Vinted - is it safe? Read many negative reviews and am wary - but there's some good stuff!

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Always bought a lot of second hand clothing on ebay but have been looking at Vinted recently. Things seem quite a lot cheaper on there and I'm wondering if it's 'safe'. Looked at Trustpilot and the reviews are pretty terrible - 65% are 1 star reviews!

I'd be starting with something fairly cheap, under £10 so not a major issue if something goes wrong. I seem to recall a thread a while back on here about Vinted and many people were saying that the customer service was terribe, so I'm quite wary.

Does anyone use Vinted for buying and can you let me know the positives and the negatives please?

Thanks in advance!

You'll get the odd issue, but if you shop carefully, the value you get makes up for that.

I've not had any problems with Vinted it self, the problem is the sellers. A lot of sellers don't go in to much detail or don't upload many photos so I've had a few occasions where items have arrived not what I expected. I ordered a Xmas t shirt for my son but the seller didn't include a photo of the back and it had massive writing on so looked awful. Also bought my son a coat and I questioned some marks and she said it was the 'lighting' item came and as suspected it was a mark! If you're buying just make sure you ask any questions that aren't clear and if you're selling include as many photos as you can and include as much info which could help you if someone disputed an issue.

Also, if you buy an item and you're not happy you can return but you've got to pay the return postage so if the item was cheap anyway it's pointless returning so just bare that in mind.

I've had some great bargains on there though and sell regularly!

Just be wary with using Royal Mail as Vinted set the prices which could differ to what you actually have to pay RM (I had this issue before and had to cancel the sale as it was pointless selling). If you use evri/inpost you get the shipping label included and you just send it with no fuss, with RM you have to buy the postage yourself

No, the price you sell at is what you get, the buyer pays for the purchase protection

I use it all the time and have made around £250 this year, I think as long as your honest in your description and put lots of photos then you should be ok. I've never had any complications.

I've had a few things I brought where it either arrived and wasn't in the condition listed or the seller didn't send and I got immediate refund

Never had an issue and I used to buy and sell quite a lot on there.

The one time I had a problem it was when selling a dress. The person who bought it didn't like it as it wasn't the fabric they expected (despite it being 100% that fabric). I had photos of the label so it was resolved quickly by Vinted and the buyer did actually have the good grace to leave me positive feedback once she'd had a think about it. So no real issue.

I have bought and sold about 30 items in the last 6 months. All extremely positive and very happy with the thing I bought, except one item where the seller appeared to block me instantly after I paid and then sent a very blurred postage label (Royal Mail) the item turned up after a month and was broken and fake. Vinted were very slow but did eventually give me the money back. The seller did have a bit of feedback so I don't know how the scam actually works as the seller doesn't get the money until the buyer says the item is ok.
I am now very wary with high price items

I've bought and sold loads on Vinted, a couple of things didn't arrive but Vinted refunded with no hassle at all (although you do have to wait a while before you can claim). I choose Evri for shipping to me, and get stuff sent to the local corner shop, which is much cheaper (usually £2.29) and is much less likely to get lost as they just take a whole sackful in at once.

I've had a few things that I didn't like once I'd received them, but I just relist them and usually end up making a bit of a profit.

I sell on eBay and buy on Vinted. I’ve never had a problem with eBay, but I have with Vinted. They didn’t properly respond to the problem (wrong item sent by vendor), but in the end the vendor and I sorted it out amicably without the help of Vinted.

I've bought and sold loads through it for me and the kids. Biggest issues I've had have been with Evri as a courier losing/damaging things so I avoid using them wherever possible.

I've used it for a couple of years and of all the things I've bought, and I use it regularly, I've had only 1 negative experience. Vinted were unhelpful, I bought DD some badges, it took the seller over 2 weeks to send (just at the point I would have been automatically refunded) when the parcel arrived only one of the 4 badges were in the parcel. I took the requested images but as seller said I lied they paid him. Luckily it was only £7.50 but it bugged me

Just look well at feedback, if someone has very little or "auto feedback" don't bother.

I've bought 2 items and no problem. First was shoes and seller messaged me to thank me for ordering, when she posted and also to say she could say when it was delivered. They were in brilliant condition which I told her how pleased I was. 2nd item was a bag, no messages from seller to say posted etc. It arrived and again no problems. Slightly grubby but a few wipes to clean sorted that.

I've never had an issue at all. As pp have said, people will only bother posting on trustpilot etc when they've had a bad experience.

Yes as a pp has said, you only get free postage on your first purchase, although I think a seller gets their first sold item postage paid for, so you will occasionally see 'from 0.00' as an option on an item too, but you can't search by free postage like you can on ebay.

Just be wary with using Royal Mail as Vinted set the prices which could differ to what you actually have to pay RM
Yes, this is why a lot of sellers don’t have RM selected as options. I’ve been stung by this before.

As others have said, look for good descriptions, and seller reviews. The only issue I’ve had as a buyer and seller is lost parcels and Vinted has refunded automatically every time (3 times)

I’ve bought a few things from vinted over the last year and everything has been fine. I’ve had no issues. Maybe I’ve been lucky. I only use people with reviews though. I don’t buy designer so haven’t been scammed etc.

Am looking at how to set postage options. It gives 'delivery options' - there's 8 in total and I don't know if there are any I should disable? I tried to disable to Royal Mail one but it warned me that doing so may decrease sales! Are there any you would get rid of, as a seller?

I've bought and sold absolutely loads on Vinted with minimal problems.

Check the feedback ratings of who you are buying from. I have 150+ 5 star reviews because I sell really really good stuff at good prices, and describe it very accurately.

I've bought a few duds that have gone into the charity bag but these things happen.

I only have Evri enabled as my delivery option. I've never had a single problem with them.

I found when I had multiple options enable I'd have 3 sales in a day, and they'd choose Evri, Hermes and royal mail... That meant traipsing to 3 separate places to post a few t-shirts for a couple of quid. I put a stop to that.

Right - latest problem! Listing an item and it suggests many, all of which are wrong. Every time I type in the correct brand and get rid of the suggestion list, my typed in brand disappears. How do I get it to stay??

I have sold on it with no issues. I bought a designer bag which I'm pretty sure is a fake, so just look out for that. But if you're just going to be buying high street type clothes I'm sure you'd be fine.

I only had one negative experience, but got my money back. I bought lots of great stuff there for me and now baby clothes

Love Vinted! I've bought i think 6 dresses for me, a jellycat teddy and loads of clothes and shoes for my daughter, so far not had any issues

I buy nearly all my kids clothes from vinted, especially baby clothes. I buy bundles and can’t believe how cheap they are really.
I recently bought a bundle of 8 sleepsuits and a few baby gros for £2. Most of the sleepsuits look new. Perhaps I have been lucky, but I’ve never had any problems & I’ve ordered A LOT. My orders usually get sent within 2 days.

The only problems I have had was when I’ve ordered things for myself. One item , the seller said item was in ‘very good’ condition but when I received the top, it was completely bobbled and smelt like cigarette smoke🤢

I only buy from sellers who have good feedback & who are regular users.

I've bought quite a few times now and all been fine. I've got a few bits to sell but need to get my bum in gear.

Only problem I have had is a gorgeous coat that absolutely stank of cigarette smoke.it had to go through the wash quite a few times before I could wear it!

Anyone know how to post on the Vinted forum? I have a question but can't find how to post.