Depop Shipping 101: How Long Do Depop Sellers Have to Ship?

Depop is one of the internet's favorite platforms for selling secondhand goods, with a heavy focus on secondhand fashion. As a platform catered to all kinds of sellers – from amateur and casual sellers listing unwanted items from their closets to professional sellers with full-fledged online selling businesses – Depop has quickly solidified its reputation as a platform where anyone can sell secondhand goods. Nevertheless, successful selling on Depop requires knowledge of the platform's selling costs, familiarity with its listing requirements and policies, and an understanding of exactly how long do Depop sellers have to ship an item out once it's been purchased. In this guide, we'll go over the basics of Depop shipping, understand the shipping options you'll have as a seller on Depop, go over how to ship on Depop step by step, review Depop's return policy, and provide some insider tips for better shipping on Depop.  

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How Long Do Depop Sellers Have to Ship?

Sellers on Depop are generally expected to pack and ship items within 5 days of receiving an order from their buyer. If they do not ship within 7 days, the order is considered late, and if the buyer complains, Depop may step in and cancel the order. Below, we'll take a look at Depop's shipping policy, understand the importance of fast shipping, and discover what impact delayed shipping could have on your selling account's health and future sales.

Depop's Shipping Policy

Depop's shipping policy is pretty straightforward. Per the Depop seller handbook, sellers are required to ship orders as soon as possible, ideally within 5 days but no more than 7 days from the date of purchase. Furthermore, sellers are required to ship to the address that appears on the invoice in the Depop app in order to qualify for Depop's seller protection. For even further protection, Depop recommends you keep proof of postage for your records in case a problem arises after you've shipped the item. Once the item has been handed off to the carrier, you'll need to mark the order as shipped on Depop. Whenever possible, Depop recommends that sellers use tracked shipping and upload complete tracking information so they qualify for seller protection. In our experience, however, despite the added seller protections, sending low-value items with tracked shipping is not always worth the added postage costs.

Importance of Fast Shipping

While Depop certainly takes a more casual approach to online selling in comparison to traditional online retail marketplaces, fast shipping is still a very important part of successful selling on the platform. In fact, especially since buyers expect a more hobbyist seller approach to order fulfillment, sellers that consistently offer fast shipping can expect to reap the rewards in more ways than one. Buyers will be impressed by the high level of service, and you're far more likely to receive glowing feedback if you ship your orders out quickly.

There are more reasons than impressing your buyers to not wait the entire 7-day handling time to ship your orders, however. Firstly, shipping your order out as soon as possible gives your buyer little chance to regret their purchase, thereby helping you avoid order cancellations. Secondly, as we touched on before, fast shipment is an integral part of top-level customer service, which results in better buyer feedback and more sales in the long run. Finally, shipping orders out as soon as possible gives you more wiggle room in the event of unexpected delays outside of your control, providing you with a safety net that will help you minimize delayed shipments as much as possible.

Impact on Seller Ratings and Sales

The order fulfillment experience you provide your buyers will have a direct impact on your feedback ratings, and as such a direct impact on your sales in the future. Just like on any other marketplace, shoppers on Depop prefer to buy from sellers who can offer them not only the item they want, but a positive shopping experience. An integral part of this experience is how quickly they can expect to receive their item once they’ve ordered it, and their only real way shoppers have to gauge that prior to making a purchase is by reading feedback from past buyers. As mentioned above, Depop is geared primarily towards more casual sellers, which means that sellers who conduct themselves professionally on the platform on everything from shipping speed to customer service are far more likely to receive positive seller ratings that boost their sales.  

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Understanding Shipping Options on Depop

Sellers on Depop can choose to fulfill their orders in one of two ways – using their own shipping method, or by purchasing a label from Depop directly. Each approach has its benefits and drawbacks; neither one is necessarily better than the other, only more suitable for different types of Depop sellers. Below, we'll compare self-shipping vs shipping with Depop, go over Depop's shipping rates and services, and understand the importance of tracking your shipments after you've handed them off to the carrier.

