To think Vinted were wrong to side with the seller

[ihatevinted]

I bought a pair of trousers on Vinted. Described simply as size 12, very good condition. Photos included a pic of the label showing the size '12R' (R=regular) but no measurements. They're quite a popular brand so if you know these, you know which size / product number to buy - both of which are shown on the label.

When they arrived they'd likely been altered to be exceptionally short (so short that they were actually capri style on my standard height 5'5" self). To the best of my knowledge, this particular trouser isn't available in a cropped length (and the product number on the label corresponds with the standard length I'd expected as I already own several pairs of these) but I messaged the seller to ask if they were cropped or altered as there was nothing mentioned in the listing to say they weren't a standard length. Seller replied 'no - these are normal length, 29 inches inside leg'.
I whipped out my tape measure and measured them - 24 inches. I sent this photo to the seller to show that the trousers is received were most definitely not 29 inches and could I please return for refund because they are far too short. She said no.
I put in a claim with Vinted (item significantly not as described) and sent photos showing the 'regular label' as well as the seller's message about them being standard length.
Vinted replied to say sorry, there was no fault from the seller and that I should have asked more questions before buying to make sure that they were suitable and to check that hadn't been altered.
AIBU to think that if you are selling trousers that you've altered or are not full length, you mention this when selling them?
They weren't cheap either (£50) so I'm quite out of pocket as the chance of selling them on in such an odd length is almost impossible.

YANBU!

is there a dispute you can now put in? I think that’s dreadful customer service and sounds like the person selling is selling on an item they haven’t properly checked themselves.

Unfortunately this is what Vinted does. It will be their demise if they don't make changes. I used to buy lots on there but was burned too many times by dodgy sellers and so I've stopped.

YANBU, totally understand why Vinted want to protect buyers against minor quibbles and people trying to pull a fast one as otherwise no one would sell. I can sort of therefore see a bias towards sellers being justified as part of the risk is you don’t see the item first. As a buyer, I know that.

But this goes beyond that. The item had been altered such that it was not the same item she held out for sale. Can’t believe Vinted have said that’s ok.

5 inches is a big change and the seller must have known this. I moved away from EBay as they always seen to favour the buyer but surely one provider can get the right balance?

I’m the same. I have been stung a few times. Only low value. I had a balance from selling a few bits. Realised that it is not worth the hassle of trying to second guess if item is ok. Looks like I am going to be stuck with an item. Never mind it is the last time. I’ve withdrawn my balance today.

Sellers probably know they can get away with selling tat. Some probably either sloppily or cleverly take photos. Either way not good for a buyer.

I am with you there must be a middle ground.

Unfortunately l think you are correct. Vinted now have this reputation so people are chancing it by selling dodgy / misrepresented items and ruining it for everyone else

I wonder if Vinted is run by men and that's why they're so insistent that losing five inches isn't significant.

(I've only made this comment to piss off the MRAs.)

I bought a toy that was broken on arrival. Chances are due to the nature of breakage it would have been like that when posted. After a lot of Argy bargy involving videos of said item, I was told to send it back and was given a refund. However the refund was only the item cost and not the initial postage or return postage so still out of pocket by £5 or so.

Another time I ordered something that never arrived. It was lost by evri not the seller's fault. That time I got a refund of the full cost from vinted, the seller also kept the money.

To be honest I never understand why it's popular. The postage and fees add about 3-4 pounds to cheap items and more to expensive ones. So there are rarely true bargains. It's ok for bundles of kids clothes although Facebook marketplace is often better.

The trouble is, the seller has not acknowledged they were altered. I had an issue once because the seller put the waist and length. The trouble is, they put the actual length rather than the length they were made for (they were a cropped style). It took a lot of explaining for her to realise the difference between the leg measuring 30" and the label saying 34".

Vinted are terrible for this. I now won’t buy anything that costs more than about £10 as that’s all I’m prepared to lose.

I’ve had items arrive filthy dirty, bobbled (described as new without tags), wrong size but label had been removed - Vinted has sided with the seller each time. It’s a joke.

Oh dear I’ve bought a couple of items from Vinted but seeing some of the posts on this thread I won’t bother buying from there anymore.

