Vinted - where am I going wrong?

[StuckInARut40]

I keep reading about people finding great bargains on Vinted, to the point where they don’t buy from ‘normal’ shops any more. I’ve been on a few times and searched for particular brands, but everything that comes up seems to be really highly priced for something second hand. Items that are brand new (with or without tags) are only a few pounds less than buying new, and that’s without the ability to return if they don’t fit/suit! And those that are good prices don’t look as if they are in great condition. Where am I going wrong with my searches as I can’t find any of these amazing bargains people talk about?!

That’s not how people use Vinted though - you make offers and people can accept or decline. I’d say I only pay full price when it’s gone on very low and I know will be snapped up. A lot of the time people ask so much their item sits there forever and yet they’re offended at any offers. Perhaps people have different understanding joe how Vinted works.

I have made £100’s on Vinted, selling good quality barely worn brands. I’ve bought too, mostly with success, and a few misses.
Agree with op’s that you must be picky and put the time in and absolute bargains are there!

I'm always impressed by the ability of Vinted sellers to make brands I like, even actual items I own, look so awful.

And what's all this "brand new with tags" ?
Are there really masses of people buying clothes and never wearing/ bothering to return them? I don't believe it. It's either not true - the item has been worn and the tag put back (this is easy with many brands) or it's stolen.

I always display my clothes on a tailor's dummy, ironed, and would never sell anything in less than perfect condition.

And I do sell BNWT clothes and they're certainly not stolen or worn!

Occasionally I'll buy something, like it very much, and then...it never gets worn. I don't often make mistakes when buying, but it happens, I imagine it happens to others too, most people aren't unscrupulous grifters.

It does happen. In my thirties and forties I was quite well off and would buy a lot of very beautiful clothes and not wear them because they didn’t suit my lifestyle.(aka I had nowhere to wear them).

I’d just look at them for a few months then put them on ebay within the year, usually for close to what I paid.

That hasn’t happened for a while though. I came to my senses and stopped doing it towards the end of the pandemic. Its sensible financial planning all the way now. Ahem.

There's a brand I really like which I'm not going to name in case a seller is on here. There's about a dozen items on Vinted. Several claim to be "BNWT" . That brand ties its labels on with twine. They're very easy to reattach.

The items which aren't "BNWT" look like used dish clothes.

You need to as PPs have said, have dedicated searches but not generally text. So click search, select your category e.g. women > clothing > skirts > all. Then filter by brand, size, condition and max price. Then sort by most recent. A really good bargain can sell in a few minutes so check multiple times a day.

Be careful of new without tags, mostly the seller is honest but sometimes people put worn items in this category.

Read a sellers reviews. And if too many auto feedback (there are always some though) it means people aren't really happy with the purchase but don't want to leave a bad review.

If an item has been on for a while make an offer. If there's an absolute bargain buy it straight away.

Vinted seems to have become flooded with loads of primark and SHEIN stuff lately which is irritating. I have had a lot of great stuff from there but I go for brands I know where I understand the sizing. You really need to use the filters and hashtags.

The offers thing is strange - I listed something this morning and someone immediately offered me less than half, which I politely declined! If I want something and it’s newly listed I’ll just buy it for the asking price. If it’s been on there for weeks then I’ll make an offer.

Are there really masses of people buying clothes and never wearing/ bothering to return them? I don't believe it. It's either not true - the item has been worn and the tag put back (this is easy with many brands) or it's stolen.

You must be a rare person to have absolutely never bought anything you didn't end up wearing! Of BNWT items I've listed, they've been for reasons like: the retailer sent me the wrong size and didn't want the wrong one back; I had another one like this and liked it at the time, so bought another, then shape or fit issues happened; I got this as a present. No need to assume everyone is dishonest.

Yes, I'm used to eBay, and Vinted feels a bit like a car boot sale sometimes 🙈. Although I've dipped my toe in now and bought a couple of things, so maybe it's OK if you shop carefully?

I agree with BNWT.

I never buy anything BNWT. There were a load of, I assume, fake, ACNE plaid scarfs all selling for £50 by different sellers. BNWT. So obviously fake.

I never buy anything woollen either as you can guarantee it'll probably be bobbly

Also the BNWT worn once makes me laugh.

It can be a bit hit and miss at times.

I love Vinted and can't remember last time I went into a shop! Agree you need to set up detailed searches, I would never buy good/satisfactory condition and try not to spend more that £15-20 an items. Recent buys include

Uniqlo BNWT jumper £12
Margaret Howell skirt £16
Mango wide leg trousers £14 (2nd pair after first ones were clearly short & not labelled correctly)
Cos shirt £14
Joanie Jumper £28
Gorgeous Arket skirt £22
Sweaty Betty yoga pants £25 (condition good not vgc as described which is annoying)

I've recently started selling and so far so good but still early days.

I love Vinted. I love how you can do a really really specific search for items, for example an All Saints dress that was still on sale. I've bought way too much stuff on there in the past year! It's brilliant for getting stuff for my teens. It's also great for non-clothing items, I've bought a few sets of ear buds, a Fit Bit etc.
I always check reviews and only buy from people with a lot of sales and five star reviews.
But trust me, there are amazing bargains to be had if you're clever with your searching.

I've never, ever bought something and not worn it. What's the point of buying something if you're not going to wear it?

If I have to return something I take it to a post office, DPD the next day. What's the point of hanging on to something to sell it discounted on Vinted, with the hassle that involves, rather returning it to the seller for full price? I never order anything which will arrive when I'm away from home.

I've only ever bought on Vinted once.

The item was described as new but it clearly wasn't. Then Vinted expected me to pay to return the item to the CF lying seller. Never again.

I've had some real bargains from Vinted. I don't buy new clothes anymore, everything I buy is from Vinted. You do have to trawl though.

Set up a few favorite searches and they will be in your history. Have a good look on the first search then just sort by most recent and check back more often. Bargains go fast. Favourite the things you like brands, sizes and then that brand gets suggested for you. I don't buy often as on a no clothes year but I still look every day.

I love Vinted! Have bought loads and got some amazing bargains 🥰

Sold loads too 😊

I used to buy lots of bargains in the sales when I was young in my size. I took a fair few years to realise it's not a bargain if you have no where to wear it ( white trousers anyone?) I had lots of unworn stuff that I bought really cheap in the sales.

This is exactly why I am too scared to buy on Vinted. I just don't believe the "new with tags". I agree with pp that the clothes all look so terrible I can't tell what to buy. And I don't want more drama in my life.

But DS buys all his clothes on there.

I offered someone 50p less once just to bring the total to a round number, I think it was £7.50 or something and I offered £7, she got incredibly pissy with me saying it was already an expensive item, and how dare I?

Thing is, Vinted encourage you to send offers so it's a bit stupid that people get so wound up about it.

You can write 'no offers' in the description if it's that important to you

The "no returns" also really scares me as I am in between sizes.

Just got some fabulous ski stuff fromvinted, delighted 😁 My experience - both buying and selling - has been positive overall

Well good for you. Sadly we’re not all so perfect. Life and irresponsibility happens 🤷🏻‍♀️

I suppose the theory is you just sell it on again.