Why Is Farfetch Cheaper (My 4 Points Overview)

Farfetch, a British e-commerce giant, is the leading global marketplace for luxury fashion, connecting customers in over 190 countries with a vast inventory of high-end clothing, accessories, and beauty products.

Unlike a traditional retailer that holds its own stock, Farfetch operates as a digital platform, curating items from a global network of over 1,400 independent luxury boutiques, major brands, and department stores.

This innovative model gives you access to a massive and diverse selection, from runway pieces to vintage finds, all in one convenient online destination.

Farfetch is a luxurious place where you can find items from some parts of the world but sometimes you see surprisingly "cheap" prices. These lower-than-expected prices can often be attributed to the item originating from a boutique in a country with a lower retail price or a specific regional sale.

Here is a guide to answer why Farfetch is cheaper despite being luxurious and how long it will take for them to deliver.

Why Is Farfetch Cheaper?

The simple answer is due to their business model. The Farfetch business model operates as a global, two-sided technology marketplace for luxury fashion, connecting customers with a vast, curated network of over 1,400 boutiques and brands worldwide.

Its key strength lies in its "asset-light" or "zero-inventory" approach: Farfetch does not own most of the stock but instead integrates its partners' inventory in real-time and manages the logistics.

Farfetch generates the majority of its revenue by taking a commission (or "take rate") on every sale made through its platform, supplemented by fees charged to partners for using its fulfillment services and licensing its e-commerce technology (Farfetch Platform Solutions). This model allows Farfetch to offer the widest selection of luxury goods globally while letting partner boutiques and brands handle the inventory risk.

Let us now see a detailed guide to why a product can be significantly cheaper at Farfetch than at your local high-end department store. As someone who has scored some serious deals on Farfetch, I can tell you it often feels like you have unlocked a secret backdoor into the global luxury market when you get luxury items at a cheaper price.

1. The Power of the Global Marketplace (The Core Reason):

The single biggest factor is that Farfetch is a marketplace, not a retailer. They don't buy and own most of the inventory. Instead, they act as the intermediary, connecting you with over 1,400 luxury boutiques, department stores, and brands all over the world.

• Boutique Competition: When you search for a Gucci bag (for example), you might see the exact same item listed by five different boutiques: one in Milan, one in Tokyo, one in London, and so on. Since these boutiques are competing with one another for your sale on the same platform, they are constantly adjusting their prices to be the most competitive. You can even sort by "Lowest Price" to instantly see who's offering the best deal globally.
• The "Zero-Inventory" Advantage: Since Farfetch avoids the massive costs associated with buying, warehousing, and managing huge amounts of inventory (a process called "taking on risk"), they don't have to build those high overhead costs into the final price. They take a commission (around 30% of the sale) and pass the rest of the cost savings on to the customer in the form of competitive pricing.

2. Global pricing and currency/regional differences:

This is the key to finding those jaw-dropping discounts. Luxury goods have different retail prices in different countries, a practice known as regional pricing.

• Currency and Geo-Pricing: Imagine an item is listed by a small boutique in Portugal. Their local price in Euros might convert to a much lower price in your local currency (like USD or GBP) on a given day, especially if the Euro is weaker. You are essentially taking advantage of the favorable exchange rate for that specific region.
• Regional Sales and Clearance: A boutique in Singapore might be running a massive end-of-season clearance sale to clear space before a holiday. By listing that item on Farfetch, they can sell it globally at that deeply discounted clearance price, which can be an absolute steal compared to the full retail price in your country.
• Best Price Guaranteed (at Checkout): Farfetch has a system that automatically shows you the lowest price available to ship to your destination from any of its global partners. If the same item is available from three different places, you are seeing the cheapest option right out of the gate.

Sometimes new items on Farfetch are significantly cheaper even when compared to second-hand ones due to import tax and exchange rate.

3. Shopping Smarter: Pre-Owned and Sales:

Farfetch also has entire categories dedicated to value, allowing you to maximize your savings further.

• Pre-Owned Selection: Farfetch has a major focus on authenticated pre-owned items, which are always priced significantly below their original retail value. This is a fantastic way to acquire a classic Chanel or Hermès bag at a fraction of the cost.
• Promotions and Loyalty: They run frequent promotional codes, flash sales, and end-of-season sales that can drop prices up to 60-70%. Furthermore, their Access loyalty program offers exclusive benefits, like early access to sales, welcome rewards, and free shipping credits as you move up the tiers.

Also, boutiques may list items that are out of seasonal favour, overstocked, or older collection pieces. They might discount to move them. Since Farfetch gives access to many boutiques, you get exposed to more of this “clearance luxury” stock. Farfetch also explicitly has an “Outlet” section where discounts go deeper.

4. Fewer mark-up layers / fewer physical store costs:

Traditional brand-retail stores carry high overhead (prime real estate, staff, local marketing, etc.). Some of that cost gets built into the price.

Farfetch’s model slices through part of that: because the boutiques manage their own microsales, and Farfetch acts as a platform, it may reduce margin layers or allow more flexibility. For example:

• “Farfetch doesn’t own the products they sell, nor do they operate physical stores so they pass the savings on to you.”

