Depop is a mobile marketplace, mostly for secondhand, vintage and designer clothing, that looks like a social network. It was founded in 2011 by Simon Beckerman, was bought by Etsy in 2021 for a reported US$1.6 billion, and is still run as a separate marketplace headquartered in London.
The origin
Beckerman started Depop at the Italian start-up incubator H-Farm. The idea grew out of a fashion magazine he co-founded, PIG, with a plan to let readers buy the products it showed. It later became a general peer-to-peer fashion app.
How it feels to use
Depop mixes a shopping catalogue with a social feed. You follow sellers, like and save items, and message them directly. Industry write-ups describe it as sitting between eBay and Instagram, which explains why many sellers treat their profile like a small brand, photographing items on themselves.
How it makes money
Depop earns transaction and payment-processing fees on sales and sells promoted listings to sellers. The rates have changed over time and differ by country, so read the fee page in the seller area before listing.
If you are buying
- Ask the seller for measurements; sizes on secondhand items vary by brand and era.
- Pay through Depop’s checkout so a dispute can be opened; avoid moving the sale to messages and a bank transfer.
- Check the item’s condition notes and any flaws pictured in the listing before you buy.
If you are selling
You photograph, price and ship items yourself. Posting clear photos, accurate condition notes and tracked postage reduces disputes. Remember that sales income may be taxable in your country.
What we could not verify
We did not buy or sell on the app. The acquisition price is reported in business press and by sources that give different figures (US$1.6 billion at announcement); current fees must be checked in the app.
