Over the past six months, Vinted and Depop have engaged in a fierce battle over shipping pricing in the US market, taking turns offering free or heavily discounted delivery rates to make low-priced secondhand goods more attractive to buyers. Entering late September, however, this landscape has shifted: some Vinted buyers have found that the previously $0.99 shipping fee has risen to $1.99, $2.99, $3.49, or even $3.99, with larger and heavier items most affected.

According to buyer feedback, a backpack that previously cost just $0.99 to ship jumped to $3.99 within days; similar increases have appeared for bulky items like footwear. Most small clothing items still remain at $0.99, and some orders continue to enjoy free shipping.

As of September 24, Vinted's US help center had not yet updated its rates. Its page updated on August 27 showed that eligible domestic orders shipped for "free or $0.99," covering small, medium, and large packages, with free shipping also available for new buyers' first orders and new sellers' first orders. Vinted stated that discounted rates are only valid during promotional periods, but issued no announcement or new rate table regarding this price increase. After comparing, users believe that package size is at least one pricing factor, and carrier choice also affects the price—SpeedX is sometimes cheaper than USPS on the same order.

On September 25, Vinted updated its US shipping help center, confirming the changes buyers began seeing this week: SpeedX home delivery ranges from $0.49 to $1.49 depending on package size; USPS and FedEx start at $0.99 for small and medium packages, and $3.19 for large packages. Rates may also vary based on carrier availability, package size, distance, and order value.

On Depop's side, starting September 16, users can enjoy $0.99 shipping on eligible orders under $10, with the discount applying to small packages; large and extra-large are excluded. Similar to several other shipping promotions this year, Depop did not separately announce the promotion's end date. Additionally, until September 27, new users' first orders ship free with no minimum purchase threshold—under terms introduced on July 7, new US users who complete their first Depop Shipping order within 7 days of registering qualify.

Both platforms began testing ultra-low shipping rates in the US in early March this year. Vinted buyers reported widespread free shipping that month, down from previous rates of around $2, and free shipping remained common throughout the summer. On August 27, Vinted adjusted shipping to $0.99 for most existing buyers while retaining targeted free shipping for new buyers and new sellers. Depop had already launched a $1.99 shipping promotion for buyers in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut before March 9, expanding it on March 23 to other US buyers purchasing from sellers in those three states. After that campaign ended on May 7, Depop began testing free and discounted shipping more broadly, with widespread free shipping in late May. After the broader free shipping campaign ended on July 7, buyers saw tiered discounts: $1.99 for medium and below, $3.99 for large, and $5.99 for extra-large.

Neither company has publicly linked their US shipping promotions to each other. But documents reviewed by the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) during its examination of eBay's acquisition of Depop show that Vinted is the closest and strongest competitor both companies monitor, and its zero selling fee model has helped it rapidly capture market share. The CMA estimates that in 2025 Vinted accounted for roughly 50% to 60% of UK consumer-to-consumer (C2C) online apparel GMV, up from just 5% to 10% in 2021. Over the same period, eBay's share fell from 30% to 40% down to 10% to 20%, and Depop's from 10% to 20% down to 0% to 5%. The CMA found that as competitive pressure mounted, both companies adjusted their own fee structures.

In the US, eBay tested zero final value fees in fashion, baby, home decor, and jewelry categories earlier this year, while Vinted ramped up US advertising and expansion. On July 30, eBay completed its acquisition of Depop from Etsy for approximately $1.4 billion, gaining a more direct means to compete with Vinted for young secondhand fashion buyers. Within weeks of the deal closing, eBay began giving Depop prominent placement on its US homepage and in fashion search results, directing eBay users straight to Depop listings and sign-up pages.

Wells Fargo and Citizens both downgraded eBay in August, citing Vinted's expansion and Depop's expected spending among the factors. Citizens estimates that Depop's marketing spending could exceed $250 million this year as eBay works to sustain growth. Most of Depop's large-scale free shipping campaigns occurred before the acquisition closed, so the spring and early summer discounts were not eBay-driven. The new $0.99 promotion came after eBay took over, but there is no indication whether the parent company was involved in pricing.

Vinted explicitly ties lowering transaction costs to its overall growth strategy. When reporting its 2025 results, the company said that reducing transaction costs helps make low-value goods economically viable to trade and expands the overall secondhand market. Vinted continues to invest in logistics infrastructure while further expanding in the US.

Neither platform has disclosed the actual negotiated carrier rates, nor how much of the shipping cost they absorb in these promotions, so outsiders cannot judge the cost of this strategy. Still, the $0.99 buyer rate remains far below publicly available commercial shipping levels. Vinted's price increase this week may begin to reveal how high it can push rates without sacrificing the conversion advantages it has built up over months.

Source: Vinted, Depop Step Up US Shipping Competition · Originally published 2026-09-24