Where to buy and sell vintage and pre-loved online in 2024
Where are the best places to buy and sell vintage online? We take a look at what each platform has to offer
Note: This article was originally published Jun. 8, 2021 and has been updated for 2024. For the most updated fee rates, check each platform’s website.
As the online resale market continues to grow, more consumers are looking to shop secondhand — and more people are looking to sell it.
According to secondhand retailer thredUP, online resale is the fastest-growing sector of the secondhand-goods industry and is expected to grow 21 per cent each year through 2027. By 2027, resale will have grown nine times faster than the overall retail sector, the company says in its 2023 Resale Report.
Selling vintage online has been happening since the early days of the internet, but ever since March 2020 and the subsequent COVID-related closures, the market has been booming. Some sellers operate online-only stores while others offer digital versions of their bricks-and-mortar shops hosted on a buy-and-sell or resale platform.
Where are the best places to buy and sell vintage and pre-loved from a variety of vendors online? We take a look at what each marketplace platform has to offer below. Note this list only includes services that enable shipping to Canada.
Click a category below to jump to the section.
Social Media
We talk a lot about Instagram here at The Vintage Seeker, as it’s visually driven and one of the longest-running social media platforms. It also now has marketplace capabilities, not to mention a massive audience — we’re talking over 2.4 billion monthly active users.
Instagram’s ubiquitousness for personal use means that it’s become one of the most popular places to sell vintage online — rather than relying on buyers to check their dedicated shopping apps regularly, sellers can connect with potential shoppers on an app that they are probably already using anyway.
The drawback to this, of course, is having to compete for attention amid the myriad other accounts that a shopper may be following.
Selling features have improved over the past couple of years, with product integration, the ability to create reels and guides, and the debut of Instagram Live all making the platform a more marketing-focused one.
Sellers on Instagram conduct “drops” on Instagram Stories or on their feeds, and frequently collaborate with other sellers to host online vintage “markets.”
However, product integration and selling via the in-app platform (Instagram Shopping) come with some eligibility requirements that need to be fulfilled, including being listed as a business account. Many vintage sellers use Instagram as a place to showcase their products, and then conduct the transaction offline via e-transfer, local pickup or their own e-commerce website.
The platform, which now favours video content and carousel posts, can be difficult to crack in terms of getting your content seen. Sponsored posts are a good way to guarantee reach.
Cost to list:
- Free
Sale fees:
- None for off-platform transactions (i.e. e-transfer, PayPal arranged between buyer and seller via Instagram DM)
- Processing fee between 2.9-3.49% if you use the Instagram Checkout feature (only available in the U.S. at the moment).
Facebook Groups
Most people know about Facebook Marketplace, and we’ll get to that in a minute. But Facebook Groups are also an excellent place to buy and sell vintage online.
In many ways, they can be better — as a vintage seller, you are getting in front of a dedicated group of people with common interests, and as a vintage buyer, you can be a bit more sure that what is being sold is authentic.
Many Facebook groups have code of conduct rules and abide by conditions of entry — for example, you usually need to request to join a group. A group that focuses on mid-century furniture may remove members who are not posting authentic mid-century furniture for sale.
As far as furniture goes, many listings are pickup or delivery only, so start with following Facebook vintage selling groups within your own region.
Cost to list:
- Free
Sale fees:
- None
Facebook Marketplace
Remember Craigslist? (It still exists, by the way.) Facebook has essentially replaced the maligned buy-and-sell marketplace and made it a bit more trustworthy — because listings are tied to personal Facebook accounts, buyers can at least put a face to a name and even communicate directly via the app’s Messenger service.
FB Marketplace still has its drawbacks — as with any platform, there are scammers and horror stories, like sellers agreeing to a sale only for the buyer to show up and find out the item has been sold to someone else. But by and large, there are a lot of legitimate sellers and people looking to unload unwanted items, vintage or otherwise.
Sellers can set up pages (or “commerce profiles”) that Facebook users can follow to keep track of new items for sale. These commerce profiles also have ratings, which add a layer of transparency and accountability.
As a buyer, one of the best parts about Facebook Marketplace is the platform’s powerful algorithms will serve you “today’s picks” in line with things you have previously searched for, making for an easy and quick way to check if anything is new.
