Fashionphile vs Poshmark: Which is best for you?

Are you overwhelmed with all the choices of where to resell your luxury item and are you wondering if you should it be Fashionphile vs Poshmark? I mean luxury consignment/reseller companies are popping up like popcorn! Yet somehow, you got it down to two choices Fashionphile or Poshmark and you are thinking: What now? How to choose? 

The decision to go with Fashionphile vs Poshmark will rest largely on how much you want to be involved with the process plus how much money you want to potentially keep on the sale.   When it comes to Poshmark you will be more involved in the process vs Fashionphile.  On the other hand, if you want to get cashed out and want to be more hands off and catch your money bag and keep it moving then Fashionphile is a good route to take.

All in all, there maybe different reasons to pick Fashionphile vs Poshmark and today we will discuss them all!

Is Fashionphile legit?

Fashionphile is a legitimate site that has been around since 1999. Although Fashionphile has been around for a while than some of its more popular reselling sites like Poshmark or the Real Real–many people question still question its legitimacy just due to not as much name recognition or perhaps its less top of mind than some its competitors.

It appears that Fashionphile has been moving in stealth mode and experiencing stealth, slow, and steady growth.

Plus Fashionphile has brick and mortar locations how much more legit is that when you an actual physical location versus some far away cyber company that you can’t touch.

Out of all the high end luxury resellers to question for legitimacy Fashionphile definitely shouldn’t be at the top of your list. Fashionphile has been in the game before most of the other companies 20 plus years they have the staying power and know how in the industry.

Also, recently Fashionphile teamed up with Neiman Marcus and customers interested in selling with Fashionphile can even drop off their items at select Neiman Marcus stores.

I used to work for Neiman Marcus in college and trust me their snootybehinds would not be teamming up with Fashionphile if there were not legit.

What percentage does Fashionphile take vs. Poshmark

Fashionphile fees are as follows:

30% of the sale price when the item is $3,000 or less
15% of the sale price if the item is more than $3,000

On the other hand, with regard to Poshmark:

Poshmark takes 20% if the item if the item costs more than $15
Poshmark charges a flat fee of $2.95 for items that are less than $15

Does Fashionphile sell authentic bags? 

Fashionphile sells authentic bags as part of their product mix as a pre-owned luxury reseller.

As discussed earlier, Neiman Marcus would not partner with a company known for selling counterfeit goods. I know Neiman Marcus has not been doing well financially but still they would not risk their 100 plus year company history on the line with teaming up with a company that did not sell authentic handbags. It would undermine their entire operation that sells high end luxury goods. A rare space that is only operated by a few department stores (ie. Saks, Bloomingdales, Nordstroms, etc) and they cannot afford to lose market share. Additionally, Fashionphile could potentially get lawsuits from trademark violation.

Fashionphile is a legitimate company that is selling authentic bags that go through an authentication process.

Fashionphile states on their website that authenticity is at the heart of everything they do. Dealing with counterfeit stuff in the high end market is very tricky because there is a lot of counterfeiting going on and Fashionphile has been in the game long enough to know that once you loose faith with regard to selling in authentic products it is hard to regain consumer confidence back. Just take a look of what happened to The Real Real. However, Fashionphile discusses how they turned authentication in a science and so far they have not been called out by Diet Prada on Insta so I say they must be doing something good.

Fashionphile vs Poshmark Authentication Services

Fashionphile Authentication

Fashionphile treats authentication like a science and they have an authentication program called “Fashionphile University” that is known to be vigorous and thorough. For example, before employee can work on their own have to log about 5.200 hours of training. They even have an x-ray to look inside the internal components of the bag.

Additionally, Fashionphile takes it even a step further and has invited luxury brands to check out their authentication process under an NDA.

Per Fashionphile’s website their authentication process entails:

Two highly trained authenticators who specialize in specific brands reviewing the item
Guarantee that it is real or they give you 100% of your money back
Lifetime return policy if the item is ever proven to be fake

Poshmark Authentication

Poshmark authentication service is applicable for purchases $500 and over. After that, you are on your own.

Here is a video that shows what could happen when you purchase an item under $500 on Poshmark and the potential for a scam to occur. I honestly think only offering authentication over $500 is a disservice to Poshmark buyers. Even if I spend $250 I want to make sure my hard earned money is spent on legit items if they are advertised as such.

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According to many forums, Poshmark authentication services has some inconsistencies. Poshmark started offering its authentication services because they want to capitalize on the growing luxury resale business.

However, for Fashionphile authentication is the lifeline of their business so it appears for that reason, when it comes to authentication, for Fashionphile takes it to another level. With Poshmark there is no mention of a lifetime return policy.

Can you negotiate with Fashionphile vs. Poshmark?

Prices are fixed on Fashionphile they are not a negotiating platform.

On Poshmark negotiation is encouraged and users both love and loathe it at the same time.  The reason being is that Poshmark is a place known for making low-ball offers. This turns some users off to the point some sellers will quit the app from the aggravation of low ball offers.

On the other hand, some sellers deal with this by hijacking the price up just to give them some negotiating room, but then buyers complain that Poshmark is too high.  In actuality a lot of sellers are willing to negotiate and come down but they just need some room to negotiate with the lower offers they often will get.

However, some buyers just want to purchase outright and the idea of negotiating back and forth or trying to decide what “constitutes” a low ball offer and not wanting to offend anyone leaves some buyers like forgot about it…this is too much work and buying should be an easy transaction and purchasing outright at Fashionphile is may just seem like a “sigh of relief.”

Fashionphile vs Poshmark Returns

Poshmark is a final sale platform and there are many stories on forums like reddit where the frustrations of trying to return a fake item.

Poshmark rigid return policy coupled with what appears to be some level of inconsistency with their authentication services makes it less desirable in my opinion when comparing to Fashionphile’s in-depth authentication services and open return policy if a fake is uncovered.

On the other hand, Fashionphile, offers lifetime returns if you uncover that the item is fake you can always return it.

Fashionphile stands behind its authentication services, which is only right.  You can’t say I offer an authentication service then abdicate your responsibilities when a customer finds out it’s a faked belatedly.

Fashionphile vs. Poshmark Shipping

Here is a chart of shipping prices with Fashionphile vs. Poshmark. the main thing to keep in mind is that Fashionphile ships both international and domestic. Poshmark does not ship internationally, Poshmark territory includes the U.S. and Canada only.

Can you negotiate with Fashionphile vs. Poshmark? 

Prices are fixed on Fashionphile they are not a negotiating platform.

On Poshmark offers are encouraged and you will get an email and in-app notification with offers on Poshmark. You can choose to accept, reject, or counter an offer on Poshmark. 

Fashionphile vs Poshmark Returns

Poshmark is a final sale platform and there are many stories on forums where the frustrations of trying to return a fake item.

Poshmark rigid return policy coupled with what appears to be some level of inconsistency with their authentication services makes it less desirable in my opinion when comparing to Fashionphile’s in-depth authentication services and open return policy if a fake is uncovered.

On the other hand, Fashionphile, offers lifetime returns if you uncover that the item is fake you can always return it. 

Fashionphile stands behind their authentication services, which is only right.  You can’t say I offer a authentication services then abdicate your responsibilities when a customer finds out it’s a faked belatedly.

In conclusion Fashionphile is more like designer consignment and has a higher level of sophistication that goes along with that.  On the other hand, Poshmark service will vary because you are buying from the consumer.  Additionally, Poshmark sets the bar so high for authentication at $500 it leaves a lot of consumers hanging with their luxury designer offerings.