece from your wardrobe that just won’t find the right audience or price locally? There are a number of fantastic platforms available to Canadians that make it easy both to purchase the right piece to complete your collection or to sell something you know longer need for a great price. In this article, we’ll explore some of the top platforms in Canada for buying and selling secondhand clothing.
Poshmark Canada
Poshmark is where I do most of my own buying and selling (over 50% in a typical month), as it’s a very popular social marketplace tailored for buying and selling secondhand apparel. Features like a virtual closet, posh parties, secure transactions, simplified shipping options, and personalized shopping feeds are helping to drive its growth in Canada. If you’re a seller, it’s an easy way to reach a wide audience of fashion-focused consumers with the support of a variety of seller protections and tools. And for buyers, it’s a huge marketplace certain to have anything you might be looking for.
If you’re new to Poshmark Canada, use the code “STRAYCATSTYLE” when you sign up for $15 off your first purchase, and make sure to check out my closet.
eBay Canada
eBay Canada is an ecommerce giant, offering Canadians a vast marketplace for almost any type of item, including secondhand clothing. With a global each and an auction style format, sometimes it’s a good way to snag a great deal as a buyer or attract international users as a seller for a niche, high-priced item. There are extensive buyer protection programs and a huge selection of goods for sale, both inside Canada and from around the world. For highly specific items that might be hard to find or sell in Canada, eBay is a great choice.
Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace is a tool within Facebook that allows users to buy and sell apparel locally. There are no listing and purchases fees, and it’s designed for local transactions, offering one of the only ways to perhaps inspect and try items before purchase. It’s simple to use and convenient, but there are no buyer protections and it does require you to often meet personally with the other party involved in the transaction.
Depop
Depop is most similar to Poshmark Canada, offering a mobile marketplace that combines the feel of a social media platform with a marketplace for buying secondhand and vintage clothing. More youth-oriented than Poshmark, it allows buyers and sellers to participate in social feeds, leverage simple shopping options, and take advantage of buyer and seller protections. Depop is a strong choice for buyers looking for trendy and unique pieces that might not be available in more mainstream stores and platforms.
Etsy
If vintage, homemade and more specialized pieces are more your style, Etsy can be a solid choice for secondhand clothing. Etsy is a good fit for older pieces, perhaps new old stock items, that might command a higher price point. Look for one-of-a-kind items here that probably aren’t available anywhere else.
Instagram is a popular social media platform that has increasingly evolved into a place for buying and selling secondhand clothing, especially through Instagram Shops. Its visual focus makes it a good choice for showcasing fashion items, and businesses can set up shops directly in their profiles. Features like stories, live sales, and hash tags make it easier to reach a large audience.
If you’re an Instagram user, don’t forget to follow Ultimate Thrifting!
Want to sell on Poshmark U.S.?
Ultimate Thrifting’s “Poshmark U.S. for Canadians” book will teach you everything you need to know about expanding to the U.S. market. From cross-border shipping to taxes and foreign exchange, this book covers it all!
Kijiji
Kijiji is a classifieds side used by many Canadians to buy and sell items locally, including secondhand clothing. It’s best suited to local transactions where face-to-face exchanges are involved. There’s no listing fee, a large audience, and a simple interface, making it a popular choice looking to buy and sell used apparel locally.
Lots of Choices for Canadians
In this article we covered some of the most popular platforms for buying and selling secondhand clothing in Canada. Each platform and different pros and cons, and hopefully the guidance above will help you find the right items at the right price (or if you’re a seller, the right buyer willing to pay the right price). Whatever your audience and clothing focus, there’s sure to be a fit among the marketplaces listed above.
Happy thrifting!
