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?!

I just don't see the point. I've seen many buyers miss out as they've favourited something then someone else just comes along and buys it.

I favourite lots of things - but I cant afford to buy everything, so favouriting is a kind of wish list which allows me to edit down.

And sometimes sellers send me offers - and Im more likely to buy those items!

I've just sold a bnwt Hobbs dress. Bought it and I intended to wear it, but then lost weight and it didn't look quite right. There was honestly nothing wrong with it.
Have also bought a pair of brand new knee high timberland boots for £25. Think they were sold because the width is quite narrow but they are in perfect condition.

I think the trick is to not buy anything too expensive, to set detailed search criteria and to examine the pictures really closely.

I messaged people who had favourited and said feel free to make an offer. Only one replied and that was to say they have been told they have enough of X. But I tried!

Message with a proper offer/price reduction, much more of an incentive than an invitation to make an offer.

Things are so low it's not always as simple as that.

I love vinted - I take the view that you’ll get some bad stuff and some stuff that doesn’t fit but on the whole everything is great and super cheap so I don’t get het up about the occasional miss. I resell the bits I don’t like for the same as I paid 🤷🏻‍♀️

Have had some amazing stuff - Alexander McQueen dress for £65 which I adore, lovely knitwear, kids stuff, veja trainers, gym stuff - I don’t buy from actual shops now either!

I sell things I buy for the DCs to grow into and then they ended up not wearing - one is fickle and the other seems to end up with things the wrong size at the wrong season really often.
Or I forgot them in the loft!

I love Vinted,I've got loads of bargains - lots of jewellery, a fantastic bag that was new as the zips were still covered with plastic, shoes and boots. I stick to brands I know will fit,it's very hard to guess from a photo and I've had a few misses but passed them on to friends or to the charity shop. I tend to keep all purchases below £20.

@BirthdayRainbow it's not really that hard to get though, right? I was looking for trainers for my dc and favourites about 5 pairs - they were my shortlist. It's impossible to re-find stuff on vinted. I think went back and scrutinised the shortlist, chose one and bought it.

But yeah, with bargains you have to be fast. I got my dc a pair of brand new birkies for a fiver and I bought them 11 minutes after they were listed. I listed a new jumper (no tags tho) for £25 and it was bought in 2 hours. Good stuff goes fast.

I favourite things so that I can think about it rather than impulse buy. Also to compare prices if looking for a specific thing eg a particular style of jeans. Also to wait for a possible offer especially on things that have been listed for months. Sometimes the favourites items get sold before I decide to buy but that just comes with the territory!

I favourite items and use it like a short list,it also gives sellers the chance to bring the prices down.

Thank you to those that have explained why they favourite things without being snide.

Not necessarily. I just sold some BNWT infant shoes. They were too wide for my child but I'd bought them online from Sports Direct and it would have cost me £5 or something ridiculous to return them. I sold them on Vinted for what I paid for them so I retained more money that way than returning.

I did similar once when I'd bought shoes in the sales but forgot about them in a cupboard and by the time I refound them they were too small.

I have fantastic luck on Vinted.

• Make sure you're liking/favouriting items so that the algorithm works out what you like, and then pretty much all the best finds end up in your recommended section (double-check that you've approved this personalisation in your settings).
• Stick to brands you know fit you well.
• Only buy from sellers with good ratings.
• Have a go at offers, but make sure it's reasonable offers and not lowballs! I never ask for more than a 20% discount usually.

You will end up purchasing a few non-fitting items (inevitable when you can't try on beforehand), but you can re-sell them.

I uploaded a few things today. With one, by the time I'd put it in a box and come back to my room it had sold. Lots have been favourited. Hopefully some will sell this week.

As a buyer it would be really helpful if the seller would measure the length of clothes , a photo next to a tape measure is always good. It's so hard to tell if a top is short/ a tunic /long from a photo.

If anyone asks for measurements I do a photo with the tap measure but haven't always with some of the clothes. Good tip though and I will do it. Thank you.

I'm happy with listed measurements (I trust that the seller measured adequately); with some measuring tapes photographing it is a bit of a faff. I always list item length and usually also pit-to-pit, shoulder width, arm scythe (because these last two are what I have the most problems with personally) and sometimes sleeve length, though some of this depends on the type of item. Lack of measuring is a horror!

Plus put a photo showing the size label on the item - it's astonishing how many items go up as 'size X' when the label shows they are actually 'X-2' or 'X+2' without any justification in the description (like, 'Chinese XL sizing, fits like European S-M' or whatever).

I do think they need to sort out returns. I've had two cases where the seller has sent the wrong item or it's massively not as described. I don't expect it to depend on the goodwill of the seller as to whether I have to pay for return postage.

I still get bargains but I look for specific brands and check my saved searches daily. You have to be quick though as they're snapped up immediately.

I tend to buy things I already know fit me, eg Doc Martens, so no issue with sizing. I've bought probably a dozen things and not had any issues.