Note: You might find a designer item you have seen in a boutique or brand store for, say, $1,500, but on Farfetch it might be $1,200, or even less if it’s on sale. The “why cheaper” reasons above apply.

What you will need to check and be careful about:

1. Boutique details: Because the item is sold through a boutique partner, you will want to check the boutique’s location, shipping policies, duties, and whether they have got a strong reputation to avoid mismarked materials.
2. Shipping and taxes/duties: Even if the price is lower, you may incur import taxes or shipping from another country. Make sure you factor that in.
3. Returns policy: It may vary by boutique, some may have stricter conditions. So what looks like “15-day free returns” might actually have caveats depending on the boutique.
4. Price variation by size/region: Because different listings may exist for the same item (from different boutiques), you might notice size “M” is cheaper than size “L” because it’s coming from a boutique with different pricing.
5. Authenticity risk: While Farfetch works with vetted boutiques, because you are buying via third-party listings, you should still exercise standard luxury item precautions.
6. Stock availability quirks: Because many listings are boutique-specific, you might see “Only 1 left at this price” that actually means there’s only 1 left at this boutique’s price. Also, the price may jump once that listing sells out (while another boutique may list higher).

Remember: Farfetch is fantastic because in most major countries, the price you see includes all customs duties and taxes (DDP - Delivered Duty Paid). So, that final price is truly final, and you won't get hit with any surprise import fees when the package arrives at your door, which can often be the hidden cost that makes other international shopping sites more expensive.

How Long Does Farfetch Take to Deliver?

Farfetch delivery times can vary depending on your location, the item's origin, and the shipping method you select.

Generally, here are the different Farfetch delivery methods and their typical delivery timeframes:

1. Express Delivery: Farfetch's Express Delivery is the most common international shipping method. For customers in most of Europe and the US, delivery typically takes 2 to 4 business days from the time the package is dispatched. For the rest of the world, the estimated delivery time is generally 3 to 7 days. This option is utilized for the majority of orders, especially since Farfetch's items are often sourced from international partner boutiques and brands.

2. Standard Delivery: Standard Delivery is an option offered in a limited number of countries and is a more economical choice compared to Express shipping. This shipping method generally takes between 2 and 6 days for the item to arrive. If Standard Delivery is available for your destination and selected items, it will be presented as an option during the checkout process.

3. Fast Delivery: Fast Delivery is the quickest option, offering delivery in just 1 to 2 business days. This option is only available for specific items and countries where the product is already located close to the customer, allowing for exceptionally quick transit. In some major urban areas like London, Paris, New York, Dubei etc, Farfetch has also offered services like 90-Minute or Same-Day Delivery, which fall under this category of expedited service.

Consider the following:

• Processing Time: Farfetch's partner boutiques and brands have up to 2 business days to process your order before it is shipped.
• Multiple Items: If you order items from different brands or boutiques, they will likely arrive in separate packages with their own delivery timelines.
• Tracking: You will receive an email with tracking information and an estimated delivery date once your item is sent.
• Customs: Delays can occasionally occur due to customs clearance, as Farfetch ships internationally from various locations.

The most accurate delivery options and estimated times for your specific order will be displayed at checkout.

Is FARFETCH delivery free?

Yes, FARFETCH offers free standard delivery. However their delivery is generally not free unless you meet a certain minimum order value that permits free shipping. According to their "Orders & Shipping" page:

• For example, in the UK: free standard delivery if your order is £400 or more (full price + sale items).
• In the US: free standard delivery if your order is US$400 or more.
• For other countries the threshold varies.

If your order is below the threshold, you will be charged a delivery fee (which will be shown at checkout).

Note that, there is not a blanket guarantee of free express shipping on FARFETCH, it depends on your country/region, the order value, and any active promotions or membership status.

Is FARFETCH return free?

Yes, Farfetch returns are generally free. Farfetch offers a Free Returns service for most orders, which typically includes:

• Free Return Label: Your package usually includes a prepaid return label (often from carriers like DHL, FedEx, or UPS).
• Free Collection: You can often schedule a free collection of your return package directly from your address through their website.
• 30-Day Window: Returns are usually accepted up to 30 days after you receive your order.

Things to consider before making a return on Farfetch:

1. Items must be in their original condition: unworn, undamaged, with tags and original packaging still intact. Footwear/accessories often need their original box/dust bag.
2. If the item is faulty, mis-described or not as ordered, then FARFETCH will accept returns/refund including the original shipping cost.
3. Initiating the Return: You must register the return in your Farfetch account (or through the guest order portal) before sending the items back.
4. Refund: Once the partner boutique receives and accepts the returned items, you will receive a full refund, typically to your original payment method.

If you return from a different country (for example you ordered to one country but are now in another), you may have to pay return shipping or customs/import charges. Farfech return policy.

Some items are excluded or have special rules: e.g., underwear/swimwear (without hygiene seals), custom-made items, final sale items.