Vinted return, help/advise needed. Can seller lie about condition of returned item and get away with it?

[flyingpukeko]

Hi name change for this thread and sorry in advance to post here for traffic. I would appreciate some advise on Vinted return problems with seller.

I have bought a bag recently, seller claimed very good condition only used twice. I paid over £100 for it as I had been looking for this bag for a while. Cant buy online as sold out.

I asked the seller if the cotton part (inside the leather bag and can not be removed) was clean she said yes. When I received it, it was not clean, there were small marks, small dirt/sand and hair (looks like cat or dogs hair but who knows). I raised this through Vinted as I wouldnt have paid the same price had I known the condition. I have provides close up photos, but seller got back all agry and insisting it was clean, then asked me to just send it back, calling me "liar" using words like "people like you" etc. You can just tell this is a nasty person. I have tried to remain friendly even though I think she is at fault for not describing it accurately.

Anyway I sent it back on the same day (within a few hours of receiving it) using intergrated delivery by Royal mail and I paid for the postage. It says delivered on 7th July ( with photo and signature) and Vinted said my refund will be issued within 48 hours. Today just before the 48 hrs I got a message to say order suspended Vinted is looking into that. Then Immediately seller has gone "holiday mode". I tried to reach out the Vinted but only got automated messages.

I have googled a bit and some people had experience of sellers lying about the condition of return items (saying damaged or missing parts etc) and Vinteds sided with sellers. Buyers ended up with no item and no money.

I have a gut feeling that the seller may have done the same to cause trouble for my refund. I have 100% good reviews and have never come across situation like this. The seller has over 500 reviews mostly good, but when I read through some negative ones, people mentioned sending filthy smelly items with hair. One even said she didnt return because she knew seller would just lie and not refund given how rude and nasty she was.

Now I am really worried that Vinted will believe her and refuse to give me my money back.

Honest this whole thing has given me so much stress. When you have kind and reasonable buyers and sellers, its all good, but when you come across someone like this, its such a pain in the neck.

Has anyone ever had similar problems? It does put me off from using Vinted again. Ebay is much better at taking care of buyers.

A few small marks on the lining of the bag would still be considered good condition if the outside was fine?

Did you pay by credit card? Was it £100 including postage or was postage on top? As long as it is £100.01 and less than £30k you can raise a section 75 claim? I’d be doing that. You’ve acted extremely reasonably and once you add in screenshots of the other reviews I’d say you’ve got a great chance of the CC siding with you. You’ve given vinted the opportunity to resolve it, time to take control of the situation.

Best of luck!

I once had a situation with a dress i bought on vinted. Totally nothing like the description- had holes on it and was clearly well worn. Seller became really nasty. Vinted told her she had to allow the return but I knew she'd be trouble. So photographed and video recorded the dress to within an inch of its life. When she tried to dispute it (naturally) I sent all the videos and pictures and vinted found in my favour and I got my refund.

The dress was no where near the cost of your bag but by that point I wanted my money back due to the principal of it. It's ridiculous you can't leave reviews on these sellers as she had mainly all good reviews.

Put me right of vinted and I've never used it since then.

I understand what you are saying. I have only done it once on Vinted before because the seller sent the wrong colour, it was no trouble. However this time I asked about the condition of inside the bag in particular knowing I cant wash it. I was expecting a clean bag but there was hair inside and marks, light stains. I wouldnt have paid such a price if I knew I had to clean it myself. I would have kept the bag if seller offered partial refund but she went all nasty.

The bag was exactly £100 plus vinted fees and postage came up to £110. Does it have to be over £100?

Sorry this has happened to you. Out of curiosity, how much would the bag be worth brand new?

You are very smart. I should have done the same. I was too naive and didnt believe she would lie because unlike ebay I am the one paying for postage, she really had nothing to lose. My DH said I shouldnt waste my time being upset about this, see it as £100 to learn a lesson (never use vinted again), but I hate to think that a liar can get away with her bag back and my money so easily.

It was around £200 brand new and £115 when it was on sale, but sold out completely a few years ago. I have been looking for it for a while. I would have bought a brand new one if it was available.

It is a shame that some nasty sellers ruin it for the rest of us xx

It does. Just by a penny so you’re good to go I reckon! Just send everything including screen shots, post receipts, screenshots of it being delivered, copies of your messages between you and the seller and you and vinted. It is now a dispute between you and vinted because they handled the transaction so now make it your Credit card providers issue. You only have to show you have tried to resolve the matter with them first (which you have) and no satisfactory conclusion has been reached. Be sure to include screenshots of other reviewers for the same seller as it demonstrates a pattern.

good luck! .

Thank you, this is very helpful. Is it the same process as initiating charge backs through your credit card bank?

That is true. I was enjoying Vinted until this happened. I felt so helpless with Vinted. I do feel more protected buying ebay, even as a seller, ebay would taking your history (100% good reviews) into consideration when dealing with situations like this.

Yes. Start of using the CC provider’s dispute charge and then invoke S75 if you need to. Your CC should lay out your options either on line or via one of their CS reps on the phone. The important thing is that you are most likely covered under s75 which gives you added protection. The CC company will just get the money back off Vinted. It’s up to them if they ban the seller - but I’d definitely be leaving an honest review!