To think I've been ripped off / scammed? Vinted

[TemuMuggedOff]

I was browsing vinted for a (BNWT) handbag to treat myself to for my upcoming birthday.

I came across this one (advertised with these pictures) for £35 and thought it looked lovely. The seller has dozens of positive reviews.

Well, the seller posted it out to me today and after she did she promptly sent me a message afterwards with a bunch of additional photos that weren't visible on the original advert.

It's absolutely shit quality and so flimsy. I would not have bought it with those images on there. The advertised pictures are misleading. She also told me she has sprayed it with antibacterial spray.

I asked why that was necessary and she assured me it doesn't damage the bag as she has sold this same bag 7 times and done the same with all. Apparently it's a spray for bags (?)

Long story short, I've discovered that she's buying them in bulk on Temu for under a tenner and upselling them for over three times the price.

Bags from Temu/Shein arrive smelling of strong chemicals (or fish!) so that's why she's claiming the BS about antibacterial spray.

I don't want a smelly temu bag.

Her profile states no refunds or returns.

Do I have a leg to stand on here and am I being unreasonable to raise a grievance with vinted?

WWYD?

Has anyone asked her why her profile photo is of a dead woman? That’s gross.

Thanks for the tip RE reddit. I have an account and will post there.

I've no idea who the woman in the photo is, is it a celebrity who has passed away? I don't recognise her.

Assuming there were no photos of the actual bag for sale on the listing (just photos from the web), the listing should have been removed for breaking Vinted rules. It's a bug bear of mine and yes I am petty enough to report every listing I come across like this. Vinted always remove in this instance (although conversely haven't removed listings where the incorrect brand has been used).

I suspect the seller knows what she's doing based on her profile. Only using Royal Mail would be a red flag for me.

In your position I think your only option is to raise an issue once the item has been delivered. Take screenshots to show Vinted that the item sent is notably different to the one you received and reference the additonal photos of the actual item sent after the item had already been posted.

Vinted is for selling unwanted or your pre-loved items, not for commercial reselling.
(Screenshot attached)

OP she clearly states in her messages that she is reselling bags on behalf of a business which is against their guidelines.

She should be doing this on eBay or Amazon.

I'm sorry this happened to you. I've also been scammed on Vinted recently with the buyer pretending I sent an empty box of toiletries so that she can keep my items and pocket the money. I'm so annoyed!

Thank you for this! I'll be highlighting all of this when I raise my dispute, very helpful.

She has admitted in our conversation that she has sold the same bag 7 times, then later on goes on to say she's selling for her friends business.

Even If I don't get my refund hopefully that alone will have her booted off the app and stop her doing the same to somebody else.

She is buying on to resell. Which is taxable profit. There in writing for HMRC. She should technically have a Vinted Pro Seller account which would mean she would have to adhere to distance selling laws and she would have to accept a 'change of mind' return. She has admitted she is re-selling - if it does not say pro seller on her account I would be asking her and Vinted why she is not on a Pro seller account. HMRC are hammering down on side hustles right now.

I would persue the case with Vinted OP on the basis that the picture she used was a professional advertising picture from a company who did not make this bag - the bag is a counterfeit version. However think it’s 50/50 whether they will back you up given that she doesn’t state that it’s from that brand in the description.

I list and buy items from popular brands (Reiss, sezanne etc) quite regularly and they always make it clear that you have to upload photos of the labels from within the actual product you are selling proving province and material (if they are stating it is 100% leather or silk or cashmere or whatever). If she doesn’t include this within her photos and doesn’t state material and brand in the description then it could be argued that she is opening selling a copy of a designer original - and there is no law against selling a product for a profit.

You should have perhaps scribbled out the shop name if people are allowed to directly message her as a result of this thread

It would be different if you said 'awful experience at M&S don't shop there!' - nobody would directly message

Contact [email protected] as this is answered by real people rather than automated.

Include the breaches of each t&c’s that she has made, including photos.
Include seller behaviour if this contravenes t&c, and pro business rather than private.