Self-Shipping vs. Depop Shipping

Sellers on Depop have the option arranging their own shipping with a third-party carrier, or to get a shipping label from Depop to send out their orders. These methods are known as self-shipping and Depop shipping, respectively, with Depop labels available only to US- and UK-based Depop sellers to fulfill domestic orders.

Self-shipping is good for sellers with high sales volumes, like those who sell on multiple channels, since they're more likely to get better rates on shipping due to their high shipping volumes. Self-shipping also enables sellers to offer more competitive shipping rates to buyers, which is a good way to drive sales. That said, self-shipping is less ideal for smaller or beginner sellers, since it requires a more involved approach to order fulfillment; you'll need to find a carrier, purchase and print labels, and insure shipments on your own. While this gives you more choice, it requires more effort from you. Additionally, it's the only option available for Depop sellers based outside of the US or UK, or sellers who are based in the US or UK but who want to ship internationally.

Depop shipping is a good option for sellers who are only starting out on Depop, sellers who want to deal with the logistics aspect of online selling as little as possible, and those who sell items under $300 and want to take advantage of Depop's seller protection. Sellers who ship with Depop pay no shipping costs, since postage is always paid for by the buyer with Depop shipping. Furthermore, Depop insures against misdelivery, lost items, and damage in transit when you ship with a Depop label, giving you more protection as a seller when things go wrong. A major downside of Depop shipping, however, is that it is available exclusively to US and UK sellers who ship domestically, making it unsuitable for sellers who wish to grow their ecommerce business beyond domestic sales.

Depop Shipping Rates and Services

As mentioned above, shipping costs are paid by the buyer when you ship with Depop, so you won't be charged for shipping when you use prepaid Depop labels to fulfill your orders. In terms of how much Depop shipping costs your buyers, they can expect to pay anything from $4.49 to $13.99, depending on the size and weight of the item. In the US, labels from Depop are USPS labels, while in the UK, the labels are Evri labels.

Tracking Your Shipments

Many sellers tend to think that as long as they get their order shipped out on time, they can rest easy that the order will arrive with the buyer as expected. Unfortunately, things don't always work out as they should; shipping delays can happen, packages can be delivered to the wrong person, and damage can occur to packages in transit. The best way to get ahead of these issues is by regularly tracking and monitoring your shipments after you've handed them off to the carrier. This way, you can know ahead of time if the carrier has been unable to reach your buyer to arrange delivery, if the address is incomplete, or if there is a delivery delay due to factors like weather. You'll then be able to get in contact with your buyer to notify them of the issue, and work with them to resolve it as quickly as possible.  

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Step by Step Guide: How to Ship on Depop

While shipping on Depop is not complicated, it is important to follow a few guidelines to ensure that your buyers get what they expect and that you're fulfilling all your commitments as a seller on the platform. In this section, we'll go over four simple steps to shipping your orders out on Depop. Following these steps will help you ensure that your orders on Depop ship on time, and that they arrive with your buyer in the same condition in which they were sent. Keep reading for a full step-by-step breakdown of how to ship on Depop.

1. Make sure to include accurate shipping information on your listings

Before an order is ever placed, you'll need to determine your shipping policies – where you'll ship, whether you'll use Depop to ship or arrange shipping on your own, how much you'll charge for shipping (if you don't ship with Depop), and more. These shipping policies will need to be advertised to your buyers before they make a purchase. In our experience, the best way to inform your buyers of your shipping information and policies is by including them directly in your listings. Updating this information listing by listing can be tedious, but you'll be able to easily update your listings in bulk when you use ExportYourStore to manage your Depop store.

2. When an order is placed, pack the item securely

Now that buyers know your shipping policies and what they can expect once they've placed an order with you, you'll need to make sure that the orders you receive arrive with their buyers safely and securely. The majority of items sold on Depop are clothes, which may not require much padding, but could benefit from moisture-resistant packaging, for example. When shipping things like leather goods, bags, and sneakers, a sturdy box with some soft yet breathable padding will keep the item from jostling around and ensure safe transit from you to your buyer.

