Proudly Poshing

As a Poshmark seller and buyer for over a year now, I've come to find that there are some unwritten rules to the popular fashion platform that aren't entirely outlined in the policies and regulations provided by Poshmark admin and it's left a sour taste in the mouths of all those who've not had the privilege of getting a detailed manual on the "how to's" from both perspectives. With all the diversity of cultures and cultivation comes the adversity of personal conduct. We, as individuals, reserve the right to be respected but have the undefined responsibility to be respectful when it comes to gaining monetarily or otherwise. When in the heat of the moment, human nature will have us acting like gladiators battling to the death during the Roman empire over something as trivial as a snag in the seam of a shirt or unflattering fit from a pair highly coveted pants. So when it comes to the bare basics of listing descriptions or amazing offers, you still want to be sure there aren't any sore toes you're stepping on because even the smallest details can make the biggest difference, good or bad. Here's some first-hand knowledge I've gained from being on both ends of the buyer and seller relationship and how helping others helps you as one and/or the other.

Listings

Listing descriptions are deal-breakers for most. It's not about quality content but quantity. Your descriptions can have colorful words, pretty pictures, the works but it's what you describe in your listing that ropes someone in. For example, for pants and jeans, you always want to include rise, inseam, and waist size. People come in a variety of shapes and sizes- short, tall, athletic, lanky, bold-figured, etc. You don't assume that one size fits all. So just "bootcut" or "lowrise" or "cropped" aren't necessarily your operative words in describing a pair of jeans. Unless the pants are for a flood, a tall person doesn't want to look like they're dressed for one just as a shorter person doesn't want to trip over the back pant leg and take a literal nose-dive. As with skirts and dresses, some of us aren't entirely enthusiastic about showing everyone the brand of our unmentionables when we bend over or look like 5-year-olds playing dress up in our mom's closet. Shirts are best described with specifics such as "petite" or "oversized" with follow-up measurements in inches from armpit-to-armpit or shoulder-to-shoulder" and maybe a "true-to size" or "fits more like a..." to shed a little more light on the fit. It's the smallest of details you'll get questions about the most. If you haven't had these questions yet, just wait... They're coming. Likewise, as a buyer, these are things you want to look for in a listing before you order it. It's not fair that you bought the item without this information and you didn't like the fit. It seems hair-splitting but the outcome for both parties involved is much easier to deal with. All it takes is one short trip to Wal-Mart to purchase seamstress tape measure for a whopping $.99 to avoid any issues like this. Here's a brief definition of the measurements you might want to include:

• waist: width of pants (where the belt goes) lying flat, inches (or centimeters depending on what metric system your country goes by) from left to right.
• rise: the height of the jeans measured in inches from the seam of the apex (the crotch of the pants) to the waist from starting from bottom to top
• inseam: measured in inches from apex of pants to the hem of the pants (very bottom of pant leg)
• outseam: measurememt in inches from waist to hem of pants
• bust is the measurement around the fullest part of the chest
• leg opening: this refers to the width of the cuff, or very bottom, of the pants
• thigh: measure straight across seam-to-seam the leg 1” down from the crotch.
• knee width: these measurements are taken exactly 14” down from the crotch seam universally

Other measurements are pretty self-explanatory such as width of the shoulder, armpits, or length of skirt inches from left to right or waist to hem. If you want to get it down to a science, Google it. There are tons of sites dedicated to explaining the terminology and how to obtain the measurements and further into what measurements are uniformly used by designers to create certain styles.

Always wash the clothes you sell or buy if they're second hand. You don't want to buy dirty clothes so why would you sell them that way? Even if you haven't worn the item since its last respected rinse cycle, it's accumulated dust, dirt, and/or smells that's in it's environment. Anything such as perfume, smoke, or pet dander can circulate undetected causing possible allergic reactions or asthma attacks. Buyers should also take the same precaution, more so in items sold with the tags attached. You wouldn't want to wear something right off the rack from a department store in the middle of flu or allergy season because you have the occasional cougher and sneezer who doesn't want to take the time to dig out that little bottle of hand sanitizer in the bottom of their purse. Plus, no one wants to wear dirty clothes. If you're not sure if the seller/buyer will or has washed the clothes, don't take chances.