Vinted always side with the seller, unlike ebay who are always on the side of the buyer. I've sold quite a bit on vinted with much less hassle than as a seller on ebay, but as PP have said I tend not to buy unless v cheap and I'm prepared to lose the money, have had a top for my daughter described as very good condition with a massive stain on the back and a jumper that had obviously shrunk in the wash, but as only a couple of pounds I cut the loss and left feedback describing what had happened.

It's really frustrating for you OP, I think you're absolutely in the right and it's a lot of money to lose but I'm not confident you'll get anywhere

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I've been lucky up until now and had some really good bargains from some great sellers, so I guess it's swings and roundabouts.
Once bitten, twice shy though... back to eBay for me I think!

Not necessarily, if the trousers weren’t theirs originally they might not have known. I sell a lot of stuff on eBay and I once had a dress to sell (had previously belonged to a friend) that had the sleeves altered (friend had forgotten to mention it), they’d been done professionally and tbh if I hadn’t have also had the same dress myself, I wouldn’t have known it wasn’t as the original. I listed it as altered of course but it was only by chance I knew. However, the fact the label says R, and the brand has a standard length for R, means they aren’t as described so Vinted should have sided with the OP. EBay certainly would have done.

Vinted customer service is a joke, I agree. I had a situation recently where an item I sold arrived with the buyer irreparably broken. I refunded the buyer but couldn't claim for the value of the item through the courier (Evri) as I wasn't the person who had paid for the courier cost (with Vinted the buyer pays the courier cost at the same time as purchasing the item and I - the seller - simply receive a pre-paid postage label).

Evri basically said because their contract for transporting the item was with the buyer and not me as the seller, it would have to be the buyer who made the claim. The value of the item was £15 and, as I'd already refunded the buyer, there was no way the buyer would be arsed to make a claim on Evri and return the money to me.

I think this is a real downside for sellers if no claims can be pursued with the courier companies.

I buy and sell a fair bit on vinted. I get that putting in exact measurements is a faff but I do wish there was a box to tick for length of trousers. I was looking for some work trousers for DS and 99% of listings didn't say whether long, regular or short.

I bought a cardigan which turned out to be cropped - you couldn't tell from the picture.
In OPs case I think she was misled by the seller. Regular length should be around 30".
I never pay much so put the odd dudd down to experience.

That's terrible. Think I'll stick to Ebay and charity shops. Vinted sounds trendier, but from some of the threads on here, it sounds like an all-round terrible decision with no protection for buyers or sellers.

Definitely leave honest and fair feedback for the seller with the details about how the seller did not give all the necessary information. This is your only recourse here unfortunately. Like others, I only buy to the price that i wouldn't be too upset to lose as it is a gamble. Having said that, you can get some good bargains if you shop around and know the brand sizing.

💯 agree with this. My brand new with tags white trainers came stained yellow. The seller refused to believe me, even with clear pictures and Vinted wouldn’t do anything. Not sure why they charge a buyer protection fee tbh.

You would think you would be safe with a new item. I guess not.

Back in the day when you could contact Vinted I ask what was the point of the fee was. I never got an answer.

I ended up keeping an item as postage was more than item. I said it was unfair I had to cover postage on faulty item but told I had agreed to T&Cs which I had. I think there will only be a few sellers who would cover postage when they are not obliged to.

I came to the conclusion the fee didn’t offer the protect I thought it would. Think it only really works if the item is lost.

I have voted with my feet so to speak. Won’t be buying off Vinted again.

That’s a side I never even thought of. Another situation where it shows Vinted doesn’t work.

I have managed to get a full refund on vinted as I bought a fake item. Vinted took that pretty seriously - I got a postage label to send back and was refunded quickly.
If you can't get the basics right though - why would you buy expensive items.

I bought some gorgeous sunglasses from FB marketplace. Great communication with seller, think relationship had ended and they were his exes, really pleased with item.

Until a few days later, driving along, put them on and couldn't see a thing because they were prescription sunglasses 😐

Luckily seller refunded me apologetically and I returned the item. I would have gone batshit if not!

I always list the length of stuff on EBay

Vinted sounds awful