3. Select the appropriate shipping option and print a shipping label

Once you've packed your item, it's time to select the right shipping method for it. The best shipping method will depend on several factors, including the item's weight and size, the buyer's shipping address, how quickly you want the item to arrive at its destination, and whether or not you want to be able to track its progress while it's in transit. As mentioned earlier, unless the item's sale price justifies the difference in cost between tracked and untracked shipping, we don't recommend purchasing a tracked shipping option if you're paying for shipping (rather than the buyer). Regardless of how you choose to ship, we recommend you keep a record of your shipping documents for a minimum of 6 months to ensure that you'll be covered by Depop's or PayPal's seller protection in case any problems arise after delivery.

Finally, print your label out and securely attach it to the package. If you ship with Depop, you'll be able to do this directly through your Depop account. Remember that your package won't be able to reach its destination without an intact label, which is why it's absolutely essential to attach your label securely and ensure that it is clearly visible and scannable by the carrier company.  

4. Drop off the package at designated location or schedule a pick-up

Safely packed and with the label securely attached, your parcel is now ready to be handed off to the carrier. You can take it yourself to a drop-off point, or have it collected by the shipping company by scheduling a pickup. Once the carrier receives the package, your package will have its first collection scan, and you'll be able to mark the order as shipped on Depop. If you're shipping more than a handful of items a week, especially if they are for shipments from more than one sales channel, you may find it easier to update tracking for your orders with a third-party listing and order manager like ExportYourStore.

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Best Practices for Depop Shipping

Shipping on Depop is simple, but there are some steps you can take to ensure that you get better results out of your shipping processes. Below, we'll discuss how to choose the most appropriate packaging for your items, when you should offer free shipping, the importance of communicating with your buyers, why you should ship orders out as fast as possible, and the benefits of following up with buyers after you've sent out their order.    

Use Appropriate Packaging

Ultimately, getting your item to its destination safely is your top priority, and how successful you are will depend heavily on selecting the best packaging for the job. This means more than just choosing a sturdy box or packet to ship out your items; you'll need to ensure that your package is not too big, as it will cost more to ship and risks knocking your item around while in transit, nor too small as it won't sufficiently protect it from inevitable bumps along the way. Some padding for solid items and water-resistant packaging for clothes could also help your item fare better on its journey to the buyer.

There's another no less important factor to take into account when selecting packaging – your buyer's experience when they receive and unpack their item. In our experience, putting in the effort to create a unique, memorable, and pleasant unboxing experience goes a long way towards buyer satisfaction, and goes a long way towards encouraging returning shoppers. Depop may be a secondhand marketplace, but buyers don't want to feel like they're purchasing an item they could have fished out of the discount bin at the thrift store. Give your buyers a buying experience they'll enjoy, and you're guaranteed to get positive feedback and a high rate of return shoppers in the future.  

Offer Free Shipping

When you use Depop shipping, which most sellers on Depop do, the buyer pays for shipping. As such, buyers are accustomed to paying for shipping on Depop, which means that sellers who offer free shipping are already way ahead of the curve. If you're able to, offer free shipping to your buyers whenever possible. Start by calculating your expected selling costs by working out your Depop fees, and see if covering shipping – even if only for domestic buyers – is feasible for your bottom line. Keep in mind that you don't necessarily need to offer free shipping across the board, of course; you may choose to limit which items you offer free shipping for, or you may opt to only offer free shipping for certain shipping locations.

Communicate with Buyers

Online shoppers like to be kept in the loop about their orders, and shoppers on Depop are no different. Making an effort to keep your buyers updated on the progress of their order can go a long way towards increasing buyer satisfaction and preempting any possible issues that stem from a lack of communication. Update your buyers if there is a problem with their shipment, and notify them if they need to get in touch with the carrier in order to arrange delivery. Simply keeping your buyers updated and working with them to solve any problems that arise while their order is in transit will help you ensure that your Depop shipments smoothly for you and your buyers.