As a seller, one thing to keep in mind is there are a lot of “lurkers” on Facebook who are just browsing the app and don’t have much intent to buy — which makes it more of a supplementary platform on which to sell vintage, rather than one you can truly count on for income.
Cost to list:
- Free
Sale fees:
- None for off-platform transactions (i.e. e-transfer, PayPal arranged between buyer and seller via Facebook DM)
- Checkout is only available to U.S. users at the moment. All other users need to arrange off-platform transactions.
Whatnot
Billed as “the community marketplace,” this resale platform is based on live selling, which is enabled via an app.
Sellers can create listings on Whatnot’s online marketplace, but the caveat is they must regularly “go live” to show off their inventory so users can bid and buy in real time.
Vintage and thrifted fashion, streetwear, bags, jewellery and accessories are only a few of the categories sold via the platform — sellers also deal in toys and trading cards, comics, games, NFTs and more.
Currently, sellers must be located in the United States or Canada, and apply to be considered. Applications are approved based on a number of factors, including product quality, quantity and authenticity.
Approved sellers create listings for review, which go live if accepted. If a buyer requests verification, the seller ships the item to Whatnot and gets paid after the verification process. If a buyer doesn’t request verification, sellers send items directly to the buyer and get paid after receipt.
Sellers have the option to conduct giveaways to viewers in their livestream. Buyers can choose to buy immediately or make an offer for lower than the listed price.
Cost to list:
- None
Sale fees:
- 8% commission on the sold price of an item, plus 2.9% + 30 cent payment processing fee
Marketplaces & Dedicated Apps
Depop
Pre-loved and vintage clothing dominate this UK-based, seller-focused fashion marketplace, though you will also find new designer clothing and streetwear available from independent labels.
Users can open “shops” to sell their goods, and shoppers use a simple search function to browse for clothes and accessories. The interface is very similar to Instagram, making it intuitive to use.
The platform, which was acquired by Etsy in 2021, sees over 140,000 listings per day.
Depop’s audience skews young — 90 per cent of users are under age 26.
Transactions are conducted mainly via PayPal and Depop Payments, though Depop is currently rolling out Apple Pay, Google Pay and credit card/debit card in-app purchases.
Cost to list:
- Free
Sale fees:
- 10% service charge upon sale
- Additional transaction fees vary depending on credit-card processing provider
Poshmark
If you’re in Canada or the U.S., this website/app marketplace lets you set up “closets” or “boutiques” to sell secondhand, vintage and new clothing, beauty products and home decor. Selection tends to be heavy on the “pre-loved” items, meaning they are less than 20 years old, though there is a solid amount of vintage to be found.
Shoppers can browse from over 200 million listings, follow sellers to keep tabs on what’s new in their “closets,” and attend in-app virtual shopping parties.
Buyers in Canada cover the flat-rate shipping (CA$13.49 plus GST/HST for home delivery via Canada Post) and Poshmark provides sellers with pre-paid, pre-addressed shipping labels.
The site accepts payment via credit or debit, and also allows trading if the buyer covers shipping costs.
Cost to list:
- Free
Sale fees:
- CA$3.95 for sales under $20, or 20% of the sale for sales over $20
- No additional costs for credit card processing
Etsy
Vintage sellers use this popular global online marketplace for makers and creators to list everything from vintage clothing and accessories to vintage home decor and furniture to “upcycled” or reworked vintage items that have been given modern flair.
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The site provides some good editorial resources: buyers can browse design inspiration from Etsy’s curators, and easily find creators that are either for specific groups, such as kids, or run by specific groups, such as Black-owned shops.
With over 5.9 million active sellers and an audience of 89.9 million active buyers browsing over 85 million items for sale, Etsy has a strong captive audience.
Cost to list:
- US$0.20 per listing, which stays active for four months unless it sells
- US$0.20 as an auto-renew fee, which kicks in if the item hasn’t sold within four months.
- The mandatory “offsite ad” program incurs a fee on all transactions sold as a result of ads — 12% for vendors who earn more than US$10,000 per year, up to US$100. Those who earn less can opt out but if they don’t, the fee is 15%.
