Is The RealReal Legit? Trust & Safety Review

Is The RealReal legit? Yes—it is a legitimate, publicly traded luxury consignment marketplace that is generally safe to use, earning a HasTrust score of 77/100 (Trusted). It provides professional authentication, though this is not infallible, and some RealReal complaints center on item descriptions or return experiences. For high-value purchases, inspect items carefully on arrival and note the return policy, especially on final sale items.

therealreal.com
81
Trusted🏪 MarketplaceBuy
🔗https://therealreal.com
Why this score?
Base reputation77
Among the most-visited sites (rank #17052)+4
Trust score81

The RealReal is a legitimate, publicly traded luxury consignment marketplace that is generally safe to use. While they provide professional authentication, it is not infallible, and some customers have reported issues with item descriptions or return experiences. For high-value purchases, it is recommended to carefully inspect items upon arrival and be aware of their specific return policy, especially regarding final sale items.

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The RealReal product imageThe RealReal product imageThe RealReal product imageThe RealReal product image

Video reviews

Pros

  • Strong, professional in-house authentication process for luxury goods.
  • Established, publicly traded company.
  • Wide selection of curated pre-owned designer items.
  • Generally secure payment and platform infrastructure.

Cons

  • Authentication, while generally reliable, is not infallible; rare errors have been reported.
  • Some items are marked final sale, limiting return options.
  • Customer reports of inaccurate product descriptions (e.g., condition, sizing, or missing items).
  • Restocking fees apply to some returns.
  • Premium pricing compared to some open resale marketplaces.

⚠ Red flags

  • Past legal challenges regarding authenticity claims and return fees.
  • Reports of inconsistent customer service experiences regarding returns for misrepresented items.

Safety signals

Established business (founded 2011, public company)
Stated return/refund policy
Secure payment options
Contact information provided

Third-party ratings

Atop Legal77/100 (B)
BBBA+

Facts

Domain registered 2011-03 · 15 years old
Connection Valid HTTPS certificate
Certificate valid until 2026-12-30 (190 days) · DigiCert Inc
Founded: 2011
Headquarters: San Francisco, USA
Business Status: Publicly traded (NASDAQ: REAL)
Return Window: 14 days to request, 21 days to return (for eligible items)

Better options

💡 Smarter pick
Vestiaire Collective

Why switch: A strong alternative for authenticated luxury fashion, particularly if you are based in or shopping for items in Europe.

HasTrust summarizes public web sources and can be wrong or out of date. Not a guarantee of safety or quality — always verify before you buy or pay.

🛡️ Site safety check

Domain registered 15+ years ago
Valid HTTPS encryption (certificate by DigiCert Inc)
On the public web since 2011 (Internet Archive)
Among the ~1M most-visited sites on the web (Majestic Million #17052)

What you should do

  • Still pay with a method that has buyer protection (credit card or PayPal), never a bank transfer.
  • Check the returns policy and delivery time before ordering.
  • We keep tracking this site — check back here if anything feels off later.
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Checked 48 days ago. · How we score →

Frequently asked

Is The RealReal legit?

Trusted. HasTrust trust score: 81/100. The RealReal is a legitimate, publicly traded luxury consignment marketplace that is generally safe to use. While they provide professional authentication, it is not infallible, and some customers have reported issues with item descriptions or return experiences. For high-value purchases, it is recommended to carefully inspect items upon arrival and be aware of their specific return policy, especially regarding final sale items.

Is The RealReal a scam?

Possible concerns from our check: Past legal challenges regarding authenticity claims and return fees.; Reports of inconsistent customer service experiences regarding returns for misrepresented items.

What is the The RealReal trust score?

HasTrust rates The RealReal 81/100 (Trusted). Buy

Is The RealReal legit?

Yes. The RealReal is a legitimate, publicly traded luxury consignment marketplace and is generally safe to use, with a HasTrust score of 77/100 (Trusted). It offers professional authentication, though it is not infallible, so inspect high-value items carefully on arrival.

Is The RealReal safe to buy from?

It is generally safe. With a Trusted score of 77/100, The RealReal provides professional authentication on items. However, that process is not infallible, and some customers report issues with item descriptions or returns, so review the return policy before buying.

What are common The RealReal complaints?

Reported RealReal complaints mainly involve item descriptions not matching expectations and return experiences. Authentication is professional but not infallible. To avoid issues, carefully inspect items upon arrival and be aware of the return policy, especially regarding final sale items.

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