A Guide to Selling on Depop

It’s thrifting and recycling at its finest, and it’s estimated that in Canada, approximately 250,000 registered Depop users are doing their part. Layer in all the other resale sites available, like Poshmark, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and ThredUp (to name a few), and there’s an appetite for reselling, upcycling, recirculating, and thrifting in Canada.

What Can You Sell on Depop?

If it has anything to do with fashion, chances are you can sell it on Depop. From tops to bottoms (and everything in between), for men or women, to jewellery and beauty products, the range in what can be bought and sold through Depop is vast. Styles that are particularly popular with Depop’s customers are vintage, streetwear, Y2K, and one-of-a-kind looks.

What Are the Depop Selling Fees?

While setting up an account on Depop is free, selling your stuff through it is not.

The Depop selling fees are 10% of your total sale, including shipping. You’ll also be charged a PayPal transaction fee. This PayPal fee is 2.9%, plus an additional small fixed fee which varies depending on the country currency for the transaction. There may be other fees, too, depending on add-on features you can purchase through Depop (like boosting your listings) or extra charges based on the type of PayPal account you have set up.

How Do You Set Up an Account to Begin Selling on Depop?

Whether you want to set up an account using your existing logins for Apple, Google or Facebook or create a new one with your email address, signing up to access Depop’s marketplace is relatively easy. There is very little information required. All you need at first are the basics like your name, date of birth, email address, country of origin and phone number. This simple setup makes it easy to get going.

The hardest part of the Depop account setup is likely picking your username. Why? Because your username is included in your store’s Depop link and becomes the starting point for your online brand with them. Pick your username wisely.

Once your Depop account is set up, all that’s left to do is register yourself as a seller. You need to provide Depop with your billing address and PayPal details. And that’s all there is to it. You’re now ready to begin selling your fashion finds.

How to List Your Items on Depop

The secret to successfully selling stuff on Depop lies in the information you provide when listing your items for sale. The more information, the better. For example, include photos that represent the item accurately. You can even upload a video to showcase your products too.

Once the visuals are set, provide a detailed description of the item, including the material it’s made of, sizing, condition, colour, and price. Don’t be creative in your description. Stick to the facts to set the right buyer expectations. Otherwise, you risk returns and poor customer reviews.

Speaking of price, when it comes to setting it, one of the factors you’ll need to consider is shipping. Will you pay for shipping, or will the buyer? Your first inclination might be to have the buyer pay, but according to Depop, your item is twice as likely to sell if shipping is free. If you go the ‘free shipping’ route, you’ll want to factor this cost into your price and the packaging. As a result, some shipping research will be needed. If you choose to use them, Canada Post has a handy estimate tool on pricing when shipping mail and parcels within Canada, to the U.S., and beyond..

How to Ship Products You Sell on Depop

Selling stuff on Depop means you’re responsible for shipping the products to the buyer, and you’ll want to do it promptly to ensure a happy customer. But, you’ll also want to make sure you don’t cut corners as it’s equally important to protect yourself too:

• Properly package your item to minimize the risk of damage during shipping. Padded envelopes, boxes, and bubble wrap can help reduce issues with delivery.
• Only send packages that can be tracked. Untracked shipments are not covered under Depop’s or PayPal’s seller protection policies.
• Let your customer know it’s on its way and provide them with the tracking number.

Finally, even if the person is local, never agree to meet. For safety’s sake, stick to shipping your product through the post or courier.

What Kind of Insurance Do You Need to Sell on Depop?

Running a Depop-supported business or side hustle isn’t without risks, and many business insurance types could benefit you. For example, product liability insurance will protect you against claims for third-party property damage or bodily injury stemming from items you’ve sold. It’s worth considering since the products you’re selling and distributing may have design, manufacturing, or marketing defects – defects like incorrect labelling and safety warnings – that you’re unaware of and could leave you exposed as a reseller.

Other types of insurance can be bundled together to provide one comprehensive retail insurance policy. For example, in addition to product liability insurance, you can bundle one or more of commercial general liability (CGL) insurance, cyber liability insurance, and commercial property insurance for full coverage.

Running a business, any business, isn’t without risk. Reducing your risks with a customized business insurance policy is critical for any online seller to protect against the financial impact of a third-party lawsuit or damage and loss resulting from an accident or unexpected incident like a fire that destroys your inventory.

– Reviewed by Jon Hogg is a Team Lead, Digital Solutions, Contractors at Zensurance.

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