Preowned 'never worn' or 'worn once'. Really????

[downwindofyou]

Am I cynical that when I see something on Vestiaire or Vinted etc and it's described as 'only worn once' or 'never worn' then it's a big fat porky pie?

How often are things really worn once before someone decides to get rid of it? ONCE??? Not 4 times? Not half a season? Just the once?

It immediately makes me not want to buy the thing

I’ve never not returned items I don’t think are right or fluctuated in weight but sometimes it’s only when you wear the item that you realise it’s a dud, like the neckline is weird and moves out of shape, or it pulls as you move, or the fabric relaxes as pp said, or with shoes you realise they are just going to hurt and never be worn.

That said there are plenty of chancers out there. And depending where the tag is you can often wear something with it still attached.

When my DM died my sister and I went to the house to clear her things. We filled 6 black bin liners with brand new clothing, all with tags. My sister and I were crying with laughter that she clearly had a shopping habit that we didn’t realise the size of. My DF clearly had no idea either but also found it funny.
Luckily they could afford it and the charity shop was very grateful. So I can see that sometimes it does happen.

That drives me bonkers too and actually stops me buying the item out of sheer pig headedness!

I've had many an item that had been unworn or only worn once - I am trying to improve but I have a tendency of not returning 'ok' items but then actually not wearing them or wearing once and realising that it is wrong.
I probably ought to try selling them on vinted but mostly they end up at the charity shop.

Id believe it...I have 2 skirts in my wardrobe BNWT that are 15 yrs old! I gained weight before I could wear them and Ive only just been able to get back into them again!

Its the 'never worn' ones with a picture of somebody wearing it that gets me. Is there just some disconnect and they dont realiese?
Also people posting things in excellent condition and when you zoom in there are tears, stains or serious wear. I mean just be honest!

Obviously I prefer new or worn once items but Im not precious about preworn stuff. Alot of fabrics like denim or corduroy are so hard wearing they might as well be new. Knitwear can often be debobbled for a new lease on life.
I recently got a Joanie t shirt I really liked for peanuts because the seller was honest about a teeny stain on the front. To me the t shirt looked practically new and I had to really struggle to see the stain so Im ok with abit of wear!

I am a bit of a hobby buyer of clothing. I have a lot of stuff I've never worn or genuinely only worn once. I sell a lot on Vinted, and as someone upthread said, I like to kid myself I'm recouping my loss. I actually like the idea though that someone else is getting pleasure out of wearing an item of clothing that I couldn't get on with. I think that so long as you check out sellers' reviews, you have a good chance of getting a good deal on Vinted. Plus, it's eco etc.

I have ADHD and forget to return things in the time window. I very much have things that I’ve only tried on. But the ADHD also means I don’t get around to selling them either 😂 I did once but it was such a faff

What I hate is when people say brand new and then worn once... which is it?

Once its used its used, the condition might be good but it is used.

Always makes me laugh when wedding dresses are listed as new then described as 'only used once' and 'only worn a few hours'... as opposed to? used once likely means altered to your specific shape and fully used for its exact purpose and lets be honest by a 'few' hours you mean like half a day.

Somethings worn once are fine or even worn several times are absoloutly fine. I will happily buy tops, dresses, coats, jeans that are second hand by decent condition but the fact some people sell swim wear or sexy lingerie as brand new then 'only worn once'... ewww.

It baffles me more when someone sells something thats fit only for the bin... honestly people selling stuff stained, bobbled, moth eaten/torn/frayed (not fashionable distressed), faded etc... I bought a hoody listed as 'worn a few times' it arrived with blood stains down the arm, holes and a black boot print on the back, it was a light yellow hoody so VERY obvious too, seller was shameless.

Honestly it looked like evidence from a crime scene and the photos used to advertise it had clearly been take of another hoody. Some people will straight up advertise with photos of items in that condition that make you think 'wtf' though and while at least they aren't lying you think 'why waste your time, just chuck it (and Im very anti waste with clothing but somethings can't be saved).

what gets me is “worn once for an hour” 🤣

Also to OP I have bought many things and never worn them.

