We can’t answer the question is The RealReal legit, but we know that The RealReal was founded in 2011 as an online store focusing on second-hand and resale luxury fashion, and it’s based in San Francisco. But is The RealReal a good deal?
Did you know that you can find many of the same items available on The RealReal, as second-hand goods, on italist, brand-new, for cheaper?
Is The RealReal Legit?
The RealReal is a luxury fashion reseller, meaning that all of the products are considered second-hand, having been owned by another consumer before arriving at The RealReal. italist sells only new, unused merchandise, and verifies its product sourcing with strict contractual agreements and individual invoices that prove the authenticity of any single item.
The RealReal has been accused in the past of selling inauthentic items and fakes, due to the volume and complexity of products passing through the company’s internal authentication process.
italist is legit and has been since 2014, operating from offices in Los Angeles and with extensive documentation of its legitimacy, including a 50-point partner checklist and good standing with the Better Business Bureau of Los Angeles.
italist is rooted in deep relationships with the best independent Italian luxury boutiques and has many Italian team members. Additionally, italist offers free express shipping on every order, a broad catalog of over 1,500 brands, a strong social media following, and two-way communication with all our shoppers, even when there’s a problem.
Is The RealReal a good deal?
Many product prices on The RealReal are actually higher, for a second-hand item, than they are on italist for a brand new one. For trending brands like Prada and Bottega Veneta, you can frequently find better deals on italist than you can on The RealReal.
For example, as of this publishing, Bottega Veneta’s Mini Jodie Bag retails in the U.S. for $2,650. On The RealReal, one in “excellent condition” (but not brand new) is listed for $2,200. On italist, where we have a guaranteed and certified sourcing process, the same bag is listed for $2,104.45, a nearly $100 savings vs. The RealReal, and $545 savings vs. full retail price.
Another example are these gold Prada “chocolate” gold metallic loafers: $1,320 from Prada directly, $1,145 on The RealReal, and $1,009.50 on italist. A $300 savings vs. retail, and $135 vs. The RealReal, in “excellent” used condition. Buy brand new and save on italist!
So is The RealReal legit? We cannot say, but here is a quick comparison of italist vs. The RealReal:
italist vs. The RealReal
| italist | The RealReal | |
| Founded | 2014 | 2011 |
| Based In | U.S.A. 🇺🇸 | U.S.A. 🇺🇸 |
| Brand-New, In-Season | ✔ | ✘ |
| Free Express Shipping | Always | $39.95 |
| Over 1,500 Brands | ✔ | ✔ |
| Sourcing | Official retailers + brands | Individuals |
| Certification | From the brand (contract + invoice) | Internal team |
| Online Magazine | ✔ | ✘ |
| Rating on Sitejabber.com | 4.5 | 3.6 |
| Rating on BBB.org | 4.8 | 1.5 |
Ready to start shopping and saving with confidence? Shop italist now!
About the Author
Alex English is the Head of Content Marketing at italist.com, building on a lifelong passion for fashion and luxury. After publishing a lifestyle blog for nearly ten years and obtaining an MBA in Milan at SDA Bocconi, one of Europe’s top business schools, he joined the italist team in 2019. His work since then has focused on upper-funnel messaging, brand storytelling, establishing italist as a thought leader in the space, and enriching the customer experience on the platform. Find him on LinkedIn.