Vinted counterfeit item

NigelHarmansNewWife · 2024-08-08T09:41:06+00:00

I just need to get this off my chest, please bear with me. Bought an item on Vinted, bargain price but you can raise any issues once you receive your purchase so I thought I'd see how it went. Item packaging didn't feel legit and I checked how to verify it was kosher. I then realised the listing photos were not of what I had been sent. That's against Vinted's rules as it must be the actual item you're selling. I let the seller know I wasn't happy, that I believed it was counterfeit and provided photos as required. Got an instant return request with postage label. No other communication at all. Wrapped it back up, took it to the InPost locker. It's been delivered to the locker at the other end, but the seller hasn't picked it up and is running out of time. This is frustrating as Vinted have my money and it's not a fiver! The seller could just be someone who doesn't rush to collect, but I can't help feeling I'm being mucked around. Does anyone have experience of anything similar? Presumably I can provide proof it was returned and they haven't collected. I want to report the seller once I've got my money back as I think they're effectively a business - not allowed on Vinted - and selling counterfeit goods. That was long...

saltyprawn · 08/08/2024 10:46

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MogHog · 08/08/2024 11:58

You say bargain price, was it listed as genuine? I only ask lots get listed with pictures of clearly fakes but are just listed as a black bag for example instead of a LV black bag etc

Original poster

NigelHarmansNewWife · 08/08/2024 13:08

MogHog · 08/08/2024 11:58

You say bargain price, was it listed as genuine? I only ask lots get listed with pictures of clearly fakes but are just listed as a black bag for example instead of a LV black bag etc

Listed as genuine. Unlike most other transactions on Vinted, there was no communication from the seller and they took their time to send it. I saw they listed an identical item a couple of days after I'd bought from them and I initially thought something had gone wrong with the transaction. Now I think they've a stock of fakes they're peddling. It's skincare - no way I'd keep it and use once I'd identified it was fake.

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Original poster

NigelHarmansNewWife · 09/08/2024 07:34

Unsurprisingly the seller never collected the returned item and the courier has collected it. I cannot leave feedback and my money is stuck with Vinted. I have contacted them and escalated to support and it takes up to 48 hours to hear back.

I have checked and the seller never engaged in any conversation with me. I only ever received automated messages from Vinted.

After I received the fake I found another seller selling a virtually identical set of items. Same location and online at the same time as the seller I bought from. That seller now doesn't show when I search for them. My assumption was closed account/Vinted removed them but maybe they blocked me so I couldn't buy from them? That's probably a stretch.

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Autumn1990 · 09/08/2024 07:39

If you’ve posted it and it has been showing as tracked on the Vinted app, you should also have an email from inpost, then Vinted should and have done for me return the money.
The seller may not have collected the item because inpost have sent it to a locker miles away from where they live.

Original poster

NigelHarmansNewWife · 09/08/2024 07:47

Autumn1990 · 09/08/2024 07:39

If you’ve posted it and it has been showing as tracked on the Vinted app, you should also have an email from inpost, then Vinted should and have done for me return the money.
The seller may not have collected the item because inpost have sent it to a locker miles away from where they live.

Sorry, I don't understand your post - I think there may be a typo? The InPost return was to the place they sent the item from so it's not that. I've attached a screenshot of the InPost tracking when I've contacted Vinted.

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Heatherbell1978 · 09/08/2024 07:50

I think you'll get the money back. I had an issue with something which wasn't as described. Sent it back. Seller didn't collect it so it came back to me. Then a wee while later I got refunded. It was only £4 or something - kids clothes - but I got to keep the item and the money in the end. The item was fine, just a different size to advertised but something I could still use.

Original poster

NigelHarmansNewWife · 09/08/2024 07:59

Thanks. I'm annoyed because 1. it was fake and 2. the seller is effectively messing me around 3. it's not just a few quid which I'd write off as a lesson learned. Also Vinted is not as good as eBay or Amazon when you report an issue - the messages just disappear and there's a delay before you get confirmation they've got your query.

I strongly believe this seller is running a business in knock offs and stolen items now I've looked more closely.

Anyway - the moral of the story is that if it looks too good to true it probably is!

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Heatherbell1978 · 09/08/2024 08:14

NigelHarmansNewWife · 09/08/2024 07:59

Thanks. I'm annoyed because 1. it was fake and 2. the seller is effectively messing me around 3. it's not just a few quid which I'd write off as a lesson learned. Also Vinted is not as good as eBay or Amazon when you report an issue - the messages just disappear and there's a delay before you get confirmation they've got your query.

I strongly believe this seller is running a business in knock offs and stolen items now I've looked more closely.

Anyway - the moral of the story is that if it looks too good to true it probably is!

I'm a huge fan of Vinted but rarely spend more than £10-15 per item to be honest! I do think it's flooded with fakes. I've bought a few sports items for the kids - Nike, Adidas etc - and to be fair they've been cheap (£5 for a hoodie etc) but they've arrived and the tags don't look right or quality not what I would expect.

