Is Depop Safe to Use or Is It a Scam? Everything You Need to Know

Is Depop a legit site?

Yes, Depop is a legitimate app and site for buying and selling clothing. Depop is an online fashion marketplace for buying and selling secondhand clothes and accessories. The platform was founded in 2011 and currently has 35 million registered users buying and selling items across the globe. Depop headquarters are located in London. They also have offices in Manchester and New York City. Depop is not currently accredited by the Better Business Bureau. There are also currently no ratings available online. Depop is owned by Etsy, which is another e-commerce site that focuses on buying and selling homemade items and vintage goods.

Are there risks to shopping on Depop?

Untrustworthy users and scams can be an issue on Depop. While Depop is a legit site and generally considered safe to use, the same potential risks apply to shopping on it as other e-commerce sites like Poshmark, Mercari, and eBay. Because Depop’s users are also the sellers and buyers, it’s important to use caution on the site and shop from reliable users to avoid potential scams. For instance, some Depop users have reported that sellers never ship their items, send counterfeit items, or that clothes don’t match their descriptions. Luckily, Depop is aware of potential scams on the site and has protections in place to keep both buyers and sellers safe. We’ll cover these protections below. Don’t worry—we’ll also explain how to buy and sell safely on Depop in the sections below!

How Depop Protects Buyers and Sellers

Depop offers full refunds on items that don’t arrive or are damaged. Depop protects buyers on the app and site with Depop Protection. This makes you eligible for a full refund if your item doesn’t arrive, arrives damaged, or arrives not as described. Your transactions are only eligible for a refund if you made your purchase in the Depop app or website and if you reported your issue within 30 days of the date of purchase. Depop cannot guarantee buyer protection or full refunds if you made your purchase off the app or site, such as sending the seller money via Venmo or a bank transfer, or meeting them in person.

Depop offers sellers protection if their item is lost or damaged. Depop also protects sellers with Depop Protection in the rare case that your item is lost or damaged during shipping. To be eligible for protection, the sale has to be made in the app or website, sent with a Depop shipping label within 5 days of the transaction date, be lost or damaged in transit, and sent to the buyer’s address according to your receipt. Sales up to $300 (£250) are eligible for Depop Protection. Currently, only users shipping from the US or UK are eligible for Depop Protection. Selling prohibited items according to Depop’s policies automatically makes you ineligible for Depop Protection.

Depop provides safe and secure ways to make transactions. Depop ensures that your purchases and sales are secure with Depop Payments. Depop Payments are payments you make in the app or site, which include Apple Pay, Google Pay, credit and debit cards, and Klarna. Depop Payments are powered by Stripe Connect, which is a payment platform that other legitimate commerce sites use, like Amazon.

Depop offers two-factor authentication. To keep your account secure, Depop encourages you to enable two-factor authentication. This requires you to enter your password and a code sent to your phone number to log in to your account, which keeps your account more secure.

Users can review sellers and leave feedback. After a user makes a purchase, Depop allows them to rate the seller and leave a comment about the transaction. This helps you see which sellers are trustworthy, reliable, and send their items on time.

Will Depop refund you if you get scammed?

Yes, Depop provides refunds for items that don’t arrive or are damaged. If the seller didn’t send your item or the item arrived and it’s damaged or not as described, open a dispute in Depop’s Resolution Centre. This starts a conversation with the seller and gives you a chance to work out the issue. If you can’t reach an agreement, escalate the dispute to Depop, who will look into the problem. You have to give the seller 5 days to ship your item before you open a dispute about not receiving it. If the seller doesn’t respond to your message in the Resolution Center within 48 hours, Depop automatically refunds you. You have up to 30 days after the date of purchase to request a refund. Note: If you made your purchase on Depop with PayPal, Depop asks you to open a dispute on PayPal’s website, instead.

How to Buy Safely on Depop

Only make transactions using the Depop app or website. Depop only guarantees protection from potential scams and damaged items when you make your purchase through the app or website. Avoid purchasing from sellers who try to get you to pay them off of Depop, like on an app like Venmo or in person.

Buy from sellers with good reviews. Check out the seller’s rating and reviews before hitting “Buy.” Previous buyer’s reviews can tell you if they are happy with their purchases, if the seller’s listings are accurate, and if they ship on time. If the seller doesn’t have a lot of reviews or the majority of their ratings are negative, it’s best to avoid buying from them.

