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Tue Dec 14 2021 10:54:59

Can Poshmark Keep on Brand with Addition of Electronics?

By: Ina Steiner

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Poshmark is now allowing the sale of electronics on its platform. The mobile shopping app built its brand focusing on fashion utilizing the concept of "closets." Can it stay on brand by branching out to attics and basements and other rooms in the house?

The company's FAQs on its new category show how different it is from its bread-and-butter items, such as the following: "Will Poshmark honor warranties on electronics items?" (The answer: "Poshmark will not be able to honor manufacturer warranties or be a part of the redemption process.")

Certain electronics can be considered fashion accessories - Poshmark's policies outline the types of electronics that can be sold. Allowed items include Wearables and Cell Phones & Accessories, but they also include Computers, Laptops & Parts and Video Games & Consoles.

Poshmark went public in January, and online selling platforms have traditionally found two main ways to show growth to satisfy Wall Street: geographic expansion and category expansion.

Poshmark launched features in the past year designed to enhance seller productivity and scalability - a recognition that growth relies on volume sellers, not just regular people buying and selling out of their own closets.

Currently, the site states: "Poshmark is a marketplace for women's, kids' and men's fashion and accessories, new personal care products, select home goods, select pets' items, and select electronics."

Poshmark's category expansion calls to mind Etsy's pivot in 2013 when it changed its definition of "handmade." Are narrowly defined niche sites doomed?

Will Poshmark satisfy the desires of current customers who may want more flexibility in the items they sell? 

If it attracts new sellers who want alternatives to sites like eBay and classifieds platforms, will Poshmark's current shopper base be turned off by a new type of seller?



Comments (10) | Permalink

Readers Comments

Perminate Link for Can Poshmark Keep on Brand with Addition of Electronics?   Can Poshmark Keep on Brand with Addition of Electronics?

by: eBaySince2006 This user has validated their user name.

Tue Dec 14 12:00:03 2021

I'm on it! Thanks. Starting my account right now  

Perminate Link for Can Poshmark Keep on Brand with Addition of Electronics?   Can Poshmark Keep on Brand with Addition of Electronics?

This user has validated their user name. by: The End

Tue Dec 14 12:54:35 2021

Set your watch .....
3rd "Ebay / Etsy" coming up.......
We really need legislation barring corporate from polluting OUR playgrounds.
When the public is invited, it makes it OURS.
Like it or not.
If the CEO's don't see that, they are dysfunctional.

Perminate Link for Can Poshmark Keep on Brand with Addition of Electronics?   Can Poshmark Keep on Brand with Addition of Electronics?

by: pace306 This user has validated their user name.

Tue Dec 14 14:20:03 2021

Other sites see ebays weakness’s and seller flight and want a pice of the pie.

They already allowed watches and some womens accessories like hair dryers/curlers any way.

It’s great for me as I’m an electronics seller - it expands what I already have up there.

I have a perfect rating there like I do on Mercari- so hopefully my sales can grow.

While it sounds mean - I dont care - any ability to deny the crooks in San Jose a sale - even if it’s $1 - it’s something I want to do!!!!

Lastly- if Etsy has Reverb - why can’t Poshmark sell these things too!!!????

Perminate Link for Can Poshmark Keep on Brand with Addition of Electronics?   Can Poshmark Keep on Brand with Addition of Electronics?

by: LDWCallsOut This user has validated their user name.

Tue Dec 14 15:25:57 2021

Etsy has electronics on its site, and has for years:  computers, smart phones, games, software subscriptions.  Almost none of these products are handmade, 20+ years old (vintage), or crafting supplies.  

Etsy pretends its brand is hosting sellers of unique merchandise who are also creative people, but that's fake.  Poshmark can pretend whatever they can get away with, too.

Perminate Link for Can Poshmark Keep on Brand with Addition of Electronics?   Can Poshmark Keep on Brand with Addition of Electronics?

This user has validated their user name. by: Rexford

Wed Dec 15 08:19:34 2021

I don't have any issue with this, but there is one thing that t I wish Poshmark would do: require a bundle to be an actual bundle.   A bundle is not one item.  You won't get the best price if you place a single item in a bundle.

Poshmark leads the industry in forcing a buyer to either accept their item after delivery or open a return within a few days of receipt.  None of this keeping it 30-60 days nonsense and then opening a return.   I think at most I've had three or four returns on Poshmark over several years of selling.   Compare that to eBay.  eBay all but asks buyers to return their items.

Perminate Link for Can Poshmark Keep on Brand with Addition of Electronics?   Can Poshmark Keep on Brand with Addition of Electronics?

by: I Must be Crazy This user has validated their user name.

Wed Dec 15 12:49:01 2021

All of these platforms must see eBay as vulnerable as they continue nibbling around the edges of their market. It is no secret that eBay management, for many years, has done an awful job of building and expanding the platform. Sellers are unhappy and the number leaving is expanding. As sellers leave, buyers have less to by and they go to other sites. This trajectory, as I believed even a couple of years ago, will be nearly impossible to reverse.

Poshmark, and other sites begin with one category, perfecting their platform to further encroach on eBay's turf over time. It will be interesting to see if eBay is still a significant player in 36 months.

Perminate Link for Can Poshmark Keep on Brand with Addition of Electronics?   Can Poshmark Keep on Brand with Addition of Electronics?

by: 1 Angry Artist This user has validated their user name.

Wed Dec 15 13:55:02 2021

It seems that online sellers just can't get a break.

If they are getting screwed by the platforms- ETsy, Ebay, et tal then they are getting more screwed by the big brand corporations who now are trying to force the platforms to REMOVE second hand clothing that has their brands!

This is completely ILLEGAL and in the past they would never dream of doing this.  Not today!    Of course Etsy and Ebay will go along to get along and not say anything about it.

It really is a shame that small businesses can't afford expensive lobbyists in Congress.



https://reclaimthenet.org/clothes-resale-mark
et-online-is-suppressed-due-to-false-takedown-claims/

Perminate Link for Can Poshmark Keep on Brand with Addition of Electronics?   Can Poshmark Keep on Brand with Addition of Electronics?

by: ib30667 This user has validated their user name.

Thu Dec 16 00:18:16 2021

I sell on Poshmark. But I don't sell fashion. I sell collectibles and household. Sometimes handmade items. And I do well.  I wish more people would sell on Poshmark. eBay is a corrupt and unstable venue. I've have been trying to get people to see that they can sell most things on Poshmark without the high fees. Granted you don't have a choice in shipping services but you can adjust your shipping rate and price your items accordingly. I love the prepaid shipping label! I suggest giving it a try.  

Perminate Link for Can Poshmark Keep on Brand with Addition of Electronics?   Can Poshmark Keep on Brand with Addition of Electronics?

by: Chicago48 This user has validated their user name.

Thu Dec 16 03:07:33 2021

I predict that Posh, which is a public company(?) will increase its rate after this change.  But they should think about breaking off into a separate unit for "hard goods" like electronics.

Perminate Link for Can Poshmark Keep on Brand with Addition of Electronics?   Can Poshmark Keep on Brand with Addition of Electronics?

This user has validated their user name. by: Rexford

Thu Dec 16 08:02:09 2021

"I predict that Posh, which is a public company(?) will increase its rate after this change. "

I hope not. Their rates are pretty high as it is.

I applaud Poshmark for not flooding their marketplace with advertising.

Advice to Poshmark:  Don't become an eBay or an Etsy.



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