Are all parts of the bag provided that see in the photos? All tags and straps? This is another aspect of SNAD. (see missing parts).

https://www.vinted.co.uk/help/1090

You can also contact your bank, or make a case for the small claims court if Vinted do not support your evidence around SNAD and you feel you have a clear case.

Agree that Vinted may be interested that she is claiming not to be a Pro seller.

You may as well have a go! I haven’t raised a dispute on Vinted apart from a mutually frustrating ‘missing parcel’ enquiry when a parcel of something I had bought went AWOL. They weren’t terribly helpful or swift then.

Etsy was great when an annoying woman sold me a customised denim jacket for my 7 year old which was blatantly for a 4 year old, doubled down and insisted it was the right size

Dear Seddy_01

Just checking...if you haven't already informed HMRC about your roaring trade selling on Vinted, now might be a good time. You're not all that popular around here!

That is her mistake. Sending photos after the transaction has been paid for/bag sent doesn't mean a thing and certainly doesn't cover her. I hope you get your money back.

Haven’t rtft but it’s a rip off of a really popular designer bag so it’s available everywhere to be honest; I think if you hate it when it arrives you can return it as not as advertised. She can’t not accept returns so that’s that. No need to panic!

But the seller didn't do that - she posted pictures from Temu, not Manu Atelier. OP's posted that the seller has used exactly the pictures from the Temu website and when she challenged her on this, the seller claimed the bags come from her friend's shop in London and the friend also supplies her with the photo's.

Very overpriced items. I have that Valentino bag and her one looks fake with a cheap chain. I think I only paid £70 in the sale brand new!

I have really gone off Vinted recently. I hope they crack down on commercial sellers like this.

Caveat emptor and all that, but it’s sharp practice.

As for spraying all purchases with anti bac and sending photos only AFTER the purchase has been made??? In what world is this normal or desirable selling behaviour?? Big red flags, along with the use of retail photos.
Also, the sellers' reviews now look like dodgy to me. People, or rather "accounts" saying their purchases smelled gorgeous and thanking the seller for spraying them. Weird.
I think your seller is probably an organised 'business'- Vinted need to clamp down otherwise it'll go the way of Ebay.

If you look at the shoes she is also offering to send extra pictures of them being worn! Presumably at £50 a time for the foot fetish people.

Vinted will support a return as not as described. You might have to pay to return it but will be worth your while. If the seller doesn't collect the bag when returned, you will still get a refund. I've not had many issues sending items which aren't as described. And her sending pictures after the purchase isn't what she sold you & doesn't count as the listing if sent after posting

Apart from the bags - I’m another one who thinks it’s disrespectful & pretty awful she’s using a photo of a deceased woman.

@AngelicKaty "But the seller didn't do that - she posted pictures from Temu, not Manu Atelier. OP's posted that the seller has used exactly the pictures from the Temu website"

The seller DID post photos from Manu Atelier. Temu lifted the photo from MA's instagram, and the seller presumably took the photo from Temu (see my earlier post).
The fact is, the seller used a photo of a designer bag to sell a counterfeit.

In future if you want a decent bag try TK Maxx, I got a really lovely bag for £40 just after Christmas.

Yes, NA means ''Not applicable''.

A friend bought a Mulberry bag from Ebay, and absolutely loves it, but the seller accepts returns, and it is lovely quality. it was 80% cheaper than a brand new one, and only has light use and you can look up the serial numbers &c to see if they are genuine or not.

£35 is really cheap for a leather bag, surely it can't be proper full grain leather for that?

Who is the woman? I can’t figure it out.

Read OP's first and second posts. She wrote:
"Long story short, I've discovered that she's buying them in bulk on Temu for under a tenner and upselling them for over three times the price."
and then:
"Unfortunately it's coming via royal mail (signed for and tracked). I sent her a message asking whether she bought the bag on Temu and she said no she sells them for her friend who has a shop in London. She has literally used the same picture from Temu. Hasn't even tried to cover her tracks."