Vinted counterfeit bag

[Squirrelz5]

I bought a bag on vinted. I am fairly certain it is a counterfeit. I've compared it with genuine one in photos and there are multiple differences. I have bought dozens and dozens of items on vinted and never had a problem.

Seller has asked me to return it but I've said no as it's £4 of my own money I have to spend.

I've reported it to vinted who have given her until end of play today to provide proof of authenticity. She's saying she bought it off someone else on vinted who hasn't replied yet and telling me how upset she is.

AIBU to think don't advertise something as genuine if you didn't buy it from source? AIBU to have not sent it back and wait for refund?

I may well be wrong but I thought the postage was always on the buyer when returning.

Nope, the buyer has to cover the cost

If I was her I'd pay the postage for you to return it, if she's not willing to do that I'd suggest she knew it was counterfeit. I thought Vinted had a checking service now?

I think that's only for designer items. They're looking into it though

That's what I said?

Sorry yes you did. Read it wrong. This was my point. I don't mind paying if it was say too small or not the right colour, but I don't l really want to pay to return a counterfeit item. It's so clearly fake and I won't be using it.

Yeah it's rubbish. I've had it with items that are really badly stained. It's a massive fault in the system.

If the seller agrees the return because the item wasn’t as advertised you can ask them to send you a return label that they pay for.

Ive done this when an item was advertised as the wrong size and the seller admitted it was her error.

I'm a bit nervous to message her as she's very ott emotional (I was very factual and reasonable and she's referred to me as a scammer and ridiculous which I'm absolutely not - I've got over 200 seller reviews and 50+ buyer reviews and all are 5 star bar 2 which are 4!). I will message now and ask if she would be willing to pay for postage. Didn't know this was an option!

It's so frustrating, I've been stung with a few counterfeit or shitty items. Boots carefully photographed to hide perished leather, handbags with no inside photo to hide the ink stains. Vinted are usually good with handling refunds though, look at the buyer protection fee you pay.

Did you not do the verification service?

I'd hand all over to vinted customer service to sort if she's being ridiculous and calling you a scammer.

No. It wasn't an option.

They've refunded it but she's still messaging asking me to send it back. Surely she's just going to scam someone else with it?

You can't expect a refund and to just keep the item now under the guise of not allowing her to scam somebody else.
If you've highlighted to Vinted that the item isn't authentic, you would hope this would flag up any future sale of the item. But it's not for you to worry about. Ask her to pay for return postage and send back.

Not when the goods are faulty or not as described.

Tell her to send a return label (that she pays for) and then you’ll return it.

She's just demanded I go to the post office or evri and asked I send her proof of postage. She didn't respond to my last message of sending me a return label.

Then don’t return it unless she sends you a label

If she wants to take it up with Vinted then let her but the standard process is that the seller pays for the return if it’s not as advertised or faulty.

She can stamp her feet all she wants. She sold a dodgy item, Vinted found in your favour, it’s on her to pay for return postage.

The message from vinted is really long and has advised I don't send it back as it is against the law to send counterfeit items in the post and has advised I destroy it. Feel like I'm wasting so much energy on a cheap bag I've been scammed with!

I've just uploaded some expensive French artisanal shoes and they have a verification option for the buyer.

Is this not automatic for "designer" items?

Show us the bag then please!

So will you destroy it then? It seems a bit extreme seeing as you're only "fairly certain" it's a fake?

It is a fake. Vinted have also confirmed this. I have no idea what I'll do with it, I don't want a shoddy replica (it's not even the same bag as in the photos she used!) I just know I'm not spending money to send something back to someone who is being demanding, has scammed me and is ignoring my request for a return label.

If you wanted to ensure it was genuine then you should have paid extra for the authentication check