ISO Meaning: What It Means on Poshmark and in Reselling

Resale isn’t just about making money; it’s also about communicating with your buyers clearly. Resale terminology, or “seller slang” grows more common every day, and one common term is ISO. What is ISO meaning? Poshmark users, as well as users on other resale platforms, use this term regularly.

ISO means “in search of” or looking for a certain item to buy. Here’s what it means, why buyers and sellers use it, and what you should know before using this term.

What does ISO mean?

ISO, or in search of, is a common term on Poshmark that buyers use to quickly find an item they want to buy. Buyers make an ISO post like this:

“ISO Reformation Kastoria Dress, in Golden Hour color, size small, NWT or NWOT.” 

Poshers see the post, and sellers who have the item—or a similar one—can immediately message the buyer and make offers. 

As a Reddit user mentioned, it’s a way for buyers to search for something specific when the search bar does not immediately show them the item they want.

The same goes for other reselling websites. Depop also allows ISO posts by buyers.

On Facebook, it’s commonly used in buy and sell groups, though it can also be used in Facebook Marketplace indirectly. 

eBay, however, does not allow ISO listings. ISO posts can sometimes be confusing for other buyers, so using the search bar is encouraged by eBay.

Why ISO matters in reselling

From a buyer’s standpoint, using ISO can be a faster way to find an item than  browsing results individually.

Going back to the Reformation Kastoria dress, if you search it in the search bar, many other Reformation dresses will appear. Some might not even be similar to the Kastoria dress.

Sellers seeing the ISO post can immediately message the buyer to share their listing. A Posher shared selling an item that matched an ISO post before officially listing it. She likely listed it later exclusively for the ISO buyer.

In short, putting up an ISO post for buyers and responding to one as a seller is likely to speed up the buy and sell process.

However, not all buyers who ISO for an item will end up buying it. Using ISO helps them filter choices, sometimes even better than a reselling website’s algorithm. Some buyers also report others trying to purchase their ISO listings, even if they clearly stated they were looking for, not selling, the item.

ISO vs DISO? What’s the Difference?

DISO means “desperately in search of.” It’s kind of like a rush sale, but the other way around. Other related terms are CISO and TISO. CISO stands for “casually in search of,” while TISO means “tentatively in search of”. 

These three terms fall under the broader ISO category.

Here’s how these resale terms compare.

How to use ISO in your listings

For sellers:

• It's best to browse ISO posts from time to time. You may have exactly the item a buyer is looking for.
• Pay attention to DISO posts. It’s a great way to sell those deadstock items you have and finally get your ROI (return on investment). 
• Some buyers who post ISO and DISO are willing to pay a higher price. It's your chance to negotiate with them. 
• Offer other similar listings the buyer might be interested in.

For buyers: 

• When buying from Poshmark and Depop, you’ll have to set it up as if you were  listing an item for sale. However, clarify that you’re not selling the item, only looking for it. Include “Not for Sale” in the title and the description.
• Making a DISO post instead of CISO, TISO, or simply ISO can be misleading. Use it only if you are willing to buy the item immediately. 
• Post in ISO social media threads in addition to reselling apps.
• Having alternatives will help if the item is rare or hard to find.

Quick summary: ISO meaning Poshmark and other platforms

• ISO means “in search of”.
• It matters because it can help buyers find specific items faster.
• Sellers can offer the exact item the buyer is looking for, speeding up the buy and sell process.