What: The Real Real is a high-end consignment store, where you can theoretically resell your designer goods for a reasonable price.

Expected pay: NA

Husl$core: $$

Commissions & fees: 30% – 50%

Where: Nationwide

Requirements: Items for sale

Review:

The Real Real is a high-end consignment store, where you can theoretically resell your designer goods for a reasonable price. But a litany of complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau tell a different tale.

Consignors complain that the site sometimes discounts their goods far more steeply than the sellers expected, leaving them with a much lower return than they’d anticipated. The site’s “terms and conditions” stipulate that Real Real can discount anything placed for sale on the site by 20% — immediately. Thus, if you’re selling a product that’s, say, worth $200, that cuts your take by $40. They take another 50% commission on the remaining $160 sales price. So you get $80 for your $200 product. 

Better options

There are several other sites that offer to sell brand-name merchandize, and most of them perform better than The Real Real. Some we’d recommend: 

If you’re selling designer goods, we’d suggest PoshMark (Husl$core: $$$) and Mercari (Husl$core: $$$).

Amazon (Husl$core: $$$$) can also be a good bet, depending on what you’re selling. The site has a variable commission schedule, which can get costly for some items. However, it’s never more than The Real-Real’s unreal 50%.

eBay (Husl$core: $$$$$) is also a great choice. For ways to make your eBay selling more profitable, be sure to check out our blog post: Flipping a $50 chair into a $100,000 business.

What their sellers say:

(These reviews from the Better Business Bureau are edited only for space and grammar.)

“I listed an expensive diamond watch (+ appraisal) with them. They marked the watch down without my approval. It sold and there’s nothing I can do about it. Also, I have purchased items from them that were not in good condition: stains, pilling, defects, etc. They have low standards for the items they accept for sale. I have given them several chances, now I am done with TRR.”

“I sent The Real Real a Balenciaga Motocross Giant 12 iPad Case which I originally purchased at Barneys for over $400. They listed it originally at $175, but said they would never go below 50% off. Instead they sold it for $75 (over 50% off), leaving me with a measly $42.63 commission! The Real Real. It was a waste of my time and money!!!”

I have a statement in writing from one of their employees stating that I did not approve the sale of one of my personal items. The Real Real had a mixed up with the warehouse and forgot to ship my item back to me. Instead they sold my item well under its value. They refused to pay me for the item and they can’t retrieve it from the person who purchased it. I have no bag and no payment for it. This company is a fraud.”

“The worst experience I’ve had with any company. Customer service is a joke, no effort and ability to help resolving any issues, terrible place to consign. They are friendly and easy before you send anything in. Once they have your items, it’s over. They don’t care about you as long as they make their 45% off your goods. False advertisement, misleading information. They undervalue your goods and then run an extra 20% or more sale on top of it, that means you as a consignor get real ****** money for your stuff.

THEY ROB YOU. I sent over 15 items which were accepted by them, one of the items is a high demand popular Louis Vuitton wallet, in great condition. Two days after being on the website, they sold it with their 20% off promotion despite that fact it was marked as not available for any coupons and discounts. I mean why the hell would anyone do that? The consignment rep who helped me clearly told me such an item like this would not be on sale unless it’s being on sale for more than 30 days. BUT 2 days after ?? A well sought after LV wallet?? I have no words. But they refused to admit it was their mistake and refused to do anything about it. 

“I have had only negative experiences with the company.  As a consignor, they will mark down your item significantly without notifying you beforehand–so you are stuck with a final sale price that is much lower than what you would otherwise have accepted.”