Poshmark is an excellent way to make money online with very little upfront investment, especially for newbie resellers. However, new Poshmark sellers should take steps to protect their budding business from scammers, cheapskates and various forms of “bad buyers” so their business can grow and become a reliable source of income.
How Poshmark protects sellers
Poshmark is a bit different from eBay and Amazon, it provides a few basic protections for sellers.
- No refunds – by default, Poshmark does not permit refunds with a few exceptions (item not as described, fake/counterfeit items, lost shipments). There’s no “buyer’s remorse” on Poshmark. This cuts down on seller costs and hassle of dealing with returns and “renters”.
- Payment escrow – Poshmark holds the money from every sale in escrow until either the buyer accepts the order or the order is auto-accepted three days after delivery. This forces any buyer claims to stay within the Poshmark platform and acts as a layer of protection for both buyers and sellers.
- Included shipping labels – Poshmark includes a pre-paid USPS shipping label with every order. This helps cut down on tracking errors and delivery scams. Poshmark will step in and help the seller if a package is lost using their shipping label.
- Delivery protection for luxury items – Poshmark automatically requires a signature on delivery on orders $400 and over. This cuts down on “lost package” scams.
However, even with those basic seller protections in place. Sellers should still work to prevent falling victim to these common bad buyer schemes:
The damaged or not as described item refund scam
Poshmark does not allow refunds. Only if the item is damaged and/or “not as described” will Poshmark consider a refund. Bad buyers that want to rent your clothing item for a couple days, or have a bout of buyer’s remorse, will often try to force a return by claiming the item has undisclosed damage so it is not as described. Some buyers will even go so far as to create the “damage” themselves by poking small holes or rips in the item. Another faux damage claim is saying the item “smells”, either of cigarette smoke, strong perfume or pet odors.
Your best defense against such refund attempts is to take clear pictures of the condition of your items, describe them accurately, and maintain an excellent seller reputation on the platform.
The fake item scam
This scam is common with luxury or designer items. The buyer will purchase your item and then ask for a refund claiming the item is counterfeit. Sometimes, the buyer just wants to rent your designer dress for their weekend event and it return it to you worn and stained. Other times, the buyer wants to steal your item, forcing a return and then switching your authentic designer item for a fake one or some piece of fluff from their laundry basket.
The best defense against this type of buyer is taking many pictures of your item. Be sure to photo the serial number, logo, and any other areas of the item showing authenticity. For handbags, as an example, photo the material tag, the serial number, the stitching, and the logo as well as the overall condition of the bag. Also, before you ship a high value luxury item, check the buyer’s Poshmark profile. A missing profile (buyers can delete their About profile page), or a profile filled with angry messages from other sellers is a giant red flag. Cancel the sale.
The can I buy it off Poshmark scam
Do not communicate off platform with buyers. Again. Never communicate with buyers off platform. Doing so will cancel out any seller protections Poshmark offers.
This type of bad buyer will message you claiming to love your item. They will offer to pay full price or even more if they can buy your item direct via email or social media with either a check, cash app or PayPal, saving you seller fees. Don’t do this. You will pay to ship the item and never get your money. Conduct all sales on the platform. No exceptions.
What to do if you get a refund request
Although Poshmark does not generally allow refunds. It does allow it if the item is damaged, fake or grossly not as described. This leaves a small window for bad buyers to game the system.
As a seller, your best defense against bad buyers looking for a refund is a good offense: follow Poshmark’s platform rules, take clear and multiple photos, and describe your items accurately. A professional looking listing is the best defense against bad buyers. Many bad buyers are looking to take advantage of new or inexperienced sellers. The more polished and professional you appear, the less likely a bad buyer will target you.
But what if you still get targeted by a bad buyer with a refund claim? What happens next?
The buyer will open a refund request case with Poshmark. As a seller, you will see the buyer’s message showing you their damage claims. Poshmark offers sellers an opportunity to dispute any refund request. Poshmark’s customer service will then review the buyer’s and seller’s messages and make a decision on whether to deny or allow the refund. Always respond promptly to any refund case. Respond professionally with just the facts. Don’t insert any emotion into your response, no matter what outrageous things the buyer has included in their claim. Don’t argue with the buyer. Just state your factual position and leave it.
Example:
Buyer – I received my top, but it has a giant hole in the front and it reeks of cigarette smoke!
Correct seller response – The item I shipped is in new undamaged condition, as pictured in the listing. It had no holes, rips or other damages. All my items are stored and shipped from a smoke free location.
Poshmark is more likely to side with the seller in cases like these, especially if the buyer has a history of “damaged items”. Be firm and factual.
Poshmark is a perfect platform for beginners to the reselling hustle. There’s zero monthly fees. And it’s easy to start with a few things from your home. Use your experience on Poshmark to polish your reseller skills and expand into other markets and watch your reseller income stream grow.
