r/BehindTheClosetDoor

Well, I talked to an attorney.

As a high volume seller with multiple online businesses, I have the privilege of being able to consult with an attorney, and I received some very interesting information.

Regarding Poshmark's hideous AI usage, that flagrantly violates their own terms and conditions repeatedly (think, accepting returns they shouldn't accept, denying returns they should accept, wild unhelpful support responses, etc), Poshmark has legally made themselves almost unable to be held accountable. Their T&C's are wildly written in their favor, they can do what they want, they may interpret their rules however they want, no class actions can be brought against them, and everything goes to arbitration. But here's where the "almost" ends.

We do have arbitration. Most people don't think arbitration is worth it, especially if the harm you've experienced is tens to hundreds of dollars, or maybe even a few thousand. But "mass arbitration" is a thing. That's where a law firm coordinates arbitration filings "en masse", and what I mean is like thousands of them all at the same time. Because they all have to be answered and processed by Poshmark.

If thousands of small arbitration cases were filed against Poshmark all at once, it would cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars, possibly millions, in management and response costs - regardless of the outcome of each arbitration case. The flood of cases would seriously harm Poshmark, and they would be forced to make changes to their operations.

I have been on Poshmark for many, many years, from way before Naver bought them, and I am just disgusted by what they can do to "Mom and Pop" businesses, little people, and unsuspecting buyers, and also how they can harm and cheat and steal with impunity. There once was a time I enjoyed being on Poshmark and thought the platform was okay, but no more. I want vengeance, not just for my business, but for the bloodbath they've made of the reselling community.

I was thinking about setting up an email address to compile evidence and people's stories. For each person participating, it would only be a couple hours of your time. Think about it.

i sold a bundle over the weekend. i requested my labels yesterday morning, packaged in the afternoon, and dropped off at the post office this morning. the seller messaged me asking to cancel the order, i let them know that i had already dropped off at the post office and i could not do anything about it.they escalated to poshmark support immediately demanding the transaction to be cancelled. i explained to tgem that i dont get my packages scaned but that i had dropped off but she just kept insisting that i was lying that i had not shipped because there was no tracking. Poshmark joined in the afternoon and let them know that sonetimes it takes up to two days for a package to start tracking. They replied basically telling them they are wrong. The package started tracking and they immediately sent a screenshot saying it had just been shipped and that i had been caught. Once again i told her there is a difference between dropping off and start tracking. All day today, just constant messages.

Never in the 5 years selling on poshmark had i experienced this. Buyers ask me to cancel transactions and i dont have a problem cancelling. They are insisting i am pushing the transaction and lying about shipping, seriously? Has anyone experienced this and how did you handle it? Tbh i was so irritated and was a bit rude.

I had the most interesting return on Poshmark.
I sold a vintage dress for $25. Pictured everything, every tag, included the measurements, accurate condition description - just everything.

Buyer opens a case and says dress is too short. I respond with my photos and measurements that were in the listing showing exactly how long the dress is. Buyer realizes the item was accurately described, and starts looking for other issues. Buyer decided that the "absence" of an internal care tag, one that says the laundering instructions, was a problem. There is NO such care tag. The item had a tag at the back of the neck with brand, origin and fabric composition, that was fully pictured. I point all this out.

Poshmark APPROVES the return because the item didn't have a care tag. Guess we can't sell anything without a separate care tag on Poshmark from now one!

Poshmark has just gotten worse and worse, and it's just really an anxiety provoking experience now all the time.

My consignor has had my bag for a bit and items not listed yet. What is the policy? I can’t find it anywhere?

I sold a $2k (rare, sold out, current season) pony hair jacket to a famous Beverly Hills jewelry designer. Mailed same day. After a week had gone by since the first attempted delivery (tracking shows recipient unavailable, notice left) and asked her when she might be able to pick up her package.

She responded aggressively that she doesn't know "why sellers on this platform send such expensive items via USPS" and I should have sent Fedex or UPS. I responded to her that I don't have a choice in carrier, Poshmark always sends a USPS label. She claimed she couldn't figure out how to reschedule delivery. I asked whether she had the notice that was left by USPS, because it should include the address of the location it is being held and #. She ignored. I called USPS myself with her tracking number, identified the location and provided it to her in messages. She has ignored all messages since I provided that information, despite being active every day. Poshmark was invited to the convo as soon as she told me she couldn't figure out how to reschedule delivery. Of course, they've been zero help and are not responding. I then sent a message through the seller support channel (by clicking on the sale, and going to > problems/order inquiry, and it too has been ignored by poshmark. I am so upset. I don't understand why people treat others this way.

Edit: it has been 16 days since delivery was attempted.

I had to share this horrifying fact because most people don’t know. And I know that there is a LOT of private information being shared that are completely public on the app, since Posh doesn’t make it clear that bundles are viewable by anyone. I’ve seen some very sensitive conversations so I figured I would make this announcement to warn everyone.

That is all.

edit: I am talking very very sensitive conversations. I’ve seen buyers share they suffered a miscarriage, private surgeries, financial difficulties, car wrecks, medications taken for chronic pain, deaths in the family, the list goes on - and this is just checking a top seller I know’s bundles- who knows what else is out there, it’s really scary and kinda surprised nothing is done about it.

Okay, for those who patronize Poshmark can you answer this question? If I'm currently sporting a 12% Seller Cancellation Rate over the Last 90 Days, how is it my closet is still active and I'm still getting Offers?

Has anyone sold on vinted before? What is your experience like?