Sale fees:
- 6.5% on the total transaction
- 3-4% payment processing fees — in Canada, the payment fees are 3% plus a flat rate of CA$0.25.
eBay
The original buy-and-sell bidding marketplace is a good place to find vintage, antiques and secondhand items, whether by individual item or by lot. Buy-it-now options allow for immediate transactions, whereas other items are sold via traditional auction. It’s also a great place to do research on the value and history of comparable items.
Buyers can filter through listings and specify search options such as free international shipping, free local pickup, authorized sellers and accepted returns. They can also save sellers’ stores to be notified when there are new listings.
Cost to list:
- Free for the first 250 listings every month in most categories, then US$0.35 each after the first 250 listings
- Some categories are exempt from this structure and have their own pricing
Sale fees: The “final value fee” changes depending on the category of the item. Generally, it’s:
- 13.25% on the total amount of a sale on an item priced up to $7,500, 2.35% for the portion of a sale over $7,500
- US$0.40 per-order fee on orders over $10, US$0.30 per-order fee for orders $10 and under
- No credit card processing fees
- 0.4% international fee to the US and 1% to all other countries if the seller is registered in Canada
and the buyer’s address is outside Canada
- 3% currency conversion charge for Canadian sellers if the buyer is outside Canada
Gem
This search engine, available via an app and a website, crawls a number of vintage resale marketplaces to showcase specific products identified by users.
For example, search for “1970s dress” and the app will pull products listed not only on eBay, Etsy, Grailed, The RealReal and others, but also from over 700 independent online stores.
Results are displayed in a photo-forward manner and link out to the original listing. And searches can get pretty specific: try something like “pink tulip skirt” and watch the items roll in.
Founders Liisa Jokinen and Sampo Karjalainen say they are driven by sustainability and the opportunity to bring vintage clothing to the masses. They also publish an editorial section on the website with tips, tricks and stories on all things vintage.
Canadian users: note the app is global and pulls from some marketplaces that don’t ship to Canada. Check each marketplace’s shipping details.
Cost to list:
- Because Gem is an indexing site, sellers can’t list directly on the app. There is no cost to list over and above whatever costs may be required on the marketplace housing the seller’s original listing.
Sale fees:
- None. Gem does affiliate marketing, and may earn commission on completed purchases from the marketplaces themselves, not from sellers or buyers.
Vinted
The Lithuanian-made Vinted app, which currently sees 65 million users, expanded to serve Canada in May 2021, and now covers 16 markets across North America and Europe.
The app allows users to buy, sell and swap pre-loved, secondhand and unworn new clothes for women, men and children. The app’s search function lets shoppers browse by category, condition, price, colour and size.
Users must publicly comment on a listing if they have questions as the app does not allow direct messaging unless a sale has been made. “This gives all members a chance to see the additional information and prevents the seller from having to repeat themselves too often,” notes the company on its website.
Sellers can choose to receive offers on an item or list for a “buy now” price. Highest (or minimum) offers are shown and are active for 72 hours. If a buyer wants two or more items from one seller, they can make a “bundle offer.” Shipping costs are covered by the buyer.
Cost to list:
- Free
Sale fees:
- No traditional sale fees
- A flat rate of $0.70, plus 5% of the agreed-upon price between buyer and seller, as a buyer protection fee for every purchase made with the “Buy Now” button
Vestiaire Collective
This pre-loved luxury and designer fashion marketplace is founded on the company’s commitment to sustainability — it’s the first B Corp fashion resale platform.
Certified B Corporations have met a rigorous set of standards for social and environmental governance, accountability and transparency. Vestiaire encourages local purchases and direct shipping to cut down on carbon emissions, and offers minimal packaging that’s 100 per cent recycled and recyclable.
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Shoppers can browse by designer label, vintage, apparel and accessories across the massive database — more than 3,000 items are added every day, all quality checked by the company’s authentication experts. The platform, available on desktop and on iOS and Android apps, accepts price offers and offers customized item alerts.
Sellers reach 15 million international buyers when they list. When an item sells, the seller ships directly to Vestiaire Collective so it can be quality-checked and authenticated before the company forwards it to the buyer.
Once this process is completed, the company deducts sale fees before directly depositing the remainder of the sale price into the seller’s account.
