Shopping in person at Marrkt, York

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I was in York last week. It’s where my wife grew up, and I’ve been dozens of times over the years, though not for the past three or four.

The centre has a lot more closed shops since Covid; it’s quite sad. But I did notice one big new shop on Parliament Street, called simply ‘The Vintage Shop’ (below). 

Its stock is specific: American brands and sports, from the 1990s onwards. There are big piles of Polo polos, Tommy Hilfiger shirts and Champion sweats. There are hoodies and caps of American Football teams, and Carhartt workwear.  

I browsed around, trying on some Polo chinos and Carhartt work trousers. I’ve always liked the way duck canvas ages, and some of the old Polo pieces get really nice and soft over the years. 

The problem with most of it, though, was the quality. A lot of synthetics, sweatshirts rather bobbled, and more stains than you’d expect. This is not the best period for Americana, and this is not the best from that period.

However, there is another relative newcomer just out of town where quality is a driver - and that’s Marrkt (pictured elsewhere)

The pre-owned website has its headquarters in a business park about 20 minutes from the centre of York, near Easingwold. As readers will know, I’ve sold many of my own clothes through Marrkt in recent years, and we did a pop-up together last December.

I thought it would be nice to visit the team while I was in town, and perhaps even use the opportunity to try some pieces I’d been poring over online (some John Lofgren boots, a Real McCoy’s sweat, Iron Heart denim). 

It turned out that the team were not only happy for me to do so, but they’d been thinking about encouraging people to visit and shop (by appointment) for a while. 

After all, this is probably the biggest concentration of luxury menswear anywhere in the UK outside London. Nowhere else has Seraphin leather coats, Chapal bombers and Loro Piana jackets - and certainly not all in one place. 

The only issue, I found, is that the racks are organised by date - by the month they came into the warehouse. This drives the product codes, and how everything is fulfilled. 

So there’s no way to browse by brand or size. You simply have to walk through the racks, picking out any piece that looks interesting and seeing what maker it is, and then roughly whether it’s a good size. 

This is pretty much the experience of browsing most vintage stores, to be fair. And it did mean I stumbled across some beautiful things I hadn’t seen online. 

On a website you tend to browse by a brand you know, or a category of something you’re looking for. So it’s easy to miss, say, a lovely Kanata cardigan because you’ve forgotten about the brand or aren’t really looking for knitwear. 

My advice, for anyone that does visit, is to do both. Browse the website in order to make a list of the things you’re interested in: these can be quickly tracked down using the codes, and picked out to try on. 

Then, walk the racks and see what else catches your eye. 

The other nice thing about doing this is that you see sellers’ clothing all grouped together. 

So you’ll find a section with four or five well-worn Aero Leather jackets, from someone who clearly had a problem buying too many, and eventually had to trim down his collection. 

Or, you find a rack that is nearly entirely vests and waistcoats - fishing ones and tailored ones, old and new, canvas and down. Clearly that was his thing, his way of dressing. 

Actually, I know whose those belonged to, because he’s a journalist I know. Same goes for another writer friend, who had sent in a lot of his old bespoke tailoring. There was even a reader or two who I knew had sent in certain things.

You could read people’s style by the brands they had sent: one had the Seraphin, the Chapal and some more French pieces; another was heavily into the Japanese repro brands like McCoy’s, Buzz Rickson and Warehouse, with almost everything from McCoy’s one year; and another was all Japanese fashion, Kapital, 45R and Visvim. 

This makes browsing a little simpler too, because you quickly realise one seller is too big for his things to fit you. 

And then you find a motherlode: a guy with wonderful leathers and wool jackets, all in a size 40. I tried on a lot of those. 

In fact, I stumbled across quite a lot of clothes that I would never have normally tried on, even in a shop. There was a Visvim down coat, a Margiela knit, an Aero flight jacket. All of them lovely, and none of them things I had ever tried before. I think that might have been the most enjoyable part of the experience. 

Pictured below are a couple of the pieces I particularly liked - that Kanata hand knit and a beautifully worn-in Real McCoy's jacket. The two Seraphin coats on the site are also stunning, but look like nothing special until you see them in person. 

But what did I actually walk away with? Well, two pieces that were rather less exciting, but very practical. 

A pair of Buzz Rickson chinos that seem to be just as nice as the Real McCoy’s ones I’ve covered previously (below). A slightly different colour, and a zip fly, but otherwise similar. They’ll be a useful and relatively cheap way to add something new to our chino series.

