Why did my vinted seller do this?

[ViaRia01]

The item I bought of vinted was posted today. The seller sent me message with two photos, the first of the item in its open box, the next with the box closed and inside a sealed parcel bag. The message describes how the items are wrapped and in what packaging.

It’s really not a problem but it did make me wander why she did this. I assume it is a way of protecting herself from some kind of theft or false claim, but what exactly might she think a buyer would do that would be preventable by sending these photos.

Sorry ignore the poll, it doesn’t really need a poll. It’s just ‘AIBU that this message on vinted was unnecessary’

Vinted ask sellers if certain items to do this. She was simply obeying orders

Because we get dishonest people sending messages saying something's damaged, or they didn't get it, or we packed the wrong thing. I video while I'm packing, and then only delete the video when the sale is complete. Honestly - some people are just awful.

Some people do it so the buyer knows what it is packaged in. I’ve had a few instances with InPost where the parcel I’ve received is the wrong one, mixed up by the delivery driver. It’s helpful when submitting a claim to Vinted to be able to show it’s a totally different parcel received.

They may also be showing it’s well-packaged because some people submit claims to say the packaging split in transit and the item was lost. A well-packaged item likely won’t do that, so they may just be covering their own backs by taking proof of how it was packaged.

There are so many scams going about with buyers trying to say the item didn’t contain what they ordered, it looks like the buyer is trying to stop that from happening. They might’ve had this issue with a previous sale.

Ah ok. I’ve sold loads on there and I’ve never come across this before. I’m still not sure what the purpose might be, even if it is requested by vinted. What does it prove/ show.

Ah yes I sort of get all this. But the photo only shows the current items inside packaging. It doesn’t necessarily provide that it what she has sent to me.

I am not doubting the seller at all. I’m sure the sale will go through without a problem. I still don’t understand what the photos are expected to prove…? What am I missing?

I do this! I take a photo of the package and a photo of it in the inpost locker/drop off. I do it both so the buyer can see what it looks like, and for my peace of mind as I can demonstrate I packaged it well.

I agree OP. Filming a box in a parcel doesn't prove that's what you actually sent. Its like a delivery driver taking a photo of your parcel in your porch and then just walking away with it afterwards.

Vinted have packing instructions for certain items.

Ie. Electrical must be protected.

So if a buyer wants to scam they receive the box, remove the protection and then says it’s broken and wasn’t packaged properly.

or even if the item is legit damaged by transit and not the buyer scamming. If they try to say it’s not packaged properly - you won’t get any insurance.

So it’s just to say… I have packaged this. Here is my proof.

Hopefully it stops any nonsense.

They are just keeping you in the delivery loop and a record of their own actions.

Sounds like a good idea to me to have everything in the one place should they need to refer back to it.

I filmed myself packaging each component of a return to a seller and taping it up (eBay in this case but I’d do the same for a high price Vinted return or sale) because I just had a weird feeling they’d clam I never sent the item back in its entirety.

and that’s exactly what they did!

They refused a refund as I’d apparently sent only one component of a three part item back and sent me a photo of the alleged only component.

i immediately informed them I’d filmed the entire packing process, tamper marked the packaging (so they couldn’t open it, remove parts and reseal and film themselves apparently opening the package for the first time with missing parts), I’d photographed the parcel being handed (with the anti tamper marks) to the post office counter, and photographed the return details slip at the counter.

Suddenly after I’d told them this, they replied oops made a silly mistake and it was someone else's parcel that had come back incomplete and they got mixed up. Yeah right….

if I hadn’t had video proof they’d have continued their false narrative and I’d never have got my refund.

I recently sold an expensive skin care set on Vinted and did the same again. I didn’t send any of it to the seller though, just had in case they tried to say any items were missing or incomplete. Once the sale completed I deleted the video and photos.

Theres a lot of shifty shits on resale sites and it’s just sensible now for higher priced things to cover yourself.

how do you tamper mark?

If you are at all concerned then I'd advise filming yourself opening it.
But if the seller has lots of good reviews I'd not worry too much.
it may just be they've been scammed before and are now cautious to try and show/prove what they've sent and how they've sent it.

Wonder. Not wander

@gravitarse Do you not consider that quite rude?

No, you've had a moment of education

I do this because I've had issues where Vinted lost my package en route and another arrived in its place. I lost my item and money and had to accept the inferior other one returned to me.

I sold an item for £5 yesterday and went to get the delivery label when a message popped up from Vinted saying to photograph the wrapped item. Something to do with claiming compensation from the delivery company if the parcel was damaged.
It’s the first time I’ve ever received the message so I assume it must be a new thing.

Vinted was on watchdog on the one show tonight. Problems but I don't know what

It’s quite a good ‘warning shot’ that is the buyer is in the habit of try to pull a fast one, then they should try elsewhere.