For wanting a refund on vinted?

[NappyBag]

Last week I bought a pair of trainers listed as new condition on vinted. In the description it said "in original box-never worn". However, they arrived very clearly not new. The bottoms looked like they had been wiped but very clearly still mud in the grip. The soles were also worn.

To be clear, second hand running shoes aren't going to work for me. I am flat footed and using shoes that are already worn in can cause huge discomfort and injury. Not to mention, I am a bit funny with feet. Second hand trainers is where I draw the line.

I contacted the seller expecting them to be full of apologies. In fairness she started the response with "sorry", said she had made a mistake but that she would give me £10 off anything else other site. I said I didn't want anything else, but could she send a returns label.

She said the policy on vinted was that buyers pay for returns and tried to convince me to buy something else from her shop with the discount instead. I said given the circumstances I think it would be reasonable for her to cover the cost.

She then started saying how she wasn't a business women, just a kid trying to pay for uni books and I was "having a go at her". I was assertive, but it was absolutely nothing personal. I just wanted my money back. Obviously I felt for her as everyone makes mistakes and the last thing I want is to cause any unnecessary stress. However, what was I supposed to do?

I'm thinking of just paying the postage because it's not worth my time and knowing now that she's a young girl accept that I probably need to be the bigger person.

Am I being a soft touch or have I been had?

You can raise an issue with Vinted that the shoes were significantly not as described, but the seller can’t be forced to pay for the return unfortunately. Were there photo’s showing the soles of the shoes?

She's quite correct that you have to pay the postage to return them. Rightly or wrongly they are the rules and in vinted T&Cs. She can choose to pay it herself, but given that as soon as you return them the transaction is cancelled and you can't leave her feedback there's really no benefit to her to do this (apart from being a decent human being). Hope you get it sorted, but you'll probably end up the £2.50 out if pocket to send them back I'm afraid.

Only the shoe that was okay. I did read that, which feels appropriate in cases where the size wasn't quite right. But in this case I thought they should offer.

Surely if she listed them as new and they have, in fact, been worn, then they are not as described? I'd raise with Vinted. It's not as if you just don't like it - she clearly lied!

I know that's what usually happens, but the seller can offer to pay which I felt was appropriate and worth the ask. But I think it's not worth the hassle at this stage 🤣

Perhaps you could list them and sell them on (correctly described of course)
You could then leave the seller feedback pointing out the problem you had

I couldn’t be arsed with sending them back but I would leave this review on her profile.

‘Seller described item as ‘brand new, in original box’, however when the trainers arrived they were well worn with mud in the soles. Very poor. Avoid this seller’

I would flag it with Vinted, but in my experience it doesn’t get you anywhere.

Then I would relist them with a realistic description, you may have to take a hit on the price.

What happens if you return the goods but with insufficient postage? You have proof of posting, and collection, via courier. I believe in the post office you can stamp the package at home, and then request proof of posting.

Although the t&cs say you have to pay for the return I totally understand why you are peed off. If it’s incorrectly described that’s not your fault. Surely the buyer protection fee you pay should cover that. I really like Vinted but this is one area they could improve on. I would def raise it with Vinted and see what they say.

That was my thinking initially... I agree with the onus being on the buyer in most situations, but given that you pay for buyer protection on every purchase and this was a case of dishonesty I didn't think it was unreasonable to ask them to pay it in this case.

Raise it with Vinted

As its not as described I think their returns policy is different?

Its ridiculous having to pay for returns though, I had an item arrive damaged and they said it was still sellable so I had to pay for the return

And the only way for seller to refund is for you to give them your details for outside the site - which isn't recommended!

This is one of the areas where vinted falls down. However, the terms of service are clear and even if the item is damaged / incorrectly listed it is still on you to return. Buyer's can offer to pay but I've never encountered one who will do this, and, let's face it, CFs who list stuff as brand new when it's clearly not, won't be parting with their pennies.
Lessoned learned, if you can only wear brand new shoes look for / ask for photos of the soles or take the hit and buy from a reputable shop.

Massive lesson learned! I honestly thought it would be like buying something through PayPal where getting a refund is easy, especially paying for buyer protection. I might just think twice about using vinted.

Yikes! What exactly is the buyer protection fee for if the buyer is not, in fact, protected?!?!

Or is that just how they make their money and "buyer protection fee" sounds nicer than "little bit we're chiseling off the top"?!

Not true. If the op doesn't log "everything is OK", and logs a fault within 48hrs (I think it is), this prevents the seller from receiving the payment. The seller can buy and send details of pre paid postage to return the item. This happened to me, I bought a leather jacket but it was actually suede when it arrived. The dispute stops the payment, returned item closes the transaction and refunds the payment to the buyer.

I thought Vinted stepped in.

I had a problem with an arrogant and rude seller, took photos of the item and screen shotted the conversations, sent to Vinted and they said send it back signed for and once she signed for it I was refunded

UPDATE: Interesting! I did this and have received a notification that I have a week to return it or the payment will be released to the buyer. It also says the seller has paid for the return. Not sure if it was a crisis of conscience or if this is actually the policy.

You have to pay to return though...

And the seller can only refund the return postage outside vinted

Essentially this

And if the item doesn't arrive (or you don't collect) you get a refund

I was sent a qr code paid for postage from the seller. I realise she was likely being kind but it's possible.

Yaaaaaay fingers crossed.

I don’t use vinted but why does the buyer have to pay for return when the listing is incorrect?

What a shit returns policy. It gives sellers carte blanche to be dishonest because they know the buyer has to foot the bill for a return postage.

Whatever you do make sure you leave appropriate feedback on their profile.

I know right? I have only been using vinted for 2 months and had no idea that this was the policy. I would completely understand in any other situation me being responsible for return postage, but if it was the other way around there is no way I would expect the buyer to be out of pocket for my 'mistake'. I'm also baffled that her solution was for me to spend even more money with her 🙈 and when I said 'no' she was like "I can't help you anymore, I am offering you two pairs of shoes". Yes, 2 pairs of second hand trainers that I won't wear that will involve me parting with more money.

I have had similar with an item not as described. The seller admitted their mistake but wouldn’t pay the return postage. I raised to vinted and all they did was send the T&C’s saying that return postage is paid by the buyer. Definitely puts you off vinted.