And a Bryceland’s sawtooth shirt, size 42. A combination of weight gain, evolving style and simple recognition of how things are meant to fit had made me think I needed to size up from my 40, so this was perfect. 

The size 40 will of course be sent to Marrkt to be sold onto someone else, so it all goes around. It’s not quite a circular economy, but this is certainly a longer value chain than most clothing gets.

In the articles we did on vintage store Rag Parade in Sheffield, it was interesting to discuss why people buy vintage and pre-owned clothing: the motivations are various, and shouldn’t be confused. 

The shoppers at The Vintage Store were all young and primarily thrift shoppers, looking to get something cheap. Style was a factor, but most things could be bought elsewhere new. Just three or four times the price. 

Most people at Rag Parade, by contrast, were not thrifting - they were looking for something special, unusual and rare. A pile of dead-stock army trousers might be good value for what they’re made of, but that wasn’t the main driver. 

I find other vintage shops can be a mixture, depending on how closely they are curated. Le Vif in Paris, for example, is much more tightly edited than Broadway & Sons in Gothenburg. Thrift is not a factor at the former, but probably is a little at the latter. 

Marrkt is more similar to The Vintage Store - a mixture of thrift and style. Thrift even though the clothes are expensive, because they were really expensive when new. And style because this is all menswear, fairly classic, and a certain level of quality. 

Marrkt is open to anyone that wants to make an appointment. The facilities are being gradually improved though - such as a dedicated space and changing area - so if you visit soon it might be a little rough and ready. 

The best way to make an appointment is to email [email protected].

If you’re anywhere near York, I think it’s worth a visit. You might not find anything you hadn’t already seen online, but it will save a lot of buying and sending back. And it might open your eyes to something you’d ever considered before, and you’ll walk away with a Descente ski jacket or a Visvim folk boot. 

www.marrkt.com

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Jonathan

Just sent a couple of bits to Marrkt, so nice to read more about their operation. I have never bought from them – what is their packaging like? Do they have Marrkt-labelled shoe boxes and such?

And do they clean products before selling? Being completely honest, I have always found the ‘sniff’ of vintage places rather off-putting. I guess cleaning helps, but not completely. Thanks.

zo

ive bought plenty from market and sold some too. I don’t think they wash and clean products, they do press and take photos. (ive frequently received products with easily removable stains and/or in need of a wash). the packaging is extremely basic. I find the products are pressed and folded and squeezed in to smallest of spaces…even expensive tailored jackets. no wrapping paper, no shoulder stuffing, no hangers, no coat hanger. Im not put off by it at all as there are fantastic bargains and some rare pieces to be found…but my point is don’t expect MatchesFashion level of packaging.

Gabriele

Hi Simon, a question about the Bryceland’s shirt: if you were wearing it just against the skin, and not with a t-shirt underneath, would you have still sized up to a 42?

Alexander

The PS oxfords in Medium are slightly too slim for me everywhere except the waist. My chest is just over 100cm. So I ordered the Bryceland sawtooth in size 42 (raw). You think that is the right move?

Alexander

Thank you for your input!

Sam

I really like Marrkt – it’s become my go-to site to check when the daily drops arrive in the afternoon. Similarly to what Simon mentioned in the article, the fact that products are listed in “chunks” by seller means that if you see one thing you like, you are likely to see multiple things at the same time from the same seller.

They get some pretty eclectic products there, and the purchasing experience has been very solid so far for me.

Bob

Didn’t you even buy a 38 in the Bryceland’s sawtooth initially and sized up to the 40?
I also own a 40 in the sawtooth for many years now. This felt too big at first, and now after about 50 washes it feels borderline too tight. Key factor is that these Japanese denim fabrics continue to shrink over time…
Its similar for Brycelands type I denim jacket. I had a 40 which I had to let go because it was getting too short, actually replaced it with an almost new 42 from marrkt, which was huge initially and a good fit after 3 washes.

Peter Hall

What was your opinion of the Iron Heart denim, Simon? I’m very happy with my jeans.

shem

Hey simon, I don’t think they had the bryceland sawtooth up on the webstore or I would have copped it. This is the exact size i’m looking for. In anywise, the size 42 actually looks somewhat slim on you from the back (hugging your flanks). Do you see yourself getting a 44 some time down the road?

