How To Beat The RealReal (From A Former Employee)
TRR Search Tutorial + Best Picks For Summer <$100
I moved to New York in August 2019 to finish my undergrad degree and pursue a career in the fashion industry (💪). I was (and remain) entirely committed to this endeavor, having emailed every retail store I thought was cool prior to my arrival with my very eager resume and personalized cover letters, presenting myself as available for a job, even if they weren’t hiring.
I lucked out with a role as a Retail Consignment Specialist at The RealReal, which I understand is now called something entirely different. Also, these were the days pre-uniform, when you could wear anything you wanted, which, in retrospect, gives me the chills to think about, considering I wore lingerie as clothing to work more than once (I was very into slip dresses at this time in my life). Essentially, my cohort and I were the inaugural team responsible for processing in-store consignment drop-offs.
Despite living in SoHo, they placed me at the Upper East Side location (they saw the vision before I did… only a few years later I landed as a resident of UES and never intend to leave). The decision was likely due to my charm with the Ladies Who Lunch and a stronger affinity for The Row and fine jewelry than the SoHo store’s streetwear-leaning vibe (it was 2019!!).
That said, the Upper East Side drop-offs could get kinda slow. Yes, some days we were back-to-back processing dropoffs from housekeepers, nannies, bored women who’d show up three times a week with one piece at a time just for something to do, and the occasional “I think I recognize this last name…” type, usually reluctant to share much personal information for our bookkeeping efforts. But some days, I had ample time to scroll.
These efforts and the extra time on my hands led me to spend a significant amount of time “familiarizing” myself with the current inventory on TRR’s website. In the process, I picked up some well-serving habits as a bargain shopper who values high-quality fabrics and design for under $100.
New Arrivals Drop Times: This is common knowledge now, but The RealReal releases new arrivals daily at 10 AM EST and 7 PM EST. This is especially helpful if you’re stalking an “Emerging Brand,” aka a smaller, more niche label that might not feel emerging on your Instagram feed but is still categorized that way by TRR. For example, a 10 AM refresh once scored me an Orseund Iris Night Out top (during peak OI days) for just $40.
20% off with the code REAL: For anything that isn’t considered a high-value item (think archival clothing, high-end handbags, fine jewelry, or watches), The RealReal initially marks up the price by about 20% for the first 48 hours it’s live on the site. Once that window passes, the code REAL kicks in—dropping the item in your cart to what TRR actually deems its value. It gives the illusion of a deal and nudges shoppers toward checking out faster. From there, deeper discounts apply the longer the item sits unsold.
Knowing this, I’m usually hesitant to buy something immediately at drop, aware it’s been listed above its real valuation. Admittedly, this mindset has caused me to miss out on a few pieces to more purchase-ready shoppers, but I’m scarred by the knowledge, and it heavily influences my checkout routine. Keep this in mind the next time you spot something fresh in New Arrivals and decide whether to risk it for the 20% discount two days later.
Editor’s Picks: An obvious tell, but when you are looking for gold in New Arrivals at drop time, sorting by your size and then selecting Editor’s Picks can sort out a lot of some ill-fitting or generally ugly options. Bonus points if you layer in a price filter to really narrow things down.
Sort By: Most Obsessed: This is my real “hack” for shopping on TRR and how I find most of what I buy. I typically go to The RealReal to score a significantly higher-quality item at a comparable price to fast fashion, so I usually don’t want to spend more than $70—unless I’ve been actively hunting down a specific piece for weeks.
If you’re like me and looking for a generic item to fill a gap in your wardrobe (say, a silk tank top rather than a specific Prada FW18 sweater), this method is gold. I usually start by searching for a fabric or clothing style—something like “cashmere” or “wide leg pant.” From there, I apply my sizes and a price cap. Then I sort by Most Obsessed, letting the TRR community do the heavy lifting, surfacing the most wanted pieces that fit your criteria at the top of the page. By page 3, you should already have a handful of competitive options to consider.
Coming Soon: More of a piece of intel than a sourcing tip, but if you spot an item listed as “Available” one day and “Coming Soon” the next—with no “SOLD” in between (if it says “Coming Soon” about a week after being marked “SOLD,” it was likely bought and returned)—there are a few possible explanations. It may have been pulled for an internal shoot, moved to/from a store, or just lost (lol).
What you might not know is that you can message customer service via live chat, give them the item number, and ask for details on its status. I do this because I’m a control freak and like to know what’s going on at all times, but it’s also genuinely helpful for gauging whether you should hold out hope for a return... or accept that it’s time to let go girl.
SUMMER SHOPPING <$100 à la the Most Obsessed Method
Having just followed these steps myself for a TRR summer refresh (I did find the silk tank I was looking for), I’m sharing a few choice pieces I would buy xx
The Row, Merino Wool V-Neck T-Shirt, Small $56
The Row, Square Neckline Sleeveless Top, Medium $87.75
Gucci, Vintage Scoop Neck Top, Small $85.50
4. Almada Label, Merino Wool Cowl Neck Top, Small $92
Morgane Le Fay, Silk V-Neck Tunic, Small $95
Simon Miller, Sequin Embellishments Mini Skirt, Medium, $87.50
SIR., Long Skirt, Small, $67.50
Gucci, Vintage 2000's Top, Large, $84
St. John Evening, Scoop Neck Long Dress, Medium, $58
Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Vintage 2000's Top, Medium, $72.50
Donna Karan, Cashmere Scoop Neck Top w/ Tags, Medium, $80
Nili Lotan, Cowl Neck Midi Length Dress, Medium, $70
Jil Sander, Cashmere Scoop Neck Top, US8 (not a 4XL, size is mislabeled), $85.50
Chloé, Wide Leg Pants, Medium, $99
Lisa Maree, Linen Long Dress w/ Tags, XS, $74.25
Simkhai, Linen Midi Length Dress, XS, $97.50
Nili Lotan, Linen V-Neck Top, Small, $77.50
Giorgio Armani, Linen Long Skirt, Small, $94.50
LoveShackFancy, Silk Mini Dress, XS, $66.50
La Perla, Silk Pants, Small, $46.50
Co., Silk Mini Skirt w/ Tags, Small, $61.75
Giorgio Armani, Silk Wide Leg Pants, Small, $35
Hermès, Vintage (Margiela) Top, Large, $77.50
FRAME, Silk Scoop Neck Top, Medium, $38
Tory Sport, Colorblock Pattern Mini Skirt, Small, $87.75
DÔEN, Straight Leg Pants, Small, $87.75
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase—no extra cost to you, just a way to help support Driving Shoes and the time spent down rabbit holes.
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