Cost to list:
- Free
Sale fees:
- 12% for items priced between CA$150 and CA$25,000, or:
- Fixed fee of $18 for items priced below CA$150
- Fixed fee of CA$3,000 for items priced above CA$25,000
- 3% payment processing fee, or:
- Fixed fee of $5 for items priced less than CA $150
Grailed
Menswear has its own marketplace in Grailed, a website/app platform and editorial experience that allows people in Canada and the U.S. to buy and sell new or secondhand and vintage clothing amid nearly three million listings.
High-end luxury vintage and pre-loved pieces from brand-name designers such as YSL live in the Grails section of the app, whereas vintage clothing or pre-loved items from mass-market brands can be found in the Core section.
Cost to list:
- Free
Sale fees:
- 9% commission fee when a sale is made
- 4.99% + US$0.49 payment processing fee for international payments using Grailed Payments, or 3.49% + US$0.49 for U.S. domestic transactions
- For payments processed through PayPal, rates vary
Varage Sale
Varage Sale = virtual garage sale. This app was founded by a Canadian mom and has been around since 2012. The idea is it’s not anonymous: Users need to request to join a regional or local community, and all transactions use your real name or photo, either via Facebook verification, Google sign-in or via email.
Each community has its own set of rules that sellers need to abide by. Buyers will message or comment on items they’re interested in, and the seller can work out the final details via private message before reserving the item for the buyer and setting the final price. Meetups can be scheduled directly in the app.
Sellers can enable their own “My VarageSale Store” to house all of their products for sale — doing this means the products can be seen by users who aren’t registered on the app, but who will need to register to buy.
Cost to list:
- Free
Sale fees:
- Free
Join our community of sellers
Learn moreRuby Lane
First launched in 1998, this marketplace offers high-end vintage and antiques, including jewellery, collectibles, crystal, porcelain, furniture, dolls and more. Some contemporary pieces are accepted as well, including fine art or rare items.
Vendors are pre-screened by the Ruby Lane team to ensure quality and professionalism, and the site runs a secret shopper program to maintain high standards of customer service by the shops on the platform.
Some items are priced as marked, and others are open to offers. Listing descriptions are thorough and detail the full history of an item. Shoppers can sign up for alerts when new arrivals are added to any category.
Sellers must maintain good standing on their accounts with a minimum of 10 items listed at any given time.
Cost to list:
- Free, though there is a $25/month shop maintenance fee.
- Shops can get a full rebate on the maintenance fee if they post at least 15 new items per month.
Sale fees:
- 9.9% on total purchase price (before tax), capped at $250.
ASOS Marketplace
ASOS Marketplace is owned by UK fashion giant ASOS. It’s home to 900+ international, independent brands and vintage boutiques.
Shoppers can browse vintage styles alongside new designs on the platform, via type of product or boutique. A “Trending Now” section curates selections from across the marketplace, and filters allow users to drill down into vintage-only or specific era searches.
Sellers must be approved to join — the platform is very selective — and have at least 15 items to launch. The platform is stringent about shipping and delivery times and feedback ratings in order for sellers to remain in good standing. They also receive opportunities for editorial coverage on the ASOS Marketplace website and social media, plus access to the ASOS expert team for best practices on e-commerce.
Cost to list:
- None
Sale fees:
- 20% commission on each sale
Chairish
Tastemakers, interior designers and set decorators flock to Chairish for their vintage and antique home furnishings and arts. More than 2,000 listings are added per day on this mammoth marketplace from more than 12,000 small businesses.
Featured collections and trend reports make it easy for buyers to browse what’s new across a multitude of categories including furniture, art, lighting, decor and rugs. Buy now, pay later and trade rewards programs are also available for shoppers.
Prices are listed in USD. Select items are shippable to Canada, otherwise this site currently ships to the U.S. only. However, items sold from other countries may be picked up in their country of origin.
Sellers can choose to sell or consign. Chairish maintains strict curatorial guidelines for its online storefronts. It also handles the way listings look, optimizes them for its audience and pushes them out to its large audience.
Cost to list:
- Free
Sale fees:
- Commission rates vary between plans.
- Between 20-22% commission for vintage items is most common, though for higher-ticket sales on certain plans, the rate drops.
- Chairish takes 40% from consignors.