Ray_Bentos

I think Marrkt’s very good, but in my experience there have been a few issues people should be aware of, especially if they are used to the customer service that comes with “high end” shopping.

Marrkt appear to do very little cleaning – a couple of the items I’ve bough have had (minor) stains that have come out with washing. These where never noted in the description, items are almost always listed as being in “very good” condition.

I’ve tried to sell items on there and had no response, when I followed up I was told that someone would get back to me but this never happened. Perhaps the items weren’t quite right or in sufficient quantity.

The prices seem to jump about a bit irrespective of sales and promotions. Marrkt are currently running a 25% off sale but some of the items were selling for less a couple of months ago. I think the takeaway from this is that if you see something you like at a decent price, buy it as it might be listed for £50 more the next time you look.

This might seem a little negative, but overall my experiences have been very positive. I also think the ~40% commission isn’t that high considering the low effort required, and the targeted customer base they have cultivated. If you have ever tried to sell clothing on ebay or others, you’ll be well aware that the whole process can become tedious very quickly.

Jim

I’ve contacted them about selling items and not had any response as well. I couldn’t be bothered to follow it up but the whole process seemed fairly opaque and not very friendly. The items I offered where of the same brand and quality as other items they stock so no idea why they never responded. They all went on eBay and sold for more than I think I would have received from Marrkt anyway so no great loss but it was a disappointing experience to have my enquiry completely ignored.

Bob

Something would have gone very wrong if they didn’t sell for more on eBay than they would have paid you Jim. Any company buying used goods to resell will be paying you less than you can get from a private sale (if nothing else, otherwise their stock would come from eBay) but its about simplicity, low effort, low risk etc.

zo

Yup I had to follow up with multiple emails and calls just to get some products listed…and again once they sold. So not great experience there. I regularly sell on various other platforms, and yes you’ll get a better price on eBay. However Market brings you a specific audience and visibility in the daily drop, for example, to a community of like-minded buyers. So many brands I have learnt about simply from the daily drop listings.

RT

My experience as a potential seller was very poor too. I had to chase to get any kind of response to an email and then, ultimately, decided not to bother after a very curt reply.
I contrast this with the exceptional service I’ve received from Abbot’s Shoes. They have a really high quality website, with products very well presented. I’ve sold a number of shoes through them and they have been consistently prompt and detailed in their communications and have paid me very promptly, without chasing, normally within around 24 hours of confirming the purchase. I’d strongly recommend them. I wish they sold clothes too!

EP

I would also echo this negative experience from a sellers point of view. Communication very poor when they revived my items (items were listed before a price was a agreed), then a delay in payment which also needed a couple of emails to follow up due to lack of reply. This was early last year so I hope things are better now. I continue to buy things from them though, and that service has been fantastic (quick delivery and no hassle returns). I love what they do, but as others have mentioned selling though them/communication can be a little frustrating.

Dave

Unfortunately, I have to join this chain of negative experiences. One of my unworn leather jackets in the higher price segment (original price £1900) was soiled by pen marks last year after arriving at Marrkt. These pen marks were noticed by a buyer who returned the jacket. Marrkt correctly confirmed in writing that these marks had been made by them and that they would deal with the matter accordingly. Unfortunately, the jacket was darkened beyond recognition during their subsequent reconditioning process. Since then, there has been silence on their part regarding this matter. My first request in december 2021 for a statement went unanswered. After more than three months, I requested a statement again last week, which has remained unanswered to this date. I hope to be able to exert some pressure through this route. When you deal with expensive clothes, you should take a certain amount of responsibility, especially if something has gone massively wrong like in this case.

Stephen S

Hi Simon,
I have sold through Marktt over the past 18 months or so. It’s great to have the opportunity to publicly say what a great service they provide. Extremely well managed, very little for a seller to actually do, together with a very professional website.
I would thoroughly recommend them to people looking to scale down their wardrobe, whilst making a bit of cash and passing some high quality items to a good home.
Well done to all concerned.
P.S. Hopefully they will make another appearance at a future PS pop-up store.

Lawrence

Hi Simon. Another question about Bryceland’s sawtooth denim shirt, and your sizing up because of a sense of evolving style and how things are meant to fit. When I bought the shirt a few weeks ago, I bought a 42 because you looked good in a 40 and I’m generally about a size larger than you. I’ve washed mine now a couple of times, once in warm water, and it remains very fitted in the shoulders and body, but not uncomfortably so. The sleeves are certainly long enough, and I wouldn’t want more room around the belt-line. There is no drape, but it seems to me the fabric is too stiff (at least at this point) and heavy for it to have any drape even if I were wearing several sizes larger. Could you say more about how you think that shirt is meant to fit, your evolving style, etc?

