Vinted item and BO smell - do I tell the seller?

[TheDowagerLadyUrsula]

I've bought an item on Vinted. It's quite hard to find, was a good price, and I don't want the faff of sending it back. It appears visually clean and in good condition but it has a very strong smell of BO under the arms.

I'm going to keep it and it's currently soaking in white vinegar, which I'm confident will get rid of the smell. I'm not going to raise an issue or complaint with Vinted and I know that by keeping the item I'm tacitly stating that I don't have a problem with it.

The question is...do I try to say something privately to the seller? Do people with bad BO know that they have it? Would it be a kindess to let her know or do I just let Vinted leave auto-feedback?

I'm sorry but that's absolutely gross & there's no way I'd keep that item. Even after soaking it i just wouldn't want to wear it

So in your shoes I'd return & state why.

I simply don't believe that people don't realise they smell.

I wouldn't bother,just wash it. It's grim but will be fine once washed.

I would say on the feedback that it arrived dirty.

I wouldn’t send it back unless it was expensive but would leave feedback saying it needed soaking due to body odour

Dont leave auto feedback, its automatically good. Wash it and leave an accurate review, 3 stars at most. If its still grim after washing I'd return it so wash asap while you can raise an issue

You want to leave feedback telling the person they have BO?! It’s not a kindness to message a stranger telling them they smell, no.

A private message rather than public feedback. I don't want to humiliate someone publicly.

Plenty of people sell on clothes they may not necessarily have worn themselves so yes, you could leave honest feedback that the item you received smelled of body odour.

I’d be too scared of retaliatory bad feedback to be honest and leave a review saying it smelt. I’d just soak wash and not buy from that seller again.

I recently bought a top for DD and it came covered in make up and armpit stains 🤮 it was only 1.50 so I didn’t bother with a return but I did leave honest feedback cos come on, you don’t sell things in that state.

As a seller, I would offer you a partial refund if condition wasn’t as described (which does sometimes just happen as a honest mistake if someone is selling lots quickly). No need to shame them in any case - a polite message saying the item is not in condition expected.

Yes do message them and explain, I’ve had this before and come to the conclusion that people just can’t smell their BO because they’re so used to it. They need to know because otherwise everything they sell will be in the same condition.

This was kind of my thinking. I've certainly known smokers, dog-owners, and people who live in damp houses who have absolutely no idea how much their things smell. I wondered if something similar might apply here.

I stopped buying from Vinted last year after a pair of trousers arrived with a very obvious period stain, even though they were advertised as new with tags. Unfortunately I just can't trust that people are genuine. I imagine she knows that top smells and is relying on you just keeping it.

OK, I've messaged her privately. If she's a MNer she might see this but I've NCed.

I've just thanked her for sending the item quickly and explained that I haven't yet clicked the 'accept order' button because the item has a very strong smell and I need to check if it washes out first.

Oh my lord 😆 Still a big fat hard no. Keep it or don’t but don’t tell someone they smell under the guise of kindness, done in private.

I’d leave feedback that it arrived unwashed. There ya go. You’re not oublically outing them as having BO, but you do need to provide accurate feedback. I think this is the risk we take with buying pre loved items online unfortunately. Then just wash it and move on.

Out of interest- why not? If the top arrived smelling of BO why would you not say anything?

Yes definitely tell them

I’d prefer BO to the horrible strong artificial fragrance smell that accompanies most Vinted purchases (scent beads?) . I have to intensively wash/rewash things. At least BO is non-toxic 😉

I'm sorry but that's disgusting! I would not like to receive any