Stolen from on Vinted!!

[Marian220]

I am so upset.

I sold a ring on Vinted for £150 because I needed the money and no longer wore it. I chose Vinted because it said if the item was lost/damaged in transit with a pre paid label there would be compensation up to £500.

right from the off there was issues with yodel delivery, saying it was out for delivery then not on the van. My buyer was chasing and chasing them. Eventually the parcel arrived slashed open on multiple sides: the ring was not in there.

Yodel have basically admitted it was stolen but say Vinted have to sort. Vinted are saying I am entitled to any compensation because I did not package the ring correctly and so it was damaged. It wasn’t damaged though as it never arrived! They are using the buyers pictures of the Jiffy bag cut open. You can’t see the jewellery box, padding, envelope and jewellery bag I also packaged the ring in.

vinted have said that is there final answer and keep sending me their packaging guidelines. I have looked at them and I actually followed them all. In hindsight I really wish I had filmed myself packaging it but they would probably still disagree.

is there anything I can do ? I don’t want to just accept this and I feel so violated having been stolen from in this way. Also I am now down the money and the ring has not gone to a good home as I hoped (I chatted to the buyer quite a bit before the sale and she really wanted it).

honestly so devastated. I’ve attached photos so you can see the ones the buyer sent of it being cut open.

I'd contact the police.
That's theft. And then hopefully a crime number will help.

You also need to go back to Yodel as you paid for their service and they've admitted fault. There must be some form of insurance when you purchase?

I would also ask the buyer to take full photos of all the packaging, not just the envelope and explain why.

Is the buyer refunded or compensated at all?

I'm annoyed for you, that's absolutely awful. Yes, as someone has said, I would contact the police xxx

Yes sorry. The buyer has been refunded in full.

Thank you that’s a good idea. I’ll check with her exactly what arrived!!

Vinted are a bloody nightmare. So sorry but I don't think there's much you can do.

I'd be more inclined to think the buyer claims it turned up with an open package.

Mm I'd be very suspicious that it did arrive with the buyer, they've taken some pics of slashed packaging, have really got the ring and are trying it on to get a refund from Vinted.

If that refund comes from Vinted, not you... then thats Vinteds problem but if its come from you... I'd be furious.

In future video yourself packing anything you send out (no matter where you sell it/ship it) so its a record of how you packed the item.

I'd agree it's more likely the buyer is pulling a fast one. And succeeded.

I would think buyer too. Why would a courier deliver a slashed empty package?

Yodel will have provided a delivery picture and have said package was opened, so it's not the buyer.

When Yodel lost a wedding dress I was selling (!) Vinted asked me to sign a document saying I would provide a statement to police if needed and then I was issued compensation.

Keep on at Vinted. There's a legal address to email disputes.

Sorry OP, this stuff can be so stressful.

I think it must be quite common for jewellery to be stolen in transit. I sold a pair of gold earrings and the buyer, who must be a regular jewellery buyer messaged me to say please don't send them in a jewellery box, can you try to make it look like something else. I taped them to card and wrapped an old bandana round, the package didn't stand out from any of the clothing items that I usually send. Sorry that's too late to help you this time.

thank you so much for all of your replies I really appreciate them.
just looked at the yodel tracking and this is the photo proof of delivery. It’s all very odd

Clearly photo taken inside a vehicle, I'd still doubt the buyer, yodel driver isn't going to risk his job over a random parcel

Vinted are rubbish when anything goes wrong. Not helpful now but I recommend never selling anything expensive or buying anything that costs more than you can afford to lose.

No expensive purchases from Amazon either. Anything I’m really bothered about I get from John Lewis.

I bought a shirt from Vinted (just cheap, so no worries), it never arrived so the seller reported it lost, I was refunded. Then the package was delivered soaking wet, muddy, with a footprint on it, but empty inside a new handwritten plastic bag.

Ive seen so many people caught out (there are Vinted support groups on Facebook) by packaging. The thing is, Vinted do say everything should be boxed, not in bags. I personally risk it with low value items and use a postage bag like you did but I’m fully aware if there’s a problem I’ll be screwed because that doesn’t follow their policy. I’m so sorry OP.

Given the proof of delivery picture I’d presume a driver has stolen it. It does happen. Have you reported it to the police?

I'd bet a very, very, very large amount of money that the buyer is typing that message with the ring on. Unfortunately it seems to be a common scam to damage the packaging and claim the package was empty, getting the item and a refund. The awful thing is Vinted will always side with them unless you have proof such as photos/video of you posting a secure, well-packaged parcel.

The buyer is shaking with anxiety? Bit odd. The ‘proof’ of delivery is the photo of someone’s steering wheel, how can yodel class that as proof?