Mick

Interesting to read about a physical trip to Marrkt. It sounds as though they are burgeoning which can only be a good thing. As you say Simon, where else can you find such a good quality eclectic mix of clothing in one place?
I also enjoy seeing the ‘Daily Drop’ arrive by email.
I’ve bought and sold a few things through Marrkt and would also add a few caveats to my experience. Customer service is well intentioned but can be unreliable. The ‘Live Chat’ function on the website seems usually to be unstaffed so trying to check a detail like the sizing can be hard/impossible to do.
As a seller, the experience is very convenient in that items are collected from you, photographed, listed and (hopefully) sold. However, there is no ‘contract’ as such which makes the whole experience based entirely on trust. I haven’t had any major problems but have had to chase up payments for sold items. If your items do go unsold, they can languish on the website for a long time eventually being put in sales that reduce your commission but there’s nothing to inform you if and when your item will be put in a sale or how that affects your fee.
Overall, Marrkt is great but could be greater if they’d tighten up some of these aspects of the business.

CJ

From my experience as a Seller I’d agree with your comments here re: pricing. I’ve just accepted that I’ll take the risk now but very much appreciate that’s not what most people would be happy with doing.

CJ

Have sold a huge volume through Marrkt and also purchased around five items over the last few years.
Quality is very good and their service to me as a Seller has always been high.
The site seems to have exploded since I probably came across it five or so years ago (I’m guessing) where there were just a handful of pieces, now one can see updates to stock every single day.

BIllyBoy

That’s not been my experience at all as a seller. Unfortunately, I found them arrogant. No consultation on price, no acknowledgement of goods, no inventory, no info on when the clothes went live. Serveral mistakes in listings. Unworn clothes listed as worn. Wrong sizes listed. Very disappointed. Happily avoid them now

Peter

From my experience with the Brycelands sawtooth it’s worth bearing in mind that the sizing feels rather different across the different fabrics. In the denim I’m a 40/42, but in the black cotton a 38

Gabriele

Actually I noticed this too! Any idea of why that’s the case?

SAO

My experience of Marrkt has been much more negative than some of the other commenters. A simple error with an account number has proven impossible to sort out despite multiple calls and emails with the result that a payment from October 2020 for a sold item is still outstanding all these many months later. Repeated promises to get back to me and sort out the issue have never led to any action. I am now having to escalate the problem to small claims repayment services. Deeply frustrating. Maybe, thanks to the new appointments system, I can now complain in person?

Marrkt

Hello Sao, Please let contact us about your problem and we’ll resolve this for you – I’m not aware of the issue you describe but happy to find a solution. Best, Lewis [email protected]

BB

Hey Simon, this took me down memory lane. I trained at the Press Association’s northern HQ over a decade ago and lived in a village not far from York. I would often jump on my scooter and head off to York to shop or dine. I also frequented Harrogate and many of the surrounding idyllic villages. Shame that you found many shops have stopped trading. I had actually wanted to ask if you had links up north and so it turns out you did. It truly is God’s own country.
On Marrkt and the resell market, Mr Porter has now entered the foray with a new Mr Porter Resell offering. They will pick up the items, sell and pay the seller in store credits or cash.

H

Hi Simon, have you also tried the RealReal in Soho? If I visit Soho for a stroll, I might swing by. And a more practical question moving from 40 to 42 for you, since probably many of us with age etc have to cope with this issue sooner or later. At what stage you visit your tailor to let loose the pants and the suit jacket? What about RTW? It’s obviously one thing for a few pieces, but not ideal at all across folks’ belonging. The best solution is, of course, to get back to the original size but that might not always work…

Nas Maqsood

I had no idea this was in such close vicinity to where I live, will definitely email to visit. Just checked their site and they have some great pieces.

Dan James

And with my son at York university another reason to visit when flights to Europe become easier.

George

I look often for such used stuff but i didnt find something really nice till
now, except some really great real mccoys jackets that are not so cheap for me. Do you have experience of vintage shops in amsterdam ? Im going next week and i wanted to visit some good ones if possible

Peter Hall

https://www.saltinourhair.com/netherlands/vintage-stores-amsterdam/
George. I would suggest the markets rather than the shops-although Rumours is good. Vintage clothing is not inexpensive in Amsterdam. Anything central will be at a premium.