OMGsamesame · 09/08/2024 08:17

Did you click "I have an issue" within 48 hours of receiving or did you say "everything is ok"?

Trebol · 09/08/2024 09:04

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Withdrawn at the poster's request

Original poster

NigelHarmansNewWife · 09/08/2024 12:00

OMGsamesame · 09/08/2024 08:17

Did you click "I have an issue" within 48 hours of receiving or did you say "everything is ok"?

The issue was reported, via the "I have an issue" button within an hour of collecting from the locker. I thought the item was not kosher and checked online, then realised the photos weren't of the actual item I received. The process for reporting a counterfeit item doesn't tell Vinted. as far as I can see, it tells the seller. The seller immediately requested I return it - via automated message - attaching a return postage label.

I have followed every process Vinted sets out. It is incredibly frustrating that you cannot get to even have a web chat with a human. This seller knew exactly what they were doing when they requested a return and then didn't collect it.

Now I am wondering whether to enter into any kind of dialogue with the seller at all, but I think that will just mean they block me.

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Original poster

NigelHarmansNewWife · 09/08/2024 12:07

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the poster's request

At this rate, I'll get it back in a couple of days. It's very difficult to find out how to actually directly contact Vinted. I'm beginning to think deliberately so.

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OMGsamesame · 09/08/2024 14:19

NigelHarmansNewWife · 09/08/2024 12:00

The issue was reported, via the "I have an issue" button within an hour of collecting from the locker. I thought the item was not kosher and checked online, then realised the photos weren't of the actual item I received. The process for reporting a counterfeit item doesn't tell Vinted. as far as I can see, it tells the seller. The seller immediately requested I return it - via automated message - attaching a return postage label.

I have followed every process Vinted sets out. It is incredibly frustrating that you cannot get to even have a web chat with a human. This seller knew exactly what they were doing when they requested a return and then didn't collect it.

Now I am wondering whether to enter into any kind of dialogue with the seller at all, but I think that will just mean they block me.

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It might be worth a go in case they say something incriminating that you can screenshot! But yes they may just block you.

Yes v frustrating when your issue doesn't fit the template.

I would also name and shame on one of the many FB vinted buying/selling groups (they may also be able to offer different advice)

Original poster

NigelHarmansNewWife · 09/08/2024 15:31

Thanks for the tip. Apparently Vinted should respond to the case I raised this morning within 48 hours. Let's see what happens. I'm concerned if I contact the seller that the parcel will ping back and forth a couple of times and I still won't get my money back.

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Autumn1990 · 09/08/2024 20:04

I have accepted returns from Vinted and they have sent them to a locker miles away from the one I originally put the parcel in.
but whatever has happened you will get your money back.

Original poster

NigelHarmansNewWife · 09/08/2024 21:39

I hope so. The locker it went back to was the same one it originated from.

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Original poster

NigelHarmansNewWife · 12/08/2024 06:01

More than 48 hours have passed and still no response from Vinted. The item is on its way back to me. Vinted still have my £50.

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GalacticTowelMaster · 12/08/2024 06:11

Not the same issue but I've been looking for a bag for my daughter recently. I have noticed a lot are fake, but there is no way to report them unless you buy first. I can see they are being sold so lots of people getting ripped off.

HungryWombat · 12/08/2024 06:16

There really should be a way to report fakes.

Even if you get your money back they will just carry on won't they. It's so wrong.

HungryWombat · 12/08/2024 06:17

I remember getting angry when a seller gave me a fake Disney doll from amazon about 7 or 8 years ago before I realised amazon was flooded with them. It's not good.

Figroll16 · 12/08/2024 06:18

I had a similar thing (though not a lot of money) where I returned the Vinted item , it wasn't collected so was returned back to me. I think was within 3/4 days Vinted emailed me with refund details (and I didn't return the item again)

Original poster

NigelHarmansNewWife · 12/08/2024 07:35

@Figroll16 well that gives me some hope. The seller has definitely acted in bad faith by failing to collect the return. DP said to me she's knows it's fake and it probably cost her nothing or very little. By paying for a return she's effectively prevented me from giving feedback. She now has two poor reviews from other buyers btw so maybe she's now coming unstuck.

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Original poster

NigelHarmansNewWife · 12/08/2024 07:39

GalacticTowelMaster · 12/08/2024 06:11

Not the same issue but I've been looking for a bag for my daughter recently. I have noticed a lot are fake, but there is no way to report them unless you buy first. I can see they are being sold so lots of people getting ripped off.

It's really interesting that Vinted don't have selling counterfeit items as being against their rules which means there's no corresponding category for reporting sellers. I think they should look again at the way some items are listed - brand new with tags works for clothing, but not for beauty products as they don't have tags and very many higher end products are no longer boxed and wrapped in plastic.

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LadyChilli · 12/08/2024 07:56

You'll get your money back. I had something similar recently, right down to seller just sending a return request that I had to pay for and then not collecting the package on time. I raised it with Vinted and got my money back including both sets of postage I had paid for. And I got the item returned to me as it was not collected, not that I have any desire to keep it.