Simply put: Humans have germs, germs create: bad smells, illnesses and eventually, an open case on Poshmark. LOL

As long as we're on the subject of hygiene, here's a simple but important question for you: are you a smoker? Did you purchase clothing from a smoker from someone who is or has a smoker in the house (trust me, this isn't as rare as you would think), but there's nothing else wrong with the item(s)? You could be like me and be allergic to smoke but have a sibling or roommate who has every right to smoke in the house where they pay rent or utilities, etc. Or you could be a smoker threatening to quit once a week that makes every effort to keep the clothes away from the foul smell of smoke but fails every now and then. Non-smoking buyers will complain and if they can't remove that smell with a decent washing, will want to return the item even in perfect condition. Either way, there's disappointment on both ends. Fortunately, there's an excellent, inexpensive solution to this issue without any risk of damaging the item and it's perfectly safe that takes the little effort to execute. Wash them in Epsom salt along with your regular detergent and softener. Epsom salt is known for its super strong purifying qualities. It freshens without the discoloring qualities of bleach or leaving behind any scent like other store bought fresheners that might be overwhelming with side effects like headache, nausea, and asthma-inducing. It's cheap if you buy in large or small quantities in generic brands.

Something every posher (buyer and seller) is most concerned about is PRICE. Specifically, "low-ball offers" or "low-balling" is a major concern for for both buyer and seller. Just as much as buyers like a "steal deal" the sellers like a decent profit. Let's face it, nobody sells their stuff just to lose profit. Some sellers go out to find the very best "steal deals" they can in hopes to turn those efforts into cash for whatever reason they may have for being a seller. They make every effort to taking the pictures, designing their boutique and closet, you going a million different retailers or surfing the web for the hottest items at cheap price to maybe fund their own shopping habits, payoff doctor bills, get a new motor... Everyone's different. Some may have ulterior motives, but not everyone. Just alike, there are those who don't make the kind of money it takes to buy a whole lot of stuff because they work a job they love where they make minimum wage or a little more and have no time for a side hustle. Again, we're all different but one thing we can all agree on is that we LOVE fashion. We love everything about it—the aesthetic appeals are no doubt what bond us. So when it comes to a highly coveted item, as a seller, we list it for what we value that item at. As a buyer, we want it as cheap or cheaper than what it's generally sold for: 2 sides to one very shiny coin. This at times causes for some huge conflict where the buyer makes an offer for $20 to sometimes $100 less than a listed price. The seller can take this in stride and counteroffer or they can go off the deep end with a rant that leaves the buyer concerned about the seller's sanity. That's where common courtesy and common sense should be embraced. Getting offended is counter-productive on both ends so instead, put yourself on the opposite end of the situation. As a buyer, when making an offer, always consider these things: the price it's currently being sold at on other platforms and retailers, the true value to you at that time (want vs. need), and how that offer will leave the buy/seller relationship in the long-term which is more important than what you think. Sellers do talk amongst themselves just as much as buyers and no one wants to be blocked or "black-balled" for being a "cheapskate" or a "thief" for lack of polite terms. It may not seem like it to most, but retail can be a real "cutthroat" industry with money and emotions highly involved. Consider the fact that you might also be taking advantage of others. This person may not have the emotional or mental capacity to wheel and deal or be as business-savvy as others. Is the rice of the item sensible or does it seem like a ripoff? There tons of things to take into account before pressing that offer button. This person could be paying off college tuition for themselves or someone else but don't want to turn down any prospective buyer because they don't have the luxury of time waiting on the buyer who will pay their asking price.

As for sellers, ask yourself this: is this profit so important that you could be warding off a potential repeat buyer who could profit you more in the long run? Is this going towards tuition, a business investment for something bigger, or is this weekend money? Is this one loss that big of a deal in bigger picture of the past and future profits made from your investment? As a seller, you should always do your research and consider the odds of finding a buyer willing to pay your asking price. Just try to remember, you're going to be the one dealing with your conscience later on, not the buyer. If you can sell something and be of sound mind or even feel great about providing things to others that wouldn't normally be able to afford such an item(s), then that should tell you your price is right at where it should be.

