With the secondhand clothing market growing 11 times faster than traditional retail, UK sellers are constantly asking: is Depop or eBay better for selling clothes? This article compares the two platforms based on user base, fees, what sells best, and key strategies, while sharing tips to maximize your sales across multiple marketplaces.

Understanding Depop

Depop is a mobile-first social marketplace that's revolutionized secondhand fashion for younger UK buyers, with 90% of users under 26. It focuses on visual storytelling and community engagement, making it ideal for trendy, sustainable clothing sales. According to the ThredUp Resale Report, Depop taps into the youth-driven resale boom where Gen Z accounts for a significant portion of purchases.

Popular items on Depop include:

• Y2K and 90s-inspired clothing
• Streetwear and edgy pieces
• Vintage band tees
• Sustainable or upcycled fashion
• Items tied to pop culture like TV shows or movies

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Special Focus: Building a Brand on Depop

To succeed, create a cohesive aesthetic with high-quality photos and engage followers through comments and bundles. Expert seller advice from Depop's seller blog emphasizes quick listings - under two minutes - and cross-posting to Instagram for broader reach, helping UK vintage resellers build loyal communities.

Understanding eBay

eBay is a global powerhouse with a mature buyer base, where users aged 35-64 dominate, offering tools for serious resellers. It's perfect for higher-value or rare items, supported by detailed search and auction features. Statista data shows eBay's UK market share in resale remains strong due to its established trust and broad inventory options.

Popular items on eBay include:

• True vintage pieces from the 1960s-1980s
• Designer and luxury clothing
• Menswear and athletic wear
• Collectible leather jackets
• New or hard-to-find brand items

Special Focus: Advanced Tools on eBay

Leverage eBay's 12 photos per listing and promoted options to boost visibility - sellers with free shipping see 20% more search results. As per eBay's Seller Centre, UK sellers should comply with VAT rules and use calculated shipping for efficiency, especially for single-quantity hard goods like collectibles.

Comparing Depop and eBay for Selling Clothes

When deciding is Depop or eBay better for selling clothes, consider fees, audience, and item fit. Depop suits quick, social sales with lower barriers, while eBay excels in structured, high-volume selling. Recent BBC news highlights the UK's resale growth, with both platforms benefiting from sustainable fashion trends.

Key comparison points:

• Audience: Depop for Gen Z trends; eBay for broader, older buyers
• Selling Speed: Depop for fast flips under £50; eBay for items over £100
• Visibility: Depop via social feeds; eBay through auctions and searches
• Ease of Use: Depop's mobile simplicity vs. eBay's robust dashboard

Special Focus: Fee Structures

Depop charges 2.9% + £0.30 processing in the UK with no selling fee, ideal for low-price items. eBay's 13.25% final value fee + £0.30 suits higher tickets but adds up - calculate via eBay's fee illustrator. For UK compliance, follow government e-commerce guidelines from GOV.UK.

Factors to Consider When Choosing

Your choice depends on inventory type, target buyers, and business scale. UK side-hustle resellers scaling up often use both to prevent overselling unique items. Insights from The Guardian note that multi-platform strategies increase sales by diversifying reach.

Factors to weigh:

• Item price point and rarity
• Time for listing and engagement
• Shipping preferences (e.g., eBay's free shipping boosts conversions by 15%)
• UK regulations like consumer returns and tax reporting

Streamlining Multi-Platform Selling

Managing listings across Depop, eBay, and others can lead to overselling, wasted time, and missed sales for UK vintage clothing resellers or small e-commerce retailers.

Our solution at Zipsale simplifies this: Easily import and crosslist items on up to eight marketplaces with automated delisting to prevent errors. Connect your accounts, upload once, and manage inventory centrally - saving 40 hours per 1,000 listings. As one user says, "Zipsale is my extra pair of hands... Time saver and game changer for my small business." Start expanding your reach today.

Want to try Zipsale for yourself? Your first month is completely free - list up to 30 items across multiple platforms and boost your sales. Curious? Click here.

FAQ

What are the main fees on Depop vs eBay?   Depop has no selling fee in the UK but charges 2.9% + £0.30 processing; eBay takes 13.25% + £0.30 on the total sale.

Which platform is better for vintage clothes?   Depop for trendy Y2K vintage; eBay for rare 1960s-1980s pieces, based on buyer demographics.

Can I sell on both Depop and eBay?   Yes, many UK sellers do — use tools like Zipsale to manage crosslisting efficiently.

How do I comply with UK selling regulations?   Register as a business if needed, issue VAT invoices, and follow consumer laws via GOV.UK guidelines.

What's the best way to increase sales on these platforms?   Offer free shipping on eBay for 20% more visibility, and build a brand on Depop through engagement.

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