- What Farfetch is and who owns it now
- How buying from Farfetch works
- Farfetch returns: the 30-day window and the rules attached
- How long a Farfetch refund takes
- Import duties and taxes on Farfetch orders
- Spotting fake Farfetch sites and messages
- Farfetch at a glance
- Is Farfetch worth using?
- Frequently asked questions
Yes, Farfetch is a real luxury fashion platform founded in London in 2007 that sells from partner boutiques and brands, and Coupang completed its acquisition in 2024. Its returns page says you can return within 30 days of delivery. The catch is that orders ship from different partners, so import duties, tags and final sale rules matter.
Designer fashion is a purchase where one wrong click can cost a lot, so I'm not surprised people search for whether Farfetch is legit before they order. Rather than lean on shoppers' opinions, I've read what Wikipedia says about the company and what Farfetch's own returns, shipping and terms pages say, and pulled out the points that matter before you pay.
What Farfetch is and who owns it now
According to Wikipedia, Farfetch was founded in London in 2007 with a simple idea: connect small offline fashion boutiques with a global customer base using technology. It describes the site as a digital platform for luxury fashion, selling from over 1,400 brands, boutiques and department stores, and shipping to customers in over 190 countries and territories.
The ownership story has a twist. Wikipedia says Farfetch listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2018, then ran into financial trouble in late 2023 that led to its delisting. Coupang announced in late 2023 that it would acquire the company, with access to 500 million US dollars of capital, and the deal was completed in 2024. So the business is real and has a large new owner, but it has also been through a rough patch. That's worth knowing even if it doesn't change your order.
How buying from Farfetch works
Farfetch says it ships from partners, which means you're often buying an item that sits in a boutique or brand warehouse in another country. Its help pages describe the site handling checkout while the partner prepares the parcel, so a single order can arrive in more than one package. Wikipedia also lists Browns Fashion, Stadium Goods and the resale platform Luxclusif among the businesses Farfetch has acquired over the years, which is why you may see those names mentioned alongside it.
If you're used to shopping on sites where independent sellers list their own stock, the idea will feel familiar. My look at how Fashionphile explains authenticity and returns covers a different kind of luxury seller, and it's a handy comparison.
Farfetch returns: the 30-day window and the rules attached
Farfetch's returns page says it accepts returns within 30 days, starting from the day your order was delivered. A few details are worth reading carefully before you buy:
- Free returns apply when you use Farfetch's standard return service, and you attach the return label to the outside of the Farfetch packaging.
- Returns from another country are at your own cost, unless you received an incorrect, damaged or faulty item.
- Final sale items can't be returned unless they arrive damaged or faulty, and made-to-order items follow the same rule.
- If an item has a Farfetch security tag or brand tag, it must go back with the tag in its original position.
- Delivery costs are not refunded.
That tag rule is the one I'd underline. Try things on in a way that leaves the tag untouched, and keep the packaging until you've decided.
How long a Farfetch refund takes
Farfetch's returns page says processing can take up to 6 calendar days after the brand or boutique receives your return, and that the refund may then take up to 14 days to appear, depending on your payment provider. Two clocks are running, so don't panic if your statement stays quiet for a couple of weeks. Keep the tracking number for the return in case you need to ask where it's got to.
Import duties and taxes on Farfetch orders
This is where overseas luxury orders catch people out. Farfetch's shipping page explains two models. On Delivery Duties Paid orders, duties and taxes are included at checkout. On Delivery At Place orders, you pay import duties and sales taxes to the courier when the parcel arrives. Its terms add that Farfetch and the partner can't control or estimate import charges that apply to items shipped from outside your territory.
My practical advice: look at the checkout summary and the delivery option before you confirm, and check how duties would be handled if you sent the item back. Farfetch's pages are the place to confirm your own situation, and a customs office or accountant can answer anything about tax.
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Spotting fake Farfetch sites and messages
- Type the address yourself or use the official app, rather than clicking an advert.
- Be suspicious of a shop using Farfetch's name but offering designer items at prices that look impossible.
- Never send a bank transfer or gift card to someone who says they work for Farfetch.
- Check delivery and return messages by logging in to your own account.
- Pay by a method that gives you dispute rights, and contact your card provider quickly if something looks wrong.
If you buy luxury for resale or run a small fashion shop yourself, my guide to whether Etsy is legit shows how another platform of independent sellers handles protection.
Farfetch at a glance
| What I checked | What Wikipedia and Farfetch's pages say |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2007, London |
| Range | Over 1,400 brands, boutiques and department stores |
| Reach | Over 190 countries and territories |
| Ownership | Acquisition by Coupang completed in 2024 |
| Return window | 30 days from the day of delivery |
| Refund timing | Up to 6 calendar days to process, then up to 14 days to appear |
| Delivery costs | Not refunded |
| Final sale | Not returnable unless damaged or faulty |
Is Farfetch worth using?
Farfetch is a real, established platform with a clear returns policy and a big new parent company. The thing to manage is the complexity: partners in different countries, duties that depend on the delivery option, and tags that must stay in place. If you read the checkout summary, keep the packaging and check the final sale label, you take most of the risk out of it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Farfetch legit?
Yes. Wikipedia says Farfetch was founded in London in 2007 and sells luxury fashion from over 1,400 brands, boutiques and department stores. Coupang completed its acquisition in 2024.
Is Farfetch safe to buy from?
It's a real platform, but check the delivery option, import duty rules and return conditions before you pay. Use the official site or app and avoid paying anyone outside checkout.
How long can I return something to Farfetch?
Farfetch's returns page says it accepts returns within 30 days, starting from the day your order was delivered. Final sale and made-to-order items are excluded unless they arrive damaged or faulty.
How long does a Farfetch refund take?
Farfetch says processing can take up to 6 calendar days after the brand or boutique receives the return, then up to 14 days to appear depending on your payment provider.
Does Farfetch charge import duties?
It depends on the delivery option. Farfetch says duties and taxes are included at checkout on Delivery Duties Paid orders, while on Delivery At Place orders you pay them to the courier on arrival.
Do I need to keep the tag on a Farfetch item?
Yes. Farfetch's returns page says an item with a Farfetch security tag or brand tag must be returned with the tag in its original position.
