On Depop, a photo that would win anywhere else can lose. The buyers are young and they shop by look — a clean cut-out on a white background reads as a catalog, where a styled, well-lit shot showing how something actually wears reads as a closet worth browsing.
Getting found is the other half. Depop leans on the right words in the right places, and stuffing in every term you hope someone might type doesn't help and can look spammy — so describe what the thing genuinely is.
Depop changed its fees, so older advice is out of date. For sellers in the US, Depop removed its selling fee — instead, the buyer pays a small marketplace fee at checkout. You'll still pay the normal payment-processing fee on your sales. (Outside the US the setup can differ, so check Depop's current fees for your country.) The takeaway: don't assume Depop takes a big cut of your sale anymore — look at what you'll actually receive before pricing.
On Depop, write a short, specific title with the brand, style, and era a buyer would search — like "Y2K Levi's baggy jeans" — and add tags (you get a handful) for the type, brand, and vibe. Fill in the details and describe the fit, measurements, and any flaws honestly. Don't pile on unrelated tags or keywords; it doesn't help and can look spammy. Editing an older listing to tighten the wording can help it get seen again — edit it in place rather than deleting it and posting it again, which marketplaces treat as churn.
Depop buyers can tap "Make Offer" to suggest a price — and if you accept, you're committing to the sale, so only accept offers you'll honor. You can also set up automatic bundle discounts, so when someone buys two or more items from your shop they get a percentage off or free shipping. Bundles are a great way to move several pieces at once to a buyer who's already interested. Reply to offers and messages quickly — fast, friendly sellers get shown more.
Depop is a trend-driven marketplace with a younger crowd, big on vintage, streetwear, Y2K, and unique secondhand style. The look and feel of your shop matter — buyers shop by vibe. Price fairly for a younger budget, reply to messages quickly, and ship fast. Depop is as much about your shop's style as any single listing.
On Depop, styled photos win. Showing a clothing item worn or modeled, or staged with a clean aesthetic, tends to sell better than a flat plain shot. Keep a consistent look across your shop so it feels like a real little boutique. Still include a clear photo of the tag and any flaws — style plus honesty is the sweet spot.
Depop protects buyers if an item doesn't arrive, arrives damaged, or doesn't match your listing — they can report it, generally within about 30 days, and Depop will look into it. Change-of-mind isn't automatically covered. As always, the surest way to avoid a dispute is an honest listing with real photos of any flaws and accurate measurements. Keep your tracking and a quick photo of the packed item, just in case.
Depop has rules about what you can sell, and it's been enforcing them more strictly. Counterfeits and replicas are banned, and so are most electronics — phones, laptops, and similar — which surprises a lot of new sellers. Selling banned items can get your shop suspended, often with no quick fix. When in doubt, check Depop's list of what's allowed before you list, and stick to fashion and genuine secondhand style, which is what Depop is really for.
On Depop you can ship two ways: buy a prepaid label through Depop, or arrange your own. The buyer usually pays for shipping, though you can offer it free to attract more buyers. Important: if you ship on your own, you must enter valid tracking — without it you lose seller protection if there's a dispute. Either way, pack carefully and ship within a day or two to keep buyers happy.
Shoot it the way you'd want to see it, describe it accurately, and let the search terms follow the item rather than the other way around.
Inky writes and prepares your listings from a photo — you stay the one who decides what goes live. We never hide an item's flaws.
