Vinted - am i really being unreasonable?

[harveythehorse]

I had a thoroughly unpleasant interaction with a Vinted seller last night and wonder if I really am being unreasonable . . .

Bought a pair of Nike leggings for DD, advertised as an adult size 4 (which she needs for the length). When they turn up, they're a child's size large (so too short). I wouldn't have purchased them if they'd been advertised correctly.

I raise an issue, and flag the problem with the seller. I am then bombarded (and I wish I was exaggerating) with messages telling me I'm pathetic for wanting a refund on a cheap item, that I should have seen what I was buying (even though there was no photo of the label) and then sent actual threats. She then cancelled the order and seemingly I have to pay to return them to her! It isn't a huge sum of money at all, but Vinted are saying that I have to return the leggings, despite the fact I screenshotted her threatening language, and have sent proof the leggings weren't correctly listed.

At this point, it's the principle but does anyone have any advice on what to do? I'm very happy to return the item, but fail to see why it should be on me to pay for it (I'm aware I should probably just suck it up but it's really annoyed me).

It sucks, but unfortunately you don't have a choice. There's no way around it unless the seller offers to pay return postage.

How much did you pay?

It was only £10 but that makes the leggings close to £17 with two rounds of postage.

It isn't REALLY the money though, it's the rotten behaviour.

You’re not going to be much better off if you get a refund. I’d write it off as a shit experience and resell them if they’re in decent condition.

I think you’ll just have to chalk this one up to the cost of doing business with private sellers and move on.

This is another thing - they're not in good condition there are quite a lot of grim stains, which weren't visible in the photos.

But you're right, I have to write it off as a shit experience and be more careful next time.

If I get an item I am unhappy with on Vinted I never bother to complain to the seller, it’s just not worth it. I just don’t leave feedback. Similarly if anyone moans about anything I have sent I just say to keep the item and I’ll refund them.

Not worth the hassle. On Vinted it’s always a bit of a gamble. I just re-list stuff I’m not happy with and give it a more honest description.

Unfortunately sellers don't have to pay for a return, it's on the buyer. I've been caught out by it before. Not sure what the point of buyer protection is other than to give you the option of claiming a refund. It's the downside of vinted.

Have you highlighted the condition to Vinted?

I goti a pair of joggers that were "excellent condition" and arrived with a hole in - Vinted accepted they were not as described

Contact [email protected]. After a seller threatened me they refunded 100%, banned seller and I didn't have to return the item. I also contacted the police due to the nature of the threats.

I'm surprised.
Vinted usually side with the buyer.

I've just had a ridiculous interaction with a strange woman who claimed that the brand new top I sent her smelt of fungus.

I've never had an issue like this before.
After a lot of nasty messages from her, I asked her to send the top back.

Vinted sucks sometimes!

Unfortunately T&C’s are that you pay the return unless the seller agrees to pay.
https://www.vinted.co.uk/help/1090-significantly-not-as-described-items-at-vinted

I have sent this message in the past which has worked in that the seller has agreed to pay the return postage. I have also chosen to keep low-cost items rather than return ( I've relisted and sold on) just so that I can leave poor feedback.

Might be worth a shot @harveythehorse

Hi there,
Having read all of the Vinted terms and conditions about buying an item which is ‘significantly not as described’ ( proof in listing of lack of information about size and photos taken on arrival of theblabels). I have the option to return to you.

Please will you agree to pay the return costs, as the error in the listing is your error, not mine.
Returning the item to you means that your feedback rating will not be affected as a return prevents me being able to leave (low scoring)and negative feedback on your account.

I know that I can keep and try to resell this item, with a correct listing regarding the size or send them to charity.

If I have to pay for the return postage I will choose to dispose of the item and not return it to you. This has the advantage of me being able to leave negative feedback about the poor size listing of this item and about your agreesive and rude service.

Please let me know how you would prefer to proceed. Many thanks.’

You could also report to Vinted (person rather than remote), with evidence, the rude and aggressive communication as the seller risks being suspended by Vinted. You might want to add this to the message above.
Contact for Vinted is [email protected].

You’re def not being unreasonable but I think your logic is a bit off here… the leggings aren’t costing you £17 because you’re not getting the leggings. You’re speculating money to try getting something cheaper than new without trawling 10 different charity shops. Something like when I pay bus fare to go into town but they don’t have what I needed in a specific shop.

the seller sounds horrific tho and def push for vinted to step in and try to help. It raises the question of what the protection fee is for but then it was clearly the sellers fault for miss labelling them so not sure why you or others should pay either.

sorry

They refund your original postage and fees, along with the trousers. If you choose Evri, they'll just deduct about £2.29 and refund the rest

Thank you for this, am going to email now.

I'm sorry to those who have also had horrid experiences.

I've had my negative feedback removed before in this situation

Yes, they've ignored this. They also don't seem at all bothered by the fact the sizing was completely wrong in the advert.

Urgh, as someone else said, Vinted sucks sometimes!

Good luck, come back and let us know how you get on.

I've been very lucky until my last purchase which was a hoodie advertised as 14/16 and it's enormous more like a 20 I feel like arguing over it but guess easier to just resell

Choose your own postage, it will be cheaper. Take video or pics of you packaging it up for sending and proof of postage back to cover yourself. Paying postage for damaged or not as stated goods bugs me so much on vinted.

Not unreasonable at all - unfortunately vinted customer service is rubbish. Had a similar issue with item not as described recently although seller wouldn't engage rather than abusive. Vinted wouldn't help and refund, so having paid by CC, I raised a dispute with them and got refunded that way.
Vinted are breaking the law by their actions but no one seems to be doing anything about it!!

You're quite right about the lack of logic . . . and also what the protection fee actually offers.

I’ve been burned before by this but the T&C’s are clear. I won’t buy anything now without the clear label photos.

I was looking for a size 14 item from a particular brand as knew it fitted and got sent something that was listed as a 14 but was actually enormous and in an XL, whereas for that brand a 14 is a M/L (but Vinted sizing is 14/XL). If the label was shown I’d have known it was too big and not bought it.

I’m really, really wary now and am sticking only to clothes for DD rather than me.

It's really shocking how many sellers are able to list items in completely the wrong size and for there to be zero ramifications for them!

Good tip about only buying items with label photos.

Not that is helps you now but I only buy items that show photos of the size and composition labels.