Stephen S

Hi Simon,
Styling question. Do you tend to wear your western shirts tucked in or outside trousers/chinos/jeans.
Eg outside when not with a jacket inside with a jacket?
Thanks

Stephen

Thank you

SB

That was my Bryceland’s denim shirt! Glad it went to a good home.

Stephen

Totally agree with you both. One I item I sold on Marktt was a Drakes sample coat, that then appeared on Die Workear, so possibly Derek has given it a loving home. I find Marktt particularly useful where my taste has changed or a purchasing mistake (we all make them!) or where I hopefully can maintain a ‘one in one out ‘ approach.

SVT

Simon
This is one of your exceptional articles. Nice to watch, nice to read.
It suits you very well to tuck something into jeans or chinos and especially with a white t-shirt. I usually like to tuck in a T-shirt or shirt to show clean lines, although I guess I’m not an old gentleman. Well, with your height and torso, this is a priori good.

John

Hi Simon,
A week-end reading for you and others:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/11/fashion/ties-upcycle-thrift-donate.html
John

Adam

Marrkt is truly a great place for pre-owned clothing. I think I have bought five things from there over the years and all of them have been perfect. The only thing I returned was a pair of Alden’s on the slightly special Modified last. The size was good, but not the fit.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to find products in one’s size. I have size 15″ and small in shirts and sweaters and UK10/US10½ in shoes but often it seems that most shirts and sweaters are only available in size XL-XXL and shoes in 8-8½ at Marrkt.
But it is also a bit part of the charm, to try to find a garment that is both appealing and the right size.

Tan

Hi Simon,

I have to give my thanks to the good people at Marrkt. It’s one of the few places that has catered to brands with a niche interest in the general population.

If anyone has a remote interest in quality clothing, this is the gateway drug to getting it. It’s one of the few ways I can get comfort with the quality of the clothing I get (eBay can get tricky for the uninitiated) at a discount.

I’m willing to bet that, as with most vintage places, there is a sustainability aspect to this. But without rigorous analysis of carbon footprint for deliveries, packaging and waste disposal, it’s not something that I can comment on per se.

I’ve noted a few comments about cleaning products before the item being sold. From personal experience, I see where the comments are coming from – but it has never affected me to the point it causes a disappointing experience.

I would like to know Simon, if you’ve managed to try any of the products from Highland 2000 that Marrkt seems to have partnered with (or have an archive sale for).

Mick

I have a woolly hat which is a ‘rustic’ thick flecked rough wool which I love!

Daniel

Agreed Mick. I purchased a cotton watch cap from Highland 2000 in a lovely “sage green” which is excellent

Severin

I have bought and sold several items on Marrkt and I’m pleased with the overall process and their product range.
However, one big problem is the tax issue when ordering from a EU country.
Marrkt state on their website that the price will be the same, no matter where you order from and no VAT will be added. Unfortunately, this is not true at all…
Other British shops (e.g. Private White, Clutch Cafe, Son of a Stag) use a delivery and duties paid service offered by various shipping providers. Marrkt, on the other hand, use invoices displaying a low value (usually £30) in order to avoid taxes.
This might have worked in the past, but it only takes 2 minutes of google research to find out that there ist a EU tax on every order from Britain to the EU, no matter how low the value of an order might be. Tax rate depends on the country of destination but is usually around 20%.
Additionally, DHL will charge the customer a fee of around 15 € for laying out the money.
Keep in mind that all these costs as well as the cost for shipping back and forth are non refundable. So in case of a return from a EU country, you are left with a big hole in your wallet.
All that being said, it only makes sense for European customers to order on Marrkt, if you are 100% certain about a product and if you are happy to pay an additional 40€ for shipping and taxes (18€ initial shipping + 15€ DHL fee + 7€ EU-VAT).

