About The RealReal
The RealReal sells authenticated luxury consignment for men and women, from clothes and shoes to handbags, jewelry, and accessories. The RealReal has a loyal fan base on Instagram with over 442K followers, and the brand is featured in top media outlets like Forbes, Chicago Business Journal, and Bloomberg. Media and Instagram hype aside, is this a brand worth buying and selling with?
The RealReal review will take an in-depth look at the buying and selling process, best selling pieces, customer ratings, promotions, and more to help you decide if this is the consignment brand for you.
Overview of The RealReal
The RealReal wants to revolutionize resale. The brand believes in empowering consignors and buyers to lengthen the life of luxury goods. Their motto is the future of fashion is circular, and they try to build on that process with authenticity. Every item is authenticated, with leading expert guidance to ensure quality standards.
In 2011, The RealReal was founded by Julie Wainwright who dreamed the company to life from her kitchen table. In those days, she visited consignors at their homes in a U-Haul. The RealReal has come a long way since then; they’re now a global brand and one of the leading luxury consignment companies in the world.
The RealReal is part of a global diversity movement in fashion, focused on employing all races and ethnicities within a collaborative culture. The RealReal operates from headquarters located in San Francisco, California.
Before we get into the details, check out the highlights of The RealReal review:
Pros
- An immense selection of designers and pieces for men and women
- Great prices compared to estimated retail value
- Customers report that luxury goods come in excellent condition
- Supports diversity in the workplace
- Accessible worldwide
Cons
- Some customers reported challenges in contacting customer service
Selling With The RealReal
If you have designer handbags lying around that you barely use, or feel like selling your luxury pieces to put money toward new ones, The RealReal has a straightforward selling process. The company now offers a sell upfront service, where you can sell pieces from select brands and get paid immediately.
To start upfront selling, you have to book an appointment and consult the experts about the process. Once you become a seller, you’ll then receive payments upfront through direct deposit or with site credit within 2 weeks.
The RealReal review turned up an easy selling process. You start by choosing your method. There are three ways to do virtual consignment:
- Book a free virtual consignment appointment and video chat with a luxury manager
- Book a free virtual expert consultation with video chat
- Ship your items to the RealReal with free UPS pickup
That’s just about all the work that is involved on your end. From there, the experts assess your goods and you get paid. Not too shabby.
The RealReal Women
The RealReal has an extensive collection of pieces from the most coveted brands. Louis Vuitton purses, Dolce & Gabbana dresses, Cartier jewelry, gorgeous Hermès scarves…What were we talking about? Right. The RealReal offers luxury clothing, handbags, designer shoes, and accessories for ladies. We’ll share some of our favorites in this The RealReal review:
Chanel Classic Jumbo Double Flap Bag
The Classic Jumbo Single Flap Bag is a timeless Chanel piece that’s so alluring with its cherry red shade. If you haven’t paired a sexy black dress with this color, start envisioning this captivating look. Very The Devil Wears Prada.
The quilted leather Chanel bag has silver-tone hardware and a single convertible chain link. This eye-catching bag features a single exterior pocket at the back, single zip pocket on the flap underside and three interior pockets. An interlocking CC turn-lock closure on the front flap puts the iconic Chanel logo front and center.
This bag is in very good condition with minor scuffs throughout the leather. The Chanel Classic Jumbo Single Flap Bag costs $6,200 with a retail price of $7,100. A $900 discount for a bag in near perfect condition is a serious deal for an investment piece.
Balenciaga Two-Tone Twisted Hoop Earrings
Balenciaga is the creme de la creme of Spanish design. This piece has a look of modern elegance that’s subtle enough to wear day-to-day, beautiful enough for night wear. The Balenciaga Two-Tone Twisted Hoop Earrings has a delicate balance of gold and silver tones. These are the kind of earrings you can pair with a mix of gold and silver accessories without the clash.
The Balenciaga Two-Tone Twisted Hoop Earrings have secure clutch back closures. These earrings stand out with a high polish metal finish. They’re in excellent condition with no visible signs of wear. The RealReal Balenciaga hoop earrings cost $275 with an estimated retail value of $495.
Tiffany & Co. Cat-Eye Sunglasses
The Tiffany & Co. Cat-Eye Sunglasses are so charming. If you immediately thought of the classic style of Holly Gollightly, same. Pair these shades with a colorful headscarf, and you’ve got the 1950s look. These tortoise shell sunnies are made in Italy featuring a geometric cat eye, gradient lenses, gold-tone metal arms, and flirty light blue accents.
The Tiffany & Co. sunglasses are in very good condition with minor wear throughout. The Cat-Eye’s cost $115 and have an estimated retail value of $460 with over $340 in savings.
The RealReal Men
The RealReal review discovered an equally diverse men’s collection. Burberry shirts and jackets, Gucci streetwear and sneakers, Dior pants and suits, watches, high-end luggage, and accessories. Check out some of the most coveted pieces for men:
Louis Vuitton Damier Graphite Multiple Wallet
The Louis Vuitton Damier Graphite Multiple Wallet makes a subtle yet attractive statement with its checked design. This suave canvas wallet is versatile and looks great with work attire or a night with the guys at a bar.
Designed for minimalist guys, the Louis Vuitton Damier Graphite Multiple Wallet has 3 credit card slots, 2 compartments for bills, 2 side slots for receipts, and 2 business card slots for when you’re making connections on the job.
