March 8, 2021
eBay vs Depop: Which One is Better for Selling
Which one is better, eBay or Depop?
eBay, which started in 1995, is definitely the biggest and probably one of the most established online marketplaces in the US and as well as in other countries. We can consider eBay as one of the pioneers in the world of online selling and every online seller I know started with selling on eBay.
Depop on the other hand can be considered as one of the newest kids on the block. Depop was founded in 2011 and they later move to London in 2012. A decade later, Depop is now one of the fastest-growing and widely used online marketplaces by Gen Z in the world.
If you are new to online selling and if you’re thinking whether you’ll start selling on eBay or Depop, then read on. I will be highlighting the major differences between both online selling platforms to help you make a better decision.
eBay vs Depop: Market and Demographics
eBay, as of the time of writing, has around 1.7 Billion active listings online and 185 million buyers in 1,500 cities around the world.
According to Big Commerce’s available data, 61% of eBay’s customers are between 35 - 64 years old.
Depop on the other hand is the more popular market to younger Millennials and Gen Z. According to Statista, 55.7% of Depop users are between the age of 10 - 19 while 37.9% are between the age of 20 - 29.
As of the time of writing, there are 21 Million users on Depop around the world.
The most popular product to sell on eBay according to Oberlo are items that fall under the category of ‘Electronics and Accessories’ which account for 16.4%. Depop, on the other hand, is very popular for trendy fashion items such as clothes, shoes, bags, and accessories.
eBay vs Depop: Listing Options Differences
Listing an item to sell on Depop is free while eBay charges for listing and it will depend on the item’s price, the format and category you choose for your listing, any optional listing upgrades you add, and your seller conduct and performance.
There are, however, a limited number of items that you can list for free on eBay as long as you’re within the monthly Zero insertion fee allotments of your account.
Another main difference is the number of allowed pictures that you can post on each listing. With Depop, you can post four pictures and one video while on eBay, you can post as many as 12.
eBay also has tons of paid options when it comes to listing an item. These paid options could help boost your listings and will also help improve their searchability on eBay. Depop doesn’t have any paid options for boosting your listings.
eBay vs Depop: Fees and Payments
Depop’s fee structure is more simple compared to eBay. Depop doesn’t have a listing fee and only charges the seller once you make a sale. The transaction fee on Depop is 10% plus the PayPal fee amounting to 2.9% + $0.30.
With eBay, you get a certain number of Zero Insertion fees every month and you’ll get charged a final value fee + $0.30 depending on the kind of item you sell plus the payment fee.
eBay vs Depop: How Much Can You Earn
Based on a simple illustration with a $15 vintage shirt and standard USPS shipping, you will earn a bit more on Depop instead of eBay.
eBay vs Depop: How Do Sellers Get Paid
PayPal option is both available for Depop and eBay and if you opt for this option then you get paid outright. eBay also has its own payment gateway that gives your buyers more payment options.
Payment processing for eBay Managed Payments will take 3-5 Business Days from the day your buyer pays for the item until the day that the money is posted to your bank account.
eBay vs Depop: Shipping
Shipping with eBay can be integrated into your listing. For Depop, you have the option to arrange your own shipping or you can Ship with Depop which is only available to Mainland USA.
eBay vs Depop: Returns and Refunds
eBay encourages sellers to work with the buyers to resolve issues related to purchases including returns and refunds. On eBay, most items are covered by the eBay Money Back Guarantee policy.
For Depop, if your buyers think that the item that they have received is not as described, they will have to file a case via the Paypal Dispute Resolution Centre.
Final Thoughts: Which one is better, eBay or Depop
If most of your items are trendy and affordable fashion items then Depop might be the best option for you. If you will be selling other items aside from clothes such as electronics or collectibles then eBay is the best marketplace for those items.