George

Ive never understood the tax system on imports and how some brands offer a tax free option to ship to the UK and others dont. I have bought from swedish brands before who will refund the tax after placing the order if shipping to the UK. The tax is then paid when it enters the UK and prior to delivery. Overall therefor the price paid is the same as is stated on the website. What i dont understand is why all brands cant offer this? I have enquired about this with Brycelands for example [more than once] and they go quiet when this question is asked. I can only assume that they end up pocketing the tax’s paid on items when they ship abroad. It means as a consumer you pay twice, both the lcoal tax’s when you purchase online and then the import taxs when it enters the UK. Very unsatifactory arrangement and quite honeslty its very prohibitive. I would have spent allot of money with some brands over the years but have decided against as their tax policies are opaque and result in overpricing.
Simon you seem to show all prices excluding tax on the PS shop. Why cant all brands do this?

Peter Hall

I recently ordered 120 £ worth of goods from a uk clothing supplier .They deleted the VAT at check out and I paid it on my doorstep when DHL delivered (plus the DHL delivery charge to the NL).
It worked out virtually the same. VAT paid once.

Steve B

Not wanting to do one better but hopefully to help others, I ordered a scarf from Ireland ( inis Meáin ) circa £125 & no VAT there & no duty or courier charge. It may well have been below current thresholds.

Tom

Hi Simon, I was wondering if you could help with another Bryceland’s denim sawtooth sizing question.

I have a 15” neck, true chest: 36”, 30” waist, 5’9” and 65kg.

38 looks like the right dimensions but I’m wondering if I should go for a 40 once you take into account the shrinkage – or does that run the risk of being excessive?

Tom

Thanks Simon, very useful.

Charles

My experience with Marrkt as a seller puts me off doing anything else with them. Whilst the initial responses and setting up DPD labels was smooth, I had to chase up errors they made in listings – in one instance they described both the fabric and colour of an item incorrectly, and another couldn’t be found if you searched for the brand, it was only found on their ‘new arrivals’. They also took 3 weeks to list items from the same parcel.
You get no confirmation your items have been listed, or sold, so I found myself making web bookmarks when I found my items – some of which were lower priced than the initial email agreed – presumably to avoid the lower commission they’d get as the original quote was £500. When it appeared it was £25 less than that. So I’ll be about £60 worse off as they ‘appear’ to have sold it (again, there’s no way of knowing).
I can only assume that the item I can no longer find on the site has been sold, but it’s been 3 weeks so the buyer could feasibly still return given potential postage delays. I intend to follow up next week. And may well ask for my other items back.
In my opinion they don’t do enough to justify their commission rates (storage, 3/4 photos and basic measurements), and have very poor communication beyond initial contact. Cannot comment about the purchase experience as I’ve not bought anything from them.
Style over substance.

Charles

Hello again. Just thought I’d post a follow-up to this.

Messaged Marrkt regarding the item that I believed had been sold, and got a quick reply with a date-range for when I should expect the payout. Fine, although it seemed a little longer than I would have anticipated. “First world problems”, as the saying goes.

Followed up with an enquiry as to why they had chosen to list it at a lower price (therefore knocking me into a higher commission rate) – crickets. These emails were minutes apart, so the silence is deafening.

Hopefully the payment includes a breakdown of costs incurred, so I can again ask why they altered it from what we agreed. Given there is a similar item currently on their site for £100 more, I think I have a valid point.

It’s all very well saying they’re a small company, but when every Google search either brings up interviews with the founder about how well they did over lockdown and expansion plans, pop-ups they’ve hosted or ringing endorsements from blogs I don’t think this rings true. They need more staff, clearly, to deal with their newfound success.

Having spoken to several people who’ve sold (and bought) with Marrkt before they agree that service has gone downhill – and fast. Hearsay, of course, and there are probably far more people with positive experiences.

They were also selling one of the worst fake Visvim 101 jackets I’ve ever seen recently, and deleted the Instagram comment that advised them about it. Hopefully the buyer (it said ‘sold out’ so I assume it was purchased) gets refunded.

And also worth remembering one thing – Marrkt do not own much of the stock they sell. They haven’t purchased it wholesale (apart from the deadstock and anything they purchase outright, and direct from brands). They are acting on behalf of others. If I approached a car salesman to sell my car, and he said “I’ll get you £5k, at 25% commission” but you later found out that he’d got you £4.5k and charged you 35% without consulting you you’d be ‘annoyed’ to put it mildly. Not the most meaningful analogy, but that is essentially what they’ve done.

I’ll wait until I receive an invoice before I decide whether to remove my other items, but if their current service level is anything to go by it won’t be long before I do so.

