So, I wanted to talk a bit about my own run-in with The RealReal. It’s one of those things you hear about, and then you live it, and you’re like, “Yep, should’ve listened.”
My Dive into Consignment Hell
It all started a few months back. I was doing a massive clear-out of my closet. You know how it is, you accumulate stuff, and some of it is actually pretty decent designer gear that you just don’t wear anymore. I thought, hey, why not try to make a few bucks back? I’d seen ads for The RealReal, heard some people talk about it, and it seemed like a legit way to consign luxury items. So, I gathered up a few pieces: a handbag I barely used, a pair of designer shoes still in good nick, and a nice scarf.
Getting the shipping label and sending my stuff off was easy enough. That part, I’ll give them. But then the waiting game began. And boy, did it drag on. I’m talking weeks, not days. I’d check my account, crickets. I figured, okay, they’re busy, high volume, whatever. Patience, right?
Finally, I get an email. Items processed! I log in, all excited to see what they’re listed for. And that’s when my jaw just about hit the floor. The prices were way, way lower than I’d anticipated. I mean, I wasn’t expecting to get back what I paid, obviously, but these were seriously lowballed. The handbag, which was in excellent condition, was priced like it had been through a war.
But wait, it gets better. One of my items, the designer shoes, wasn’t even listed. Instead, I got this vague message that it “did not meet their authenticity standards” or some rubbish like that. Now, I bought those shoes myself from the brand’s official store! There was zero doubt about their authenticity. I was fuming.
Trying to Get Answers
So, I decided to contact customer service. And that, my friends, was an adventure in itself. First, I tried email. Sent a detailed message, polite, explaining the situation with the shoes and the low pricing. Days went by. Nothing. Not even an automated “we got your email.”
Next, I tried calling. Oh, the hold music! I think I could hum it in my sleep now. After what felt like an eternity, I finally got through to someone. I explained the whole thing again. The person on the other end sounded like they were reading from a script. No real help, just a lot of “I understand your frustration” but no actual solutions. For the shoes, they basically said their “experts” made a decision and that was that. No re-evaluation, no discussion. As for the pricing, they just mumbled something about market value and their commission structure.
- Sent in good items.
- Waited forever for processing.
- Got super low prices for most things.
- One item wrongly rejected as “inauthentic.”
- Customer service was a black hole.
In the end, I got a tiny payout for the items that did sell, after their hefty commission, of course. And the “inauthentic” shoes? They eventually sent them back to me, after more waiting and me having to chase them up again. The whole experience just left a really sour taste in my mouth. I felt like I’d been completely messed around.
It’s not just about the money, though that was annoying. It was the lack of transparency, the terrible communication, and feeling like they just didn’t care. I put my trust in them with valuable items, and it felt like a total letdown. So yeah, that’s my story. I learned my lesson. Next time I’m clearing out my closet, I’ll be looking for other options, that’s for sure. I guess this is just how I found out what so many others were already complaining about. You live and learn, right?