Vintage Keepers
A vintage-only marketplace for art, furniture, lighting and decor that launched in June 2022. Because the international vendors are highly curated, sellers need to apply to be accepted.
Shoppers can peruse by type of item, style or shop. Prices are posted in USD and include applicable taxes. Worldwide shipping available.
The platform seeks serious sellers who view their vintage shop as a business, whether full-time or side hustle. The monthly fee covers a landing page, marketing and advertising, plus involvement in the Vintage Keepers community with events and markets.
Cost to list:
- $35/month for a $12-month contract
- $45/month for a six-month contract
Sale fees:
- 10% commission on each item sold
Auctions & Bidding
Auction sites
Online auctions are a treasure trove for vintage finds, if you are willing to look. There are a number of auction houses across Canada conducting online auctions for estate sales, downsizing, moving sales, liquidation, unclaimed freight or lost baggage, wardrobe and set decoration, and more.
MaxSold is one of the biggest (more below), but Auctionmaxx and 403 Auctions are also national ones that are open to the general public. There are many other auction houses out there that are regional and/or only open to established sellers.
For buyers, auctions can be a good way to save some money by going straight to the source, but everything is purchased as-is. It’s worth noting that buying from a vintage reseller often means the piece has been cleaned, steamed, oiled or otherwise repaired for you.
Maxsold
This digital-first company is all about moving a large volume of contents quickly. Private sellers, resellers and businesses all use the platform to list their auctions, which MaxSold serves to an audience of potential new buyers. Once a bidder closes their sale, they’re invited to pick up their items at a designated location.
Cost to list:
- No upfront costs
Sale fees:
- 15% “buyer’s premium” added to the winning bid, paid by the buyer. This goes toward the costs of hosting the auction, the company says.
- 30% of profits and an additional flat fee of $800 for sellers if MaxSold manages the auction — meaning it handles photographing, cataloging, hosting the auction, marketing, payments and pickup
- $300 or 30% of profits (whichever is greater) for sellers if it’s a seller-managed sale — meaning the seller is the one responsible for photography, cataloging, and supervising pickup
Direct Shopping
Sellers’ websites
Using an app or online marketplace is a great way to build your profile as a seller, but those transaction and processing fees can be killer.
Sellers who build their own websites and use an e-commerce platform can potentially save on additional fees, not to mention that they can build a permanent home for their wares.
A potential downside to operating your own website is losing the dedicated in-app audience and adding an extra step for people to buy your goods.
As a buyer, using a seller-managed site means you’re giving all your money directly to the seller with no third-party involvement. It can also be a more pleasurable shopping experience without the madness of an Instagram story sale drop where competition is fierce.
Sale fees:
- Payment processing fees vary between various credit cards, Stripe and PayPal.
Online classifieds
While they don’t offer the same level of curation of some of the other available platforms, online classified sites are a great way to get good deals on vintage items direct from the source — without additional fees because the transactions are completed offline.
The sites generally allow buyers to filter by the type of object you are looking for. They also vary in popularity based on region — for example, Used.ca is very popular in Victoria but less so in Toronto. Here are a few:
Kijiji.ca
Kijiji bills itself as “Canada’s largest classifieds site,” and allows sellers more detailed listings than what they can post on Facebook Marketplace.
Cost to list:
- Free, for two listings at a time
- After two listings, a listing fee is applied and the price depends on category. The fee guarantees the listing to be posted for a month. You can also purchase more exposure of your listing for an additional fee.
Sale fees:
- None
Used.ca
Used started out in Vancouver in 2003 and within a few years had spread across the country as “Canada’s answer to eBay” with a collection of local city sites such as UsedVictoria.com and UsedWinnipeg.com. Now, Used.ca is the home for all city sites, where sellers can post free listings.
Cost to list:
- Free
Sale fees:
- None
Craigslist.org
One of the earliest online classified sites, Craigslist retains its 1990s-era, pared-down look to this day. Posting is free, and the site recommends dealing locally and only for in-person cash transactions to avoid scammers.
Cost to list:
- Free
Sale fees:
- None
Consignment & Trade
thredUP
thredUP is an online consignment store specifically focused on buyers in North America who are looking for contemporary pre-loved items (read: not vintage). The site ships to Canada and the U.S.
