Thrifting online: how to buy secondhand from home

Buying secondhand online gives you access to far more than any single charity shop — and you can do it at any time, in any size, with items shipped to your door. The key is knowing where to look, how to read a listing and how to protect yourself.

Why online secondhand is booming

A decade ago, buying secondhand online meant navigating eBay's sprawling listings for things that might or might not arrive. Today there are dedicated apps for fashion, furniture, electronics and more — with better photos, seller ratings, buyer protection and easy returns baked in.

The appeal is straightforward: range (access to items from across the country, not just your local area), price (often a fraction of new), and environmental benefit. Every item bought secondhand is an item that does not need to be manufactured, packaged and shipped new. It keeps existing things in use — which is the single best thing you can do with a product that already exists. For more on the case for secondhand, see our buying secondhand guide.

Where to look

The right platform depends on what you're buying. There is significant overlap — most platforms list multiple categories — but some are stronger for specific things.

General resale marketplaces

eBay is the largest and most established, with buyer protection and an enormous range of categories. Facebook Marketplace and similar local-selling platforms (Craigslist, Gumtree, Kijiji, depending on your country) connect you with local sellers — useful for furniture and large items where shipping is impractical, and where you can collect in person.

Fashion-specific apps and platforms

Vinted, Depop and Poshmark are popular for clothing and are particularly well-suited to fashion browsing — good photos, size filters and seller feedback. ThredUp (US) and ASOS Marketplace operate more like curated shops. Vestiaire Collective specialises in higher-end and luxury fashion with authentication for premium items.

Charity shop online stores

Many large charity organisations now sell online — the British Heart Foundation, Oxfam and similar charities have online shops where donations are listed and the proceeds go to good causes. Stock changes constantly and prices are often very reasonable.

Auction sites and estate sales

Online auction platforms (including eBay auctions, local auction house websites and estate sale apps) are worth checking for furniture, antiques, tools, books and collectibles. Prices can go very low or very high — it depends on competition and how well the item is listed.

Refurbished electronics specialists

For phones, laptops and other electronics, dedicated refurbished retailers (Back Market, Refurbed, and manufacturer-certified refurb stores like Apple Certified Refurbished) are a more reliable option than private listings. Items are tested, graded by condition and usually come with a warranty. Buying refurbished keeps functional electronics in use — one of the most resource-intensive categories of goods to manufacture new.

Search smart

Secondhand search is different from new-goods search. A specific query gets better results than a broad one.

• Be specific. Search by brand, model, size and colour rather than general category. "Levi's 501 W30 L30 blue" will find your item faster than "jeans."
• Try alternate spellings and terms. Sellers aren't always consistent — "sofa," "settee" and "couch" all turn up the same thing in different listings.
• Use filters actively. Sort by condition, price range, location and posting date. New listings appear constantly — sorting by "newest" stops you missing things that arrive after your initial search.
• Save searches and set alerts. Most platforms let you save a search and notify you when a matching item is listed. This is particularly useful for specific or hard-to-find items — set the alert and let the platform come to you.
• Check sold listings. On eBay you can see sold prices, which tells you what an item actually sold for rather than what sellers are hoping to get — useful for judging whether a price is fair.

Judge a listing honestly

A good listing gives you enough information to make a confident decision. If it doesn't, ask before you buy.

• Read the full description. Look for condition details, measurements, any disclosed faults, reason for selling, and whether the original packaging or accessories are included.
• Examine all the photos. A good seller photographs the item from multiple angles, in natural light, and shows any wear, marks or flaws. If the only photo is a stock image or a single blurry shot, ask for more before buying.
• Check the seller's feedback or ratings. A long history of positive ratings from buyers of similar items is a meaningful signal. Read some recent reviews for specifics — "item exactly as described" and "fast shipping" are both useful. A new account or no feedback is not automatically a scam, but it warrants more caution.
• Ask questions. Most platforms have in-app messaging. Ask about dimensions, wear you can see in photos, whether the item has any odour, or anything else the listing doesn't address. A responsive seller who answers clearly is a good sign.
• For clothing: ask for measurements. Label sizes vary enormously between brands, eras and countries. A flat measurement (chest, waist, hips, length, sleeve) is far more reliable than the tag size.

