Last Updated on April 23, 2026 by Eve Dawes
A seller’s struggle: the challenges of listing on TheRealReal VS the allure of luxury: Why buyers love TheRealReal & how to make money as a seller
If you’re thinking of selling on The RealReal, or buying, read this first as they’re very different experiences. Spoiler alert, if you’re buying you can pick up some amazing deals and it’s fun to see your favorites go on sale and score even better deals! TRR is one of my favorite resale stores to shop on. It’s when it comes to selling on TheRealReal you need to be careful, which is why I’m here to help you with all the reseller tips for how to sell successfully on The Real Real so you don’t end up making pennies…literally! I’ve reviewed The RealReal before so this is going to be straight to the point on how to avoid the worst parts of TRR, selling on The RealReal tips, and how to get the most out of it as a buyer and a seller as I’ve been on the platform for over a decade. So is the is The RealReal worth it? Keep reading.
I’ve been selling and buying on The RealReal for over a decade which means I’ve made the mistakes so you don’t have to. I also have over 50 designer bags and regularly buy and sell luxury pieces across multiple resale platforms including Fashionphile and Poshmark, giving me a genuine comparison perspective on where The RealReal fits in the resale ecosystem. This article contains affiliate links which do not affect my opinion or the price.
How to sell on The RealReal
There are lots of tips for selling on TheRealReal and you can still get burned even then. So be very mindful of how and what you sell on TheRealReal. I’ll go into all of these in detail but the main points are:
- Know the commission tiers.
- Be prepared for your item to go on sale.
- Sign up for emails so you can earn bonuses. E.g. for consigning a certain amount of items or doing an in home consignment or a certain amount of pieces.
- It’s better to sell via an in person appointment with The RealReal than to mail them in yourself.
- Know the brands that hold their value and make the most money.
- Once you’ve consigned check how much they’re listing it for.
- Check you’re consigned items to see if they’ve put put on sale. You can request your items be returned at any point.
- Consider only selling items here you can’t get rid of anywhere else.
Why sell on The RealReal
If you’re moving or redecorating, decluttering your closets or care about sustainable fashion consigning aka selling your pre-loved luxury clothing, shoes, bags and accessories is a great way to keep them in circulation as well as make a little money. However, before you sell, make sure to read my insider top selling tips and learn from my mistakes!
1. Know The RealReal commission tiers
When it comes to how to sell on The RealReal and actually make money it’s really important to check the commission rate for what you’re consigning. As their commission rates vary from 20%-85% depending on the what your item sells for and what category it is.
E.g. if you sell a piece of clothing on TheRealReal.com from $0-$99 you’re only going to get 20% commission ($0-19)! Whereas if you sell a watch for over $7500 you’re going to make 85% commission. So it definitely pays to sell your high value designer and luxury items the most.
There are lots more than the tiers I’ve shown below on The RealReal website but this gives you an good idea of what you can expect to make.
This is why checking how much they’re listing your consignment for and doing the math is so important. So you don’t make $9 on a Balmain shirt like I did! At least that way you can decide if you’re ok or not making that amount.
I’ll often go to Fashionphile first as they provide you with a set quote up front versus a commission which can change on TRR if it goes on sale. If Fashionphile doesn’t accept a brand or a certain item such as clothing and I think I can get more than if I listed it on Poshmark, that’s when I’ll sell on TheRealReal.
The other time I highly recommend selling on TheRealReal.com is when they offer incentives e.g. Sell More = Earn More promotions. I’ve earned some really good credits that way and snapped up some great bargains like a Dior top that was still in stores for over $1000 that I bought for $217.31 because I had $100 credit and it went on sale.
Also, the more you sell on TRR, the more you make with commission incentives and they also offer rewards like their complimentary ‘First Look’ subscription. The first look subscription is great for snagging pieces as you get 24 hour early access to pieces when they’re listed before everyone else.
2. Be prepared for the item you’re selling to go on sale.
TheRealReal also love to put items on sale which is fabulous for the buyer but awful for the seller. So once you’ve consigned your items and they’re live, my tip is to favorite your own items and set up email alerts on TheRealReal. That way you’ll get an email as soon as they go on sale and you can re-evaluate whether you still want to sell it or not.