From a selling perspective, it’s geared towards people who want to clear out their closets. To sell, the company will send a “kit” with shipping label and clothing bags for sellers (currently only available to U.S. residents) to fill with pre-loved or secondhand items. Once eligible items are listed and sold, the seller can receive payment.
When an item is listed (currently only available to U.S. residents), it has a 12-hour bidding window whereby if it sells, the seller gets a payout, which varies based on the brand and type of item. After that, the item moves on to get a listing — but only for 60 to 90 days depending on the brand of the item.
If the item doesn’t sell, sellers don’t get paid. Sellers are allowed to reclaim their item within seven days of the listing window, and if they don’t, thredUP owns the item.
Consignment fees:
- 40-90% of the selling price of the item, depending on its condition and cost (U.S. residents only)
- US$1.19 circularity and reuse fee is charged to buyers on every order
The RealReal
Luxury goods take on new life at this consignment outlet, which authenticates every item it sells, whether fashion, watches, fine art, jewellery or home decor. Authenticators are brand experts, horologists and gemologists.
Items are from a range of eras, though much of the selection is contemporary. The site does have a “vintage” section, though the items marked vintage stretch into the 2010s.
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The brand now has 17 retail locations across the U.S. and ships to over 60 countries, including Canada.
Consignors that sell up to $1,500 per year earn 55 per cent of the cost of their items, and the tier structure increases beyond that.
A “sell upfront” program is also available for select handbags, watches, sneakers and jewellery, and sellers can also trade instead of consign.
Consignment fees:
- Commission rates on individual items vary depending on the type of item
- 40% of selling price if the item is $145 and under
- Up to 85% on watches with resale list price of $2,495 or more
Rebag
Luxury accessories including handbags, watches, fine jewellery and leather goods are the name of the game on this resale platform that features more than 50 designer brands such as Cartier, Chanel and Louis Vuitton. In July 2022, the company also announced the addition of clothing and shoes to its roster.
Each piece is evaluated using the Clair AI-based appraisal system, which provides a price for the item both in cash and Rebag credit (about 15 per cent higher than the cash value, and adjusted for a commission for Rebag).
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The seller sells the item directly to Rebag, where it is authenticated by a team of experts before being sold on the company’s e-commerce platform or at one of its nine stores in the United States.
Listing and selling is only open to U.S. residents, but Canadian users can use the platform to buy, with an international shipping rate of $75 plus applicable taxes and duties. Buyers can filter by colour, brand, size, condition, category or price.
If a buyer doesn’t want the item anymore after a year can sell it back to the company for a credit worth 60-70 per cent of the original purchase price (U.S. residents only).
Consignment fees:
- When the Clair app provides a price to its U.S.-based sellers, it’s listed at lower-than-retail price to account for Rebag’s commission (undisclosed)
Turnabout
This Vancouver-based luxury resale brand has been providing consignment and resale services since 1978. Shoppers can browse women and men’s clothing, footwear and accessories, including handbags, on the Turnabout website or at one of eight retail locations in Vancouver or Victoria.
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The shop mostly only accepts designer items that are two- to three-years old, but will sell some vintage luxury items such as Hermes, Versace, Gucci or Chanel. Proof of authenticity or proof of payment are required to consign, and the company’s buyers inspect every piece to authenticate.
Any items that can’t be accepted, sold or consigned can be donated to the company’s non-profit shop called Turnabout Community, which raises funds for local educational, cultural, health and community organizations.
Consignment fees:
- 40-70% of the selling price via store credit or cash for items purchased outright
- 20-60% of the selling price for items on consignment
Love That Bag
This Montreal company lists a large selection of authentic pre-owned designer handbags, clothing, shoes and accessories from brands including Dior, Chanel and Louis Vuitton.
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Buyers receive a one to two per cent store credit whenever they make a purchase to use toward future purchases.
Sellers can submit a form to have their products considered for consignment. Accepted items will receive a quote, and once the seller sends their item to Love That Bag, they’ll receive payment within three weeks of the item being sold.
Consignment fees:
- 25-50% of the selling price of the bag
- The consignment fee is lower if the item is more expensive
This list only includes buy and sell websites and platforms that cater to Canada. There are a few more places to buy vintage online — check our Vintage Resources list for inspiration. Are we missing one from the list? Let us know in the comments!