I was always skin with washboard stomach and tiny boobs and wide hips, I no longer I have gone up several dress sizes and now have a bit of a belly and decent sized boobs but the same hips however my brain has NOT accepted this shift and I am still learning to dress this new shape. The styles I use to wear do not look good anymore so I buy stuff and realize I look bloody awful or that it physically wont even go on me.

There is lots of reason people do legitimately sell new items.

I have a pair of Boden trousers with tags that were too small to get on when I bought them. I was slack and didn't get round to returning them in time. Now I've lost weight and they do fit but after trying them a couple of times at home I've realised they're too long in the leg and will only work with heels which I don't wear for work. So they'll probably end up on Vinted.

No I disagree.
I have sold things that I have worn once. I’ve also sold things of dds which she had taken on holiday and never worn since. I can assure you she does not wear the same outfit every day!
However I do agree that people list things as new without tags, or excellent condition etc and they are clearly not.

What I want to know is why so few people iron the item before taking a photo for Vinted.

All my winter coats where second hand, all where new with tags. I'm sure people buy them then change their mind.

I bought one the other year a faux fur one, I had visions of looking like an spirited glamorous old Hollywood star in it. Second ever time I wore it out someone mistook me for being my DH mother. I realized 'old hollywood' was actually just coming across as 'old woman'. Really ruined it for me and I went back to wearing my old winter coat (which is getting a bit snug with my changing shape but often gets compliments from strangers asking where I got it).

Although I have to say Ive bought a ridiculous amount of clothes on Vinted this year due to replacing my entire wardrobe and nearly everything has been in excellent condition.
I find most people are very honest and even exaggerate wear, selling things for an absolute pittance when they look fine.

As someone who grew up relatively poor but with lots of female cousins I dont think Ive ever gotten over the thrill of receiving a big bag of second hand clothes!!LOL😄

There are tens of millions of Zara items for sale on Vinted. TENS of millions from one retailer on one resale platform alone.
It's clear that people are buying stuff the barely or never wear.

I always think if you've cut the labels off and worn it, then you can't return it to a shop? So I sell on Vinted in these cases. Or something new arrives, I think I like it, I cut the labels off... but when I actually wear it, I don't feel good in it. So I sell it on whilst it's in good condition.

I'm normally pretty good at returning stuff if I change my mind once I get it home but I bought several dresses at Bloomingdale's when I was in NY only to realise when I got them back to the UK that they absolutely aren't my style. I must have been temporarily insane. So they got sold on as never worn.

I had two evening dresses made that sounded great in the design stage but that I hated once they were finished. Sold as never worn.

Shoes - bought to go with a particular outfit that either didn't go or were uncomfortable. Sold as worn once.

Two Mulberry handbags - really uncomfortable to carry. Didn't fit what I wanted to put in them. Sold as used once.

if I bought something advertised that way and when I received them they were clearly well used I would complain and return them. It's never happened though.

I remember the thrill of second hand bags of clothes arriving from better off relations. The joy of getting something posh like M&S PJs or a shop bought school jumper instead of having a hand knitted one!

I've sold loads of unworn things including stuff with tags. I buy them thinking that I like them and then either have nowhere to wear them or they don't quite fit and I think I'll lose weight etc. and then they sit in my wardrobe forever until I sell them.

I often buy things, wear it once and decide I look like crap in it, or find it uncomfortable. I used to do this a lot with shoes, most high heels never even made it out of the house. Also had a a habit of buying clothes in a sale and never wearing them.

I think you get people now, mainly younger ones, who buy loads of stuff, and they either wear it once and send it back to the shop, or if they can't then they wear it once and sell it. I think it's a case of as soon as they've snapped photos in it, they don't need it anymore! Seems bizarre to me, but I do think it's a thing.

I ordered something 'never worn' from Vinted once and found the persons bank card in the pocket!

To be fair, I have no problem buying second hand clothes, in fact, most of my wardrobe is second hand as it means I can buy better quality clothes for a fraction of the price.

I'm always honest when I'm selling on Vinted and follow their guidelines for the listing categories. I do have a few items I've only worn once but not many. However, as a buyer I have noticed that it seems to be common practice to list things in the category 'above' what they are, e.g. things listed as new without tags have usually been worn once, things that are supposed to have been worn once have been used a few times etc. I find it very frustrating.

@SemperIdem, me. 🥴