I have hundreds of sales and haven’t had any bad experiences until literally this last week. Both of them mentioned Amazon in their complaints. First someone gave me a one star rating soley due to “ship time” and the only thing she said is the jacket “took too long” to get to her. She purchased on Sunday and I shipped it Monday morning. Ground shipping can take 5 to 7 days sometimes and she was very upset that it arrived a week after she bought it. I told her I cannot control USPS and it shipped within 24 hours of your purchase. But no answer of course.

Next I sold a pair of earbuds that came in the original packaging as they were never used as they were given to me as a gift but I don’t wear earbuds and only wear headphones so that’s the reason why I sold them. But I had to open it to take pictures of everything for the listing to prove they were in perfect condition and as advertised. The pictures in the listing showed everything. The buyer got the item and he’s very upset that it didn’t come sealed in plastic on the outside of the packaging. He said that on Amazon it would’ve come sealed in plastic. I tried to explain to him I had to open them to take the pictures that were in the listing. He admits they are in perfect condition and never used but is saying I “scammed” him because the packaging should be sealed in plastic like it would be on Amazon. Meanwhile, on Amazon he would have to buy it for full price and he got mine for 50% off. Despite everything being completely brand new, it is not sealed in plastic. Which would be impossible since I had to take photos for the listing.

I feel like there’s just no way to reason with these sort of people. Both mentioned that it would’ve come faster with Amazon and with Amazon it would’ve been sealed in plastic. Why do they think we are Amazon?? I’m just so confused. Has anyone else had this experience recently?

Edit - typos

This was the banner on my closet.

This is the notification I got when I clicked the above banner.

OK, Poshmark, if this is for listings AFTER 60 DAYS, why did 40 of my listings come up as inactive when they've only been active for 31-60 days?? I always delete and repost on day 61.

They can't get anything right. I support removing old, useless closets, but to mark listings that are only 32 days old as "inactive" when your own policy said 60 days is wild.

I’ve only been sending out 10% offers but recently started doing 20% on poshmark but don’t know if it’s much of a difference. I feel like people either ignore or accept or they counter with what they want to pay anyways regardless of what you sent. But maybe I’m wrong. Would love to know other sellers strategy and what they have found success with! As well as insight from buyers.

Also if I’m selling something for $30 then sending a 20% off is fine but if I’m selling something for $300 then sending a 20% discount is very different. So I feel like I’m selling something expensive 10% is still a good discount. The expensive things I sell are high-quality leather handbags or designer pieces. Like they are not typically items that are discounted anyways. Also I always start at a very fair price. But to leave a little room for negotiation.

I guess the point of this post is just to ask fellow sellers what their strategy is and what they have found works best? I have a lot of pieces I’m trying to get rid of so I can list more so I’m really just trying to sell as much as I can right now. I’ve been accepting a lot of offers lower than I typically would. But I just recently did a huge spring closet clean out and need to get rid of a lot of stuff. Also some pieces from work as well, as I work in the fashion industry.

I haven’t seen one in weeks- admittedly I have been busy with my “real” job and may have missed it, but I miss the days when we could count on twice a week.

First I want to take accountability. This is entirely my fault for not being careful enough but I spent a large amount of money on crystals that ended up being 100% fake. Like, they're worth probably $1-5 and I paid $50-80 for each (I wish I was kidding). It wasn't until they showed up that I realized I bought fakes.

They're either made of glass or they're made of resin. I've already tested them to make sure.

Secondly I want to warn others. I'm going to move on with my life and not fight it because the lesson is learned, but I wanted to send out a warning to people to NOT!! buy crystals on Poshmark unless you are absolutely 100% sure they are real. (Also how can sellers get away with selling fakes like this with no app oversight? Feels lawless.)

The other thing that is bothersome is often on live shows you are buying a flyer and not a photograph of the item which makes it that much harder to dispute, unless you thought of screenshotting ahead of time.

I've been around since the early days, I'm a Posh Ambassador, etc. I've jumped through all their hoops...and yet this still got me. Again, I take accountability for not slowing down and thinking it through, but Poshmark needs to do better protecting buyers on the app. Lesson learned. I made a costly mistake.

I got reposhed once, and it really bothered me. It was a beautiful shirt, and I (foolishly?) care about where my stuff goes. I don't want to sell it to a reseller who marks it up to sell again. I mean, if they buy it they buy it, and once it's theirs they do what they want, fine. But when they reposh MY LISTING, it just kind of hurts? Especially when she says "I love it but I'm ready to rotate it for something new," which is just such bullshit. You never liked it or wanted something new, you wanted to sell it. FINE. But don't reposh me and then also lie. I'm probably being sensitive, but ANYWAY, the reason I'm asking is not cuz of my listing but someone else's. I bought a shirt, which is rare, I only ever sell (I've made 2 purchases for actual use, not reselling -- not that it matters, I know). Well, the shirt is wayyyyy to small. I gave 5 stars and a nice review, cuz it wasn't her fault, I just misjudged. I want to reposh it PLUS my own add'l photos and description where I"ll make clear why, and selling for the price I purchased. This person I bought from is a reseller with thousands of listings, so I doubt she'll care, but I'm asking anyway. What is the general attitude toward reposhing?

Probably the packaging I used most before the transition to ground advantage were the small flat rate boxes. Yet to find the perfect replacement. Sell lots of non clothing small items (makeup, jewelry, collectibles etc.) Wish Posh would offer a free smaller package option. Mostly using size 0 padded envelopes but they’re costly in small quantities. Thanks for your suggestions.

I’ve been a posh ambassador for YEARS and always had great sales. Then poof. Ever since updates its crickets. What’s going on??? I was thinking I just didn’t like the update but is it really the update making people not want to use the app?