On both ends, common courtesy should always be extended. Respectfully declining or counter-offering is not something you should be afraid to do. Locking in a price that's right for you as a buyer or seller is perfectly fine as long as it's sensible, fair, budget-friendly. If you can splurge, go for it. If you can wait for the right offer to come along so you invest in more detail, do it. Just always be considerate of each other and remember your feelings and wallet are not the only things to be considered in the long run. Don't be afraid to be generous, either. Believe me, the world has a tendency to return kindness to givers just as it returns ill will. Don't forget to pay it forward.

KEEP CALM AND CHECK YOUR ORDER

As a buyer and seller, this is an absolute must. We're all human and all equally flawed. We forget an item, overlook physical flaws, overlook small physical flaws or product damage, don't always take the necessary precautions to preserve things when storing stuff, and let's face it, accidents happen. Both buyer and seller are responsible for checking that you have everything in an order, if there are any unlisted damages to items, authenticity, etc. As a seller, you want the buyer to be informed of any new findings that may not have been listed to ensure they still want the purchase if the item(s). Believe me, even if the buyer declines, they'll appreciate your honesty and will be more likely to purchase from you again. You also don't want to sell anyone anything. If unauthentic—don't sell something you got ripped off by doing the same thing to someone else so that you can be your money back. One, it's not cool. Two, it could ruin your reputation as a seller and any chances you had of future purchases made from the buyer. Three, it could be hazardous or harmful if it's something a cosmetic (allergies, harmful and toxic ingredients, etc.) and therefore have the potential of being fatal... You don't want that kind of guilt. Four, it could have you banned from the platform and cost you mucho dinero in the long run. Five, it's illegal. Legal ramifications aren't worth it. If you're a buyer, you want to make sure you got what you paid for, that nothing was left out, items are safer and authentic as well as being in the shape described in the listing. It sucks when you have an item out to wear for a specific occasion and the item, two or three days after you gave a glowing review or that 5-star rating about, only to find that there was an overlooked stain you can't remove or unraveling seam that has the item all but held together by luck but can't return due to strict return policies. Just be cool about handling the situation, whichever end you'r on.

As a buyer, you've probably gotten a bad order and as a seller, you might've overlooked a detail or two that didn't seem significant to you but was a deal-breaker on the other end. When you get a good buy, actually see the seller put in some real effort to securely packaging the item, or even included a free item and/or simple thank you note, leave some good feedback. They want to feel appreciated. Not all of them do this just for money. I personally do it because I love sharing my fashion favorites with others. It makes me feel great knowing I can make someone else's day by providing an item(s) they wouldn't ordinarily be able to afford but dream of having. As a buyer, I know I love to be spoiled so I, in turn, enjoy the spoiling of my buyers. Give or take, there's a bond there that can be taken beyond the superficiality of just obtaining high-end quality retail. Therefore, as a seller, if someone leaves great feedback, tell them how much you appreciate them and that you're glad they got something they wanted or that you were happy you could provide an awesome experience. Remember, most buyers are benefiting you with the trust that you will provide them a service without the hopes of not being let down. From both ends, don't be afraid to engage one another on the subject of appreciation so no one feels ignored or neglected. Acknowledge one another as an asset because, without both buyer and seller, Posh wouldn't exist! Right? This creates a bond and even friendships. That means more clothes, more friends, and more fun.

There are tons of tips and tricks to getting the most out of selling or buying on this platform as well as others. I'm sure I'm only scraping the surface of what it is to be learned in the world of e-commerce. These are just some of the basics I've found to have yet to fail me. Fortunately, I've enjoyed what I've found to be the core of having the most pleasant of experiences to this date so far. If you'd like to check out my closet and boutique I've included a direct link below. Keep reading for more information on the seller/buyer's etiquette as well as tips, tricks, and secrets on wholesale, advertising, and becoming a top-seller in online fashion retail sales!