The Ultimate Guide to Resale Marketplaces

A breakdown of every resale platform and what makes them unique

We get it — secondhand shopping can be overwhelming. With so many marketplaces to choose from, it can be tricky to decide where to shop for your next thrifted gem. At Beni, we aim to simplify the process, which is why we created a cheat sheet for you to easily compare the leading secondhand marketplaces in one place!

From Beni pro-tips to return policies to fee structures, our cheat sheet demystifies the online secondhand shopping experience so you can spend less time reading the fine print and more time finding the perfect item. We hope this resource helps you find the marketplace that is the best fit for you.

First, some key terms:

P2P: Peer-to-Peer marketplace where inventory is sold directly from individual sellers to buyers. Sellers can be individuals or semi-pro sellers (i.e. boutiques that sell on a P2P site). When sold on a platform like TheRealReal or eBay, the platform takes a % of the selling price and the seller receives the rest. Secondhand items are bought and sold directly between a shopper and a seller without regulation from the marketplace

Hybrid: A combination between a managed marketplace and a peer-to-peer marketplace. These websites regulate and engage with transactions on a partial level. Often, hybrid marketplaces sell higher-end goods but still value the interpersonal connection between the buyer and seller.

Managed: Marketplace in which inventory is centrally aggregated before being resold. In this model, inventory could include donated items, items sold upfront by the original owner (i.e. the original owner sells the item for a specific price and the reseller takes full ownership and entire margin from reselling), or items that the original owner is selling on consignment through the reseller (i.e. the original owner gets a % of the sale once it is sold, and may be returned to the original owner if not sold. In some cases, the reseller will repair or clean the items they receive before reselling).

Consigned: When a store sells secondhand items on behalf of an original owner. The owner then receives a portion of the selling price.

Okay, now let’s break it down…

Sources: Mercari, Depop, Poshmark, thredUp, Thrilling, eBay, and Rent the Runway

Sources: Vestiaire Collective, Tradesy, TheRealReal, Luxanthropy, Fashionphile, The Luxury Closet, and Farfetch

Sources: StockX, GOAT, Flight Club, and Stadium Goods

Sources: Grailed, Nearly Newlywed, Kidizen, Queenly, The Local Flea, and Swap.com