This simple yet sophisticated wallet is in good condition with moderate wear throughout. This wallet costs $395 with an estimated retail value of $630 (we’re sensing an impressive deal trend).
Burberry The City Watch
Burberry The City Watch is a definite showpiece. Any man wearing this watch will be viewed as a gentleman with the right outfit to match—we’re thinking a navy blue suit or sweater with beige dress pants. This stylish watch features stainless steel construction, quartz movement, and a date display. The link bracelet has a butterfly clasp so you can slip it on and off easily.
The Burberry The City Watch has undergone an aging process. There are moderate scratches and indentations throughout the metal. Overall, it stands up to the test of time, pun intended. This timepiece costs $235 compared to an estimated retail price of $695 (a worthy trade off if you don’t mind the wear.
Gucci Black Square Sunglasses
These daring square sunglasses by Gucci are The Real Deal (last pun). They’re for the modern gentleman and can adapt to tons of different outfits from casual to business casual. They sport a comfortable bridge and contain black acetate frames.
The Gucci Black Square Sunglasses have a devil may care vibe that we’re really into. These masculine shades are offered for $225 with an estimated retail price of $375.
The RealReal Reviews: What Do Customers Think?
Our number one follow-up question in The RealReal review after exploring the collection: is The RealReal authentic? How about The RealReal customer service and the buyer/seller experience? Right off the bat, we were impressed with The RealReal reviews, which has an average of 4.5/5 stars out of 4,637 TrustPilot ratings.
Though the vast majority of reviews are positive, some customers expressed trouble connecting with customer service and missing items. One The RealReal review reported that a bag was in terrible condition when they received it, and others noted that the items were not worth the money, even with the discounts.
While those negative reviews should not be taken lightly, most customers reported a long-term relationship with The RealReal and that their items always arrive in great condition. Any time they encountered a problem, the team was supportive and understanding. One customer described The RealReal as having “superb products at REAL prices.”
With 4.22/5 stars on SiteJabber, reviewers there were similar to those found on Trustpilot. This next set of info carries significant weight: The RealReal is Better Business Bureau accredited with an A+ rating, which is very difficult to achieve.
Is The RealReal Worth It?
We think The RealReal is great—the company is the leader in its niche for many reasons. Most customers have positive experiences with The RealReal. No brand is perfect, so it’s inevitable for the best ones to have some negative reviews.
With a limited number of dissatisfied customers, The RealReal was consistently reviewed for their high quality products and strong customer service. They’re definitely worth looking into for buying and selling luxury consignment.
The RealReal Promotions & Discounts
The RealReal review turned up a few promising discounts. When you access the website, a popup invites you to enter your email. By signing up, you receive a $25 site credit. You can also get 20% off with The RealReal promo code: REAL.
Buy & Sell The RealReal
If you want to buy or sell the RealReal, the best place to go is TheRealReal.com. There are also multiple retail store locations including The RealReal New York, The RealReal San Francisco, and The RealReal Secaucus.
FAQ
What is The RealReal’s Shipping Policy?
The RealReal ships orders to the United States through UPS and globally via UPS Worldwide Expedited. The company ships to over 60 countries, however, they cannot deliver to P.O. Boxes or APO/FPO addresses.
Domestic Shipping
- Standard: 3-5 business days for $11.95, plus an extra $5 for Hawaii and Alaska
- Express: 2 business days for $20
- Next Day: 1 business day for $30
- High value orders or orders shipped to an address different from the billing address takes an additional two days for processing
- A high value order consists of goods of value totalling $1,000 or multiple orders which add up to that amount
International Shipping
- Packages travelling to Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico 3-6 business days ($30)
- Packages travelling to Europe take 4-6 business days ($40)
- Packages travelling to the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Australia take 4-7 business days and cost $50
- Add 2 days for any orders placed after 12 PM Thursday Pacific Time
- Orders shipped outside of the US may be subject to taxes and duties
All customers receive an email with tracking information once items have shipped. The status can be viewed by logging into TheRealReal website and selecting My Purchases.
Can you return The RealReal purchases?
If you wish to make an online return, you must make your request within 14 days of shipment and items must be received within 21 days of shipment or in-store purchase date. Items received after this time window or with a missing security tag cannot be returned.
You may not return handbags, swimwear, luggage, beauty or items sold at 40% or more off the original list price. Final sale items are not eligible for return. Due to the pandemic, you may experience return processing delays. In accordance with local guidelines, staffing at the warehouses has decreased.
To go through The RealReal return process:
- Go to My Purchases on The RealReal website
- Click on the order number containing the item you wish to return
- Click return on the times you wish to return in your order summary
- Fill out the requested information
- You will receive a confirmation label, shipping instructions and a shipping label. You may print it and $11.95 will be deducted when your item is processed
- Follow the instructions in the email to complete your return
To receive a refund through credit card takes up to 5 business days, through cash up to 7 bays and the RealReal gift card and site credit are processed on the same day.
Contact The RealReal
If you have questions that weren’t covered in The RealReal review, you can reach out to the team by:
- Email: customerservice@therealreal.com
- Call 855.435.5893 ext. 1 (Hours Mon-Fri 5AM-6PM PT, Sat-Sun 7AM-4PM PT)
You can also contact the RealReal if you’re interested in the company culture and seeking The RealReal jobs and The RealReal careers.
Author: Julia Cottrelle
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