3. Selling on The RealReal tips: Sign up for The RealReal emails
This way you’ll get emails whenever TRR are running incentives for you to sell and you can earn bonuses. Sometimes they’ll offer bonuses for consigning a certain amount of items or doing an in home consignment versus mailing them in. For example, I just got $100 site credit just for them coming to me vs me mailing them in.
You can normally also check this on your sales tab. If there’s a current offer there will be a black bar at the bottom of your screen saying NEW: Your Exclusive Offers.
It really pays to do a closet clear out every so often and wait to consign until you have 6-10+ pieces and then wait for that promo email to come in to take advantage of.
4. It’s best to sell on The RealReal in person
When it comes to how to sell on The RealReal, you have 2 choices: in person or to mail your items in. I like to consign in person as you can make more when there’s an incentive offer like I just mentioned above. So try and time your selling with those. I tend to clear out my closet twice a year and I’ll save the pieces I’m considering consigning with TheRealReal for when those deals are on.
5. What to do once you’ve consigned your items with The Real Real
As soon as your items are received you’ll be able to track them in your ‘SELL WITH US’ tab on the top right of their website. It shows you the status e.g. active, sold and number of days live on the website. As well as the price, if it’s on sale, and how much they’ve discounted it if it is on sale. Once it’s sold you’ll also be able to see your earnings which are paid out monthly.
How to sell on The RealReal: Getting started
There are 2 ways to get started selling:
- With a free at home appointment where they come to you.
- Ship to them with a free shipping label.
I really hope these tips on how to sell on The RealReal.com help you make the most money from the items you’re parting with and save you getting burnt like I know so many of us have.
Selling on The RealReal: Your Questions Answered
The RealReal takes a commission that varies by item category and sale price, ranging from 20% to 70% depending on what you sell and your seller tier within their RealReal Rewards program. Higher value items earn you a higher commission percentage. For example selling a low value clothing item at under $100 will earn you only 20% commission, so you’d make $20 on a $100 sale. High value watches and handbags earn significantly more. Always do the math before consigning.
It depends entirely on what you’re selling. For high value designer handbags, fine jewelry and watches from in-demand brands listed for over $7500 it can be worth it, particularly during their promotional periods when they offer bonus credits for consigning. For lower value clothing items the commission rates are so low that Poshmark or even donating may make more financial sense. I use The RealReal selectively for items I can’t sell elsewhere or when their promotions make the numbers work.
High value items from top tier brands hold their value best on The RealReal. Hermès, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Cartier and Rolex consistently perform well. Fine jewelry and watches earn the highest commission percentages. Handbags from these brands sell quickly to The RealReal’s large buyer community. Lower value or fast fashion items are rarely worth consigning here.
Once you consign your items they typically go live on the site within 14 days of being received at their warehouse. How quickly they sell after that depends on the item, the price and demand. Popular styles from top brands can sell within days. Less in-demand pieces may sit longer or be put on sale which reduces your commission payout.
In-home appointments are almost always better than mailing items in. You get a more personal assessment of your pieces, it’s more convenient, and The RealReal regularly often offers bonus credits specifically for in-home consignments. I earned $100 in site credit simply for choosing an in-home appointment over mailing my items in.
Yes and this is one of the most important things to know before you consign. The RealReal can and does mark items down without notifying you, which directly reduces your commission payout. My tip is to favorite your own consigned items immediately after they go live and set up price drop alerts so you’re notified the moment they discount something. You can request your items back at any point if you’re not happy with the price.
The thrill of the hunt: Why I LOVE buying on The RealReal
Now buying is where The RealReal is at for me. Everything is authenticated, the condition clearly explained, and the item normally well photographed. It’s also really easy to search and save searches, as well as to favorite items and set up sale alerts.
Like I said, The RealReal loves to put items on sale which is fantastic for picking up bargains but sucks for the seller. Just be quick when your favorite goes on sale as I’ve missed out on lots of my favorites by being too slow. Which is where their First Look and Platinum membership is worth checking out if you’re planning on shopping there a lot as this gives you 24 hour advance access to new arrivals.
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