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Depop setup checklist: mistakes new users should avoid

By FastBuySale Newsroom · 9 Nov 2026 · 6h ago

How to use this checklist

Depop is a fashion resale app popular with UK buyers looking for vintage, streetwear and second-hand clothing. Setting up takes minutes, but the details you get right in the first week shape how quickly you sell. Print this checklist, work through it in order and tick each box. It uses Depop's UK help centre and UK government guidance. Check the official pages before relying on any fee or policy, as they change.

Step 1: Create your account

Download the app or sign up on the website using an email address you check often, because buyer messages and order alerts arrive there. Turn on notifications so you can reply quickly. Read Depop's terms and community guidelines, especially the sections on prohibited items and off-platform payments.

- [ ] Account created with a reliable email

- [ ] Notifications switched on

- [ ] Terms and prohibited items list read

Step 2: Build a shop profile

Your profile works like a shop front. Choose a username that is easy to remember and fits what you sell. Upload a clear profile picture or logo and write a short bio stating what you sell, your sizes or style and how quickly you post. A consistent look across photos makes your shop feel trustworthy.

- [ ] Username chosen

- [ ] Profile photo or logo uploaded

- [ ] Bio covering style, sizes and posting time

Step 3: Set up Depop Payments

Buyers pay through the Buy button using Depop Payments. Add your bank details carefully and complete any identity checks Depop asks for, so payouts are not delayed. Mistyped account numbers are one of the most common causes of missing payouts.

- [ ] Depop Payments set up

- [ ] Bank details double-checked

- [ ] Identity verification completed if requested

Step 4: Understand fees before you price

Depop's UK help centre says there is no selling fee for UK sellers. A payment processing fee of 2.9% plus £0.30 is charged on each Buy button transaction, calculated on the item price plus any postage the buyer pays, and deducted before you are paid. Buyers pay their own fee at checkout, which does not reduce your earnings.

Worked example: you sell a jacket for £40 and the buyer pays £4 for postage. The processing fee is 2.9% of £44, which is £1.28, plus £0.30, totalling £1.58. You receive £42.42, then pay the actual postage cost. If your postage cost £4, you keep £38.42 from the jacket. Use the percentage calculator on this site to check other prices.

- [ ] Processing fee understood

- [ ] Minimum acceptable price set for each item

Step 5: Prepare your photo setup

Good photos sell. Use daylight from a window, a plain background and the same setup for every item so your shop looks consistent. Take a front shot, back shot, close-ups of labels and fabric and photos of any flaws. Many Depop sellers show clothes worn or on a hanger to show fit.

- [ ] Plain background chosen

- [ ] Natural light spot found

- [ ] Shot list: front, back, label, detail, flaws

Step 6: Write complete listings

Each listing should include the brand, item type, size, measurements, condition, colour and material. Use relevant, accurate hashtags or style terms buyers search for, without adding brands that do not apply. State any flaws in words and photos. Choose the correct category so your item appears in the right searches.

- [ ] Brand, size and measurements included

- [ ] Condition and flaws described

- [ ] Correct category selected

Step 7: Decide on postage

Depop lets sellers choose how to ship, including Depop's shipping options or your own carrier with tracking. Weigh items with packaging before listing so you charge the right postage. Tracked postage protects you if a buyer says an item did not arrive.

- [ ] Postage method chosen

- [ ] Items weighed with packaging

- [ ] Packaging supplies ready

Step 8: Plan how you will post orders

Buyers expect quick dispatch. Set a routine, such as posting every weekday morning, and mark orders as shipped promptly with tracking details. Slow dispatch leads to cancellations and poor reviews.

- [ ] Posting routine set

- [ ] Tracking added to each order

Step 9: Keep records

Note each sale, the price, fees and postage cost in a spreadsheet. UK digital platform rules mean Depop must report sellers who make 30 or more sales, or about £1,700 or more, in a calendar year. The UK government says that being reported does not mean you automatically owe tax. Selling your own unwanted clothes is not usually trading, but buying items to resell for profit can be, and the £1,000 trading allowance may then apply.

- [ ] Sales spreadsheet set up

- [ ] HMRC guidance read

Mistakes new sellers should avoid

- Pricing without allowing for the processing fee and postage.

- Hiding or downplaying flaws.

- Using dark or cluttered photos.

- Agreeing to payment by bank transfer or another app, which removes protection.

- Posting late or without tracking.

- Listing counterfeit or prohibited items, which can lead to account bans.

- Ignoring messages for days.

Spotting scams

Be wary of buyers who ask to complete the sale outside Depop, send links to fake payment pages, ask for your email address to send money or claim an item did not arrive when tracking shows delivery. Keep all communication in the app and report suspicious accounts.

Your first-month review

After a month, check which items sold fastest, which photos got the most likes and which prices led to offers. Adjust your listings and pricing based on what you learn.

Choosing what to sell first

Start with items that are easy to describe and in demand, such as well-known high-street or sportswear brands in common sizes, vintage pieces with clear labels and shoes in good condition. Listing ten items at once gives buyers more reasons to visit your shop and follow you. Items that need lots of explanation, such as heavily worn pieces, can wait until you have reviews.

Pricing your first items

Search for the same brand and item type and look at what has actually sold rather than what is listed. Price competitively at first to build reviews, while staying above your minimum after fees and postage. Leave a small margin for offers, because many Depop buyers expect to negotiate.

Handling offers and messages

Reply to every message politely and promptly, even if the answer is no. When you receive a low offer, a friendly counter-offer often leads to a sale. Avoid long negotiations over very small amounts, which take time without changing your profit much.

Packing like a professional

Fold items neatly, wrap them in tissue paper or a clean bag and use a padded envelope or a box sized to the item. A short thank-you note is a small touch that many buyers mention in reviews. Weigh the parcel before you post to avoid surcharges.

Building reviews

Your first reviews matter most. Post quickly, describe items accurately and pack carefully. If something goes wrong, such as a delay, message the buyer before they ask. Most buyers are understanding when sellers communicate openly.

Example: setting up a first shop in a weekend

On Saturday, Amira creates her account, sets up Depop Payments and writes a short bio saying she sells size 8 to 12 vintage denim and posts within two working days. She photographs twelve items by a window on a white sheet. On Sunday she writes each listing with measurements and flaws, weighs the parcels and chooses tracked postage. By the following Friday she has sold three items and received two five-star reviews.

Staying safe with personal details

Use a return address you are comfortable sharing, and avoid putting your phone number or personal email in listings or messages. If you meet a buyer locally, choose a public place and still take payment through the app where possible. Keep your account secure with a strong, unique password and turn on any extra login protection the app offers.

Growing beyond your wardrobe

Some sellers move from clearing their own wardrobe to sourcing stock from charity shops or car boot sales. That can be rewarding, but it changes the tax picture, because buying to resell for profit is likely to be trading. Track purchase costs from the start so you can work out real profit.

Questions from readers

Have a question about reselling in the UK? Send it through the Ask page on this site.

Disclaimer

This checklist is general information based on Depop's UK help centre and UK government guidance at the time of writing. Fees and policies can change. It is not financial or tax advice.

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