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.

Another one who has had a similar bad experience with Vinted and got stung for £140.00 for a pair of boots which disintegrated within half and hour of me wearing them. Unfortunately, it'd unlikely you'll get anywhere with them. Always buyer beware ...... lesson learned.

I don't understand this. If the label says 34" leg then I'd expect the inside leg measurement to be 34". Are you saying it's labelled that but is in fact shorter? In which case how would anyone know what length it was?

Nah, if OP has had that make/style before and knows the R size fits her, why would she ask? It is ENTIRELY the responsibility of the seller to state if there's anything different to normal sizing about the item they're selling.

I would contact the BBC Watchdog or Rip Off Britain. They often get Vinted etc to back down.

My friend sold a jacket on Vinted. Buyer claimed to have not received it and got a refund. He then attempted to resale the jacket on his own Vinted account. Vinted did absolutely nothing. Shocking company.

That’s really rubbish OP.
I’ve been lucky with Vinted until last week when I received a completely different item to the one I ordered and so far the buyer isn’t responding.

You were right op. They should have made it clear

I had this with a pair of trousers I bought where the seller advertised them as a size 14 (I had the exact same pair already so knew they would fit) and when they arrived they were a size 10.
It wasn't that she's got UK/US sizes mixed up as it had both on the label (H&M).
I raised it with Vinted and they said I could return them at my cost which wouldn't have been cost efficient.
Now I only buy stuff on vinted if I know for sure if it's what I want, and baby bundles.
I don't understand what the buyer protection payment is for if not situations like this!

Not helpful to the OP but I would never spend any amount on Vinted that I'd be annoyed about losing. For me the limit is about £20. Also check the seller reviews carefully although those are misleading too as you can't leave a review if the sale is cancelled (which may be the very time you do want to leave a bad review, to warn other buyers!).

I hope Vinted's terrible approach to protecting consumers will be investigated one day. Yes they are not the seller but they still have responsibilities under consumer law to buyers and sellers, including when determining disputes and setting fair policies.

As others have said Vinted offers no buyer protection and the ‘Buyer Protection Fee’ is a joke. I brought an item that turned out to be a size smaller than advertised by the seller and Vinted still asked me to pay the return postage which was more than what the item was worth. I do wonder how this is legal and hope the loopholes in consumer law that allow it are closed.

Personally I never buy anything second hand online without measurements as have received too many in the past that have been altered.

Is the item still for sale on the retailer's site? Can you contact them to ask the actual leg measurements (so you can send Vinted a photo showing yours are way out) or find a stock image to show the item you've purchased isn't the same? Often if trousers have been shortened, the new stitching & finish looks different to the original.

Can you challenge Vinted saying the onus on the buyer to ask if alterations have been made doesn't make any sense?! Because also where does it end, if I bought a ladies size 12 dress, tailored it to fit my 5yr old and then re-sold it as a size 12 dress, would that also be the buyer's fault for not checking?!

Your argument seems to be that the trousers are shorter than expected. That could be regarded as subjective. Can you clearly tell that the trousers have been altered? It just sounds like you've made the wrong argument, Vinted could never determine the original trouser length to prove either way.

Maybe I've been lucky but use Vinted fairly regularly as a buyer and seller. I did have an item arrive damaged due to awful packaging. The seller asked me to return for a refund but I followed Vinted process and they refunded me and never asked for the return.

I also had an item that was never marked as sent. Contacted the seller and it appears there had been some mix up in labels. Nothing arrived and seller refunded quickly, it was clear the tracking that thought was my item was not the label linked to the purchase and going to a completely different postcode.

I had a similar issue but luckily my seller was nice and said she had bought them herself on Vinted but never even tried them on and just re-sold as per the original description. She offered me a refund and to keep the trousers (£15 so less of a loss) but as she was so nice about it I just kept them and re-sold with the correct measurements

This isn't how Vinted works at all.

The seller doesn't receive their money until the buyer receives their item. It sits in "hold" until the item is confirmed as delivered and everything ok by the buyer-or it will automatically release the funds once the courier confirms delivery has been made-after a certain time period-allowing the buyer time to confirm receipt and if everything is ok.

So, it's not the seller you had difficulty getting the money off. It was Vinted. Also, if you are wanting something by a certain time-I'd always recommend to message the seller first and query when they can deliver before placing an order.

@clairelouwho
It wasn't the fact that the seller couldn't deliver on time but the fact that she couldn't be bothered to post it. She also decided that she would relist it at a higher price and told me I could bid again at a higher price. I had already paid by this stage so it would necessitate me paying twice.

It very much is the Vinted way that you physically pay for an item. It is taken from your bank account and the seller can then decide days later not to go through with it as happened in this case. I didn't get my money back for a week. I was invited by the seller to bid again at a higher price. Which bit of this are you querying? I have the online Vinted dialogue if you doubt it.
Imagine buying an item from a shop and paying for it and then the shop deciding to keep the item and re list it at a higher price. Plus the shop keeps your money for a week whilst giving you the opportunity to buy the item at a higher price.
Also until the item is received you cannot give feedback on Vinted.

I’d say here the issue is the fact you can’t really prove they’re faulty. I like Vinted because buyers can’t just return things Willy nilly. I got burned using eBay a few times by buyers who would claim something wasn’t as described when it definitely was, they just had clear buyers remorse so then I’d be out of pocket.

Vinted don’t generally let you return an item unless it’s significantly not as described I.e damaged in some way or the wrong item has been sent. In this situation, it’s kind of difficult to prove they’re NAD because it just looks like they don’t fit.

So making someone else disappointed and out of pocket?
Perpetuating the unfairness.

I bought something listed as very good condition which arrived filthy and with several rips - none of which you could see in the listing. Contacted Vinted to say it was significantly not as described and was told to return it at my own expense. Seller messaged me to say what did I expect for £35? Well, for it to be as you described it for a start. Twat.

Anyway, I gave it a nice long bath in some milk before packaging it up and sending it back (height of summer). I considered posting some prawns into the rips but thought the milk was less visible sabotage.

Speak to your bank about charge back. The item was not as described whether Vinted agree or not.

Vinted is weighted in favour of sellers, so I think twice about buying anything on that platform.

Similar thing happened to me OP bur the other way round. I sold a jumper (Hollister) for an absolute bargain as I'd only worn it twice. The buyer tried to return it to me saying I hadn't specified it was cropped. Because it wasn't cropped! She left me a rubbish review annoyingly. I did respond to say I'm really sorry but this jumper was definitely not cropped on me and I'm 5"5 so not short

The seller should have put in listing that they had been shortened, I sold a pair of trousers on ebay, which I had shortened myself, I took photos to show buyers and said they had been shortened,

Vinted are totally out of order. Also,a similar thing happened to me but when I challenged the seller she refunded. I think a lot of people sell on things that they have bought or been given but not necessarily their old clothes as a but if a business - this was the case for me. The woman told me she was 'selling for a friend' which explained the poor description match. I also received a dirty pair of trousers once (it was disgusting) - similar story. Can you appeal?

YANBU!