Tom

it seems like I am not the only one having experienced such issues.
I sent items to Marrkt and we agreed upon a commission rate of 30%. Now that I have received the payout, I have to read that they changed it to 35%.
I am sorry, but this is nothing but betrayal and a very strange way to do business.

Shane

Hi Simon. Are those the Buzz Rickson Original Spec chinos ? If so I would be interested in your experience. I bought a pair but found them very bulky at the bottom. I do like to wear them with a roll (or two) so I appreciate this will add some excess too. I really like the fit elsewhere so ended up having them tapered, a bit like the new Drake’s chinos. How did you find yours ?

Alexander

I am currently trying to get used to the 22cm leg opening of the buzz rickson chinos. My sweet spot used to be 20cm with my Rubato jeans and with my tailored trousers etc. I am not sure yet if I want to make the buzz rickson slimmer. Coincidentally I saw the vintage army chinos you were wearing on your IG post this week at your styling work with RMC. Those vintage ones of yours also look quite wide compared to your other chinos. I remember you also had your Rubato chinos all slimmed. Any new thoughts you could share about the width of such army style trousers in general? (I realize that you wear your Rubato ones differently, not in a workwear but in a casual chic style.) Thanks as always!

Alexander

Ok thanks. Maybe I am also too focused on the leg opening. I compared the chinos side by side to my rubato jeans in size 32, which have an opening of roughly 21 cm and those jeans would not look particularly wide on most people because of the moderate leg line.

Tom

Horrible company! Sorry to put it so bluntly, but their customer service is by far the worst I have ever experienced.
They increase the commission rate one sidedly without consulting the owner, they lie about import fees and come up with made up charges (e.g. “fuel contribution”) to keep more of the money than originally agreed upon.
From my experience, I can only advise against buying or selling from Marrkt

Shem

Hi simon, im wondering is there a certain ettiquete to be observed/followed as a customer? With many upscale menswear stores i find there is a certain unspoken expectation that you will have to purchase something when trying something on. There have been numerous occasions wherr i tried shoes for eg and later not decided to buy it tp great dismay from the shop keeper as can be seen from his facial expression.

EP

I commented above, about a year ago, along with others that had a negative experience of selling.
After sending a couple of other batches of items the customer service – from a sellers point of view – its still really frustrating. If you are sending them multiple items, it’s very hard to keep track of what is sold, and when to expect the payout. It requires so much email chasing.
It would be great to have a sellers portal/account. I.e., the ability to login with an email/password so you can see the status of each item that has been received by Marrkt, listed, purchased and then commission paid. Maybe a big ask on the tech side for a small business, but it would make the whole process much smoother without having to resort to big email chains.
From a sellers point of view I still can’t recommend them, although I’ve been happy with the service (quick delivery etc.) when buying items.

Daniel

For selling bespoke/tailored pieces, do you find marrkt is the only other option apart from privately like through ebay? any recommendations?

Greg Coleman

Good afternoon,

Is Marrkt still trading?

The website appears to be functioning, but they owe me money for a coat that they sold during the year and I am not getting any response to several emails I’ve sent?

It’s an excellent business model and obviously appeals to those of us who try to be sustainable. But I was wondering whether anyone else has had these sorts of problems?

Thanks,

Greg

shem

Hi simon I believe you owned the buzz rickson original spec chino and have since sold it. Can I ask how is it in comparison to say the rubato chino from a fit perspective? From the pictures I gather it seems a lot slimmer though somehow the measurements (e.g. thigh and leg opening especially) seems alot bigger?

Alexander

1) I own the buzz rickson and had them tapered a bit from the knee down. About the fit through the thighs: I think you wrote some time ago that a fit that is somewhat close here can prevent trousers from looking too old-manish and comfortable. Is that still something you keep in mind, especially nowadays when wider trousers are more on trend?
2) I am still thinking of also getting the dark khaki chinos vom Rubato. Could it be true that the colour is almost identical to the buzz rickson khaki? (which I really like)
Thanks!

Alexander

In today’s article you are wearing dark brown trousers again. I am (as you) not a fan of wearing chinos with a tailored jacket. And I failed when I tried. But do you think the dark brown chinos from Rubato could be an exception, in so far as they are of such a unique colour, that there is no room for any boring connotations? I would hope that the dark brown chino could be a really useful and fresh alternative to wear with my navy jackets or grey herringbone jacket.

Alexander

Thank you! I also thought about wearing the dark brown rubato chinos with a simple black leather jacket. Would you have any concerns about that combination?