Buy safely and avoid scams

Most online secondhand transactions go smoothly. Scams do exist, and knowing what they look like makes them easy to avoid.

• Use buyer-protected payment. Platform checkout systems (Vinted, eBay, Depop, etc.) hold your money until you confirm receipt. PayPal Goods and Services gives you a dispute process. Credit cards give you chargeback rights. All of these give you recourse if something goes wrong. Bank transfers and cash apps to strangers give you none.
• Be sceptical of suspiciously low prices. A pair of branded trainers priced at 10% of retail is either stolen, fake or bait for a scam. Research a realistic secondhand price before making any significant purchase.
• Beware off-platform pressure. "Message me on WhatsApp for a discount" or "I'll email you the payment link" are common scam openers. Legitimate sellers have no reason to move off the platform.
• Check the listing's photos carefully. Reverse image search any photo you're unsure about — stolen stock images are a common scam signal.
• For high-value items, check authenticity. Designer goods, collectibles and high-end electronics should come with provenance — original receipts, serial numbers, certificates or authentication. Some platforms (Vestiaire Collective, StockX) authenticate items before delivery for an additional fee.

Fit and fashion online

Clothing is the category where online secondhand buying has the steepest learning curve, but it's manageable with the right approach.

• Measure a garment that fits well and use those numbers as your reference. A tape measure and five minutes gives you your chest, waist, hip, length and sleeve measurements to compare against listings.
• Ask about stretch and fabric. A stretchy jersey fabric gives you more fit flexibility than a woven fabric. If you're on the borderline of two sizes, a jersey top is lower-risk than a structured blazer.
• Check the return policy. Some platforms and individual sellers accept returns; others are strictly no-returns. Know before you buy. Platforms with buyer protection usually require the item to be significantly not-as-described for a return to be accepted — not simply because it doesn't suit you.
• Buy carefully to reduce returns. Each return involves an additional delivery journey. Buying thoughtfully — using measurements, asking questions, choosing sellers with detailed photos — means you'll need to return less often, which is better for the planet and your time.

Step-by-step: a safe online secondhand purchase

1. Decide exactly what you need. Brand, size, condition grade, maximum price. Being specific saves time and stops you buying things that almost work but don't quite.
2. Choose your platform. Fashion items: Vinted, Depop, Poshmark, eBay. Electronics: Back Market, Refurbed, eBay. Furniture: Facebook Marketplace, eBay, local classifieds. Anything: eBay as a fallback.
3. Search specifically and save your search. Use exact terms, apply filters, and set an alert so new matching listings reach you automatically.
4. Evaluate the listing. Read the full description, examine all photos, check the seller's ratings and history. If anything is unclear, message the seller before buying.
5. For clothing: get measurements. Compare the seller's flat measurements against a garment you own that fits. Don't rely on label size alone.
6. Check the returns policy. Know whether you can return it if it doesn't work before you commit.
7. Buy through the platform's secure checkout. Never pay off-platform. Use buyer-protected payment only.
8. Confirm receipt and leave feedback. Once the item arrives and you're happy, confirm it on the platform to release payment to the seller, and leave honest feedback. It helps the next buyer.

Your online thrifting checklist

• I know exactly what I'm looking for (item, size, condition, price limit).
• I've checked the right platform for this type of item.
• I've read the full listing description, not just the headline.
• I've looked at all available photos and they show real photos, not stock images.
• The seller has positive feedback from buyers of similar items.
• For clothing: I have flat measurements to compare.
• I know whether returns are accepted on this listing.
• I'm paying through the platform's secure checkout or a buyer-protected method.
• I have not been asked to pay off-platform or by bank transfer.