Ship as Fast as Possible

While Depop allows sellers between 5-7 days to ship, we recommend making a habit out of shipping out items as soon as possible for two reasons. Firstly, aiming to ship orders out quickly gives you a buffer in case there are unexpected circumstances that affect your ability to get the package to the carrier. Secondly, fast shipping is a major factor in buyer satisfaction, so the faster you ship, the higher your chances of receiving positive feedback from your buyers.

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Return and Refund Policies for Depop Sellers

Depop is a secondhand marketplace, which makes its approach to returns and refunds markedly different from traditional online retail platforms like Amazon or Walmart. In a nutshell, while Depop does allow returns, it does not have a return system in place, nor does it require sellers to accept returns. This is because returns are generally discouraged on Depop, with buyers instead encouraged to "repop" items, which means to list and resell them on Depop themselves. In this section, we'll take an in-depth look at Depop's return policy to understand what it means for you as a seller, and give you some tips for handling returns and refunds in the event that you need to accept a return from a buyer.

Depop's Return Policy

Depop divides returns into two distinct return types: returns for buyer's remorse, and returns for items received damaged or not as described in the listing.

Returns for buyer's remorse are returns where the buyer received the item as advertised, but they no longer want it. This could be for fit reasons, purchase regret, or simply not liking the item in person. For these types of returns, whether or not the return is accepted is solely at the discretion of the seller. You'll be able to set your own return policy for your Depop store – even if that policy is that you don't accept returns – and use it to determine whether or not to accept a return on a case-by-case basis.

The second type of return, returns for items which arrived damaged or different from their listing description, are more complex. As a seller, it's your responsibility to provide the buyer with the item they purchased, as it was presented by you in the listing. This means that any damage must be disclosed, and that all item details and measurements must be accurate. If the item that arrives with your buyer is materially different than advertised, you'll need to accept the item back for a refund or issue a refund without a return. Otherwise, your buyer can open a dispute through either Depop or PayPal to be reimbursed at your expense. Furthermore, you may also be liable for a dispute fee of £12 in the UK or $15 in the US if the dispute is escalated by the buyer.

How to Handle Returns and Refunds

Unlike most marketplaces, Depop does not have a returns system in place, so if a buyer wants to return an item, they'll need to get in touch with you first. As such, before you start selling, it's important to clearly state your returns policy in your listings and profile, so you have a framework for handling buyer return requests that's clearly available to your buyers before they place an order with you. Then, depending on the reason for the return, you can either accept or reject it based your return policies and Depop's marketplace rules.

If you do choose to accept a return for buyer's remorse, your buyer will be responsible for paying return postage, and will need to notify you of the return tracking number once they've shipped the item back. When you receive it, you'll need to issue a refund to your buyer for the original transaction. If you accepted payment through Depop Payments, simply issue a refund through Depop; if you receive payments through PayPal, you'll need to refund them through PayPal (you will not receive a reimbursement of your PayPal fee, however).  

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Key Takeaways

Shipping on Depop is simple, with Depop allowing sellers up to 7 days to ship out orders to their buyers. For sellers who don't want to purchase labels directly from carrier companies, Depop offers Depop labels, which are paid for by buyers and become available to sellers as soon as a buyer places an order. All sellers need to do is print out the label associated with the order, securely pack the item, and ship it out to their buyer within 7 days from the date of purchase. Alternatively, sellers can choose to arrange their own shipping with a carrier of their choice, as long as they ship their order out to their buyer within 7 days of purchase.

Ultimately, newer sellers usually opt for Depop labels, since they make shipping orders simple and convenient. Sellers who sell on multiple platforms, sellers who want to offer competitive (or free) shipping to their buyers, or sellers based outside of the US and UK (where Depop labels are unavailable) often opt to arrange their own shipping rather than use Depop labels.