Check over the item description and photos carefully. Read over the item’s description to ensure you know exactly what you’re buying, what condition it is in, and to see if there are any notes about sizing or fit. Then, inspect the photos of the item to make sure they match the description. Avoid sellers who use stock images of the item instead of their own photos. This can be a sign that they’re hiding something about the item or that they’re a scammer. Tip: Reverse image search the seller’s photos on Google to ensure they’re coming from the seller and not another source (like the manufacturer’s website). This can also help you determine the average price of the item to see if you’re being overcharged or not.

Ask the seller questions about the item. Reach out to the seller with any questions you might have about the item before you press “Buy.” Besides giving you clarity about the item, this also helps you see if the seller is responsive, helpful, and ultimately trustworthy. Note: Keep all of your conversations on the Depop app or website. In the event that something goes wrong with your order, this makes it easier to submit your conversations to Depop.

Report suspicious users and activity to Depop. Contact Depop’s customer service team as soon as you notice suspicious activity about users on the platform or your account. This includes users asking you to share personal information, receiving strange messages or emails claiming to be Depop, or seeing listings you didn’t post on your account. Never open suspicious-looking emails, links, or messages, as they might be a phishing attack. All of Depop’s official emails end in “@depop.com.” Depop will never ask you to share personal or account information outside of the app or website.

How to Sell Safely on Depop

Only sell items through the Depop app or website. Depop Protection is only guaranteed for sellers when you make your transactions through the Depop app or website. Do not accept purchases from buyers who want to buy your items off the app, as they might be a scammer.

Wait to receive your funds before shipping the item. While you want to ship your item as soon as possible to keep your customer satisfied, it’s important to ensure that the buyer’s transaction goes through first. This protects you from potential scams and losing out on a sale.

Add a tracking number to your orders. To receive seller protection, Depop also asks that you add tracking information to your orders. If you ship items using Depop’s shipping label, tracking information is automatically added for the buyer. If you arranged your own shipping, tap the “Mark as Shipped” button on your receipt and enter the tracking number for the buyer.

Do not give out personal information to buyers or other users. Contact Depop’s customer service to report any Depop users who ask for your email address, phone number, payment details, account information, or social media handles. Depop does not need this information to make a sale and won’t ask you for it, either.

Create clear and accurate listings for your items. Make sure you include accurate information about your item in the description, including the brand, size, color, and any damage or faults. Add your own photos of the item that provide an accurate view of the item’s condition, too. If you’re selling a luxury item, include any tags, certificates, or authentication information that confirms it’s real.

Common Depop Scams to Look Out For

Watch out for scams targeting both buyers and sellers. Users on Depop and other e-commerce sites like eBay, Mercari, and Poshmark often employ similar schemes to scam both buyers and sellers out of their money, like: Requesting transactions be made off Depop. Both buyers or sellers might ask you to make your transaction on a third-party payment app instead of Depop. This can prevent you from getting Depop’s help with the issue or receiving a refund. Emails impersonating Depop. Some users may email you from an account impersonating Depop in an attempt to steal your personal information. Remember that official Depop emails come from “@depop.com” and that they will never ask you for personal information off of the app. Selling counterfeit items. Some sellers might list fake items as the real deal. Always inspect items for signs of authenticity and request authentication from the seller. Use your best judgment, too—if an item seems too good to be true, it likely is. Switching addresses. In this scheme, a buyer asks you to send the item to a different address than what’s listed on your receipt. This allows them to claim that they never received their item and get a refund. Always send items to the address listed in your seller’s receipt to stay protected by Depop.

What are the disadvantages of using Depop to sell secondhand?

Depop takes a commission from sales and can be slow to solve issues. Many Depop users complain about Depop’s commission fee, which takes 5 to 10% of your sale, and slow response times from Depop’s customer service team. There is also the risk of running into scams from buyers and sellers. However, these disadvantages aren’t unique to Depop and are broadly experienced by people who use similar e-commerce sites like Mercari, eBay, and Poshmark. If your items aren’t selling well on Depop, try a different site: Poshmark is geared towards Millennials and older while Depop is geared more towards Gen Z and young Millennials. Etsy is regarded as a great place to sell vintage pieces. As an alternative to using Depop or an e-commerce site, sell your items to a local consignment store.