The ReturnPolicy score is calculated based on several factors including: convenience, customer service, speed of refund, flexibility and users’ ratings.
When TheRealReal.com burst onto the scene in 2011, it carved out a niche in the luxury consignment industry that was ripe for the picking. Founded by Julie Wainwright, this online platform brought the thrill of consignment shopping for high-end goods to the fingertips of consumers worldwide. It differentiated itself with a focus on authenticity, providing a team of experts to ensure that every Chanel bag, Hermes scarf, and Cartier watch was the real deal.
Over the years, TheRealReal has expanded its repertoire to include a wide range of luxury items, from fashion to fine jewelry, and home decor. Its consignment model has encouraged sustainability by keeping luxury goods in circulation. Yet, as the market for pre-owned luxury items has exploded, numerous competitors have emerged, each offering their own take on luxury consignment.
Let's delve into the competitive landscape of TheRealReal.com, exploring how each player stacks up against this pioneering luxury resale platform.
3.0 / 5
3.0 / 5
Poshmark is a major player in the secondhand market, providing a user-friendly platform for buying and selling fashion. While it lacks the strict focus on luxury that TheRealReal maintains, its broader appeal and social selling aspects make it a strong competitor. Poshmark's community-driven approach has amassed a large and active user base, which poses a challenge to TheRealReal's more curated experience.
Vestiaire Collective, headquartered in France, is a direct competitor with a similar focus on luxury and designer items. It has built a reputation on a rigorous authentication process and an international reach. Its European flair and community-driven features, such as the option for buyers to negotiate prices with sellers, offer a different approach to luxury resale that appeals to a global audience.
Tradesy operates in a similar space as TheRealReal, targeting the modern woman looking to invest in or sell high-quality, designer fashion. Tradesy's user-friendly platform and emphasis on customer service, alongside its no-hassle return policy, make it a formidable competitor, facilitating a simple and secure resale experience.
Fashionphile takes a more focused approach, specializing in pre-owned luxury handbags, accessories, and jewelry. Its partnership with Neiman Marcus and emphasis on high-end brands positions it as a niche competitor, offering a level of specialization that appeals to dedicated aficionados of luxury accessories.
The Luxury Closet is another online marketplace for buying and selling pre-loved luxury goods. Based in Dubai, it brings a Middle Eastern perspective to the luxury resale market. With its geographic focus, it offers TheRealReal some competition in terms of reaching international markets and catering to regional tastes in luxury fashion.
2.0 / 5
2.0 / 5
StockX is a bit of an outlier, known primarily for its role in the sneaker resale market. However, its expansion into luxury goods, such as watches and handbags, and its unique 'stock market' pricing model make it a noteworthy competitor. StockX's real-time market data approach appeals to a demographic that is savvy about the value of their goods and interested in investment pieces.
1stdibs offers a curated selection of high-end antiques, art, jewelry, and fashion. Its focus on rare and exquisite items gives it a distinct edge in the luxury market. TheRealReal shares some of this territory, but 1stdibs' emphasis on vintage and antique pieces appeals to a different type of collector.
Grailed is a marketplace tailored to menswear, with a focus on streetwear and designer pieces. It provides a platform for fashion enthusiasts to buy and sell, and while it doesn't exclusively deal in luxury, its curated collections often feature high-end brands. This makes Grailed a competitor in the luxury space, particularly for TheRealReal's male audience.
4.0 / 5
4.0 / 5
Rebag is specialized in luxury handbags, offering a straightforward buy-sell process and presenting itself as an authority in the handbag resale market. Its dedication to a specific category competes with TheRealReal's broader range of luxury goods, attracting customers who are specifically interested in investing in or divesting from their designer bag collections.
Luxury Garage Sale offers a boutique-like experience with a range of pre-owned designer clothing and accessories. Its personalized service and pop-up shops provide a different take on luxury consignment, focusing on a hands-on and high-touch customer experience that competes with TheRealReal's more digital-first approach.
4.0 / 5
4.0 / 5
Lyst functions as a global fashion search platform, aggregating products from various retailers, including luxury and designer brands. While it doesn't directly sell products, its role in directing consumers to luxury items makes it a competitor by capturing potential customers at the start of their shopping journey.
3.9 / 5
3.9 / 5
Farfetch stands out for its extensive collection of luxury fashion items from boutiques and brands around the world. It's a strong competitor as it offers new, in-season items alongside its pre-owned 'Farfetch Second Life' section, appealing to both the traditional luxury shopper and the eco-conscious, resale audience.
5.0 / 5
5.0 / 5
Nordstrom may be a traditional retailer, but its foray into the online space and the introduction of 'See You Tomorrow', its own resale initiative, place it in competition with TheRealReal. Nordstrom's established reputation and customer base present a challenge in attracting the luxury buyer who might also consider secondhand goods.
2.8 / 5
Neiman Marcus is another luxury department store that competes for the same clientele as TheRealReal. Though primarily a retailer of new luxury goods, partnerships with platforms like Fashionphile show its growing interest in the resale market, indicating a potential shift in strategy to embrace the burgeoning circular fashion economy.
4.0 / 5
Saks Fifth Avenue is synonymous with luxury fashion and competes with TheRealReal by offering a wide range of new designer goods. While Saks doesn't currently have a dedicated resale platform, its authority in the luxury market makes it a competitor by default, as it battles for the attention and wallets of high-end shoppers.
4.0 / 5
Bloomingdale's, like other department stores mentioned, competes in the luxury space with its selection of new designer apparel and accessories. It's another traditional retailer that TheRealReal must contend with, as it seeks to attract luxury consumers who are increasingly interested in both new and pre-owned options.
4.0 / 5
4.0 / 5
Mercari is a user-friendly marketplace that allows people to sell anything from fashion to electronics. It's less focused on luxury, but its ease of use and broad appeal make it a competitor by virtue of the sheer volume of transactions and the variety of goods available, including luxury items.
3.5 / 5
3.5 / 5
SSENSE is known for its curated selection of contemporary and high-end streetwear. While it primarily retails new products, its trendsetting position and appeal to fashion-forward consumers who may also explore the resale market make it a competitor to TheRealReal.
3.8 / 5
3.8 / 5
Macy's, a household name in department stores, competes with TheRealReal in the broader retail market. Although Macy's focus is not on luxury resale, its vast presence and customer base can influence the shopping habits of consumers who might otherwise consider TheRealReal for their luxury purchases.
Saks OFF 5TH offers discounted designer apparel and accessories, appealing to the bargain-hunting luxury shopper. As an outlet store, it provides competition by offering another avenue for consumers to access luxury goods at lower price points, potentially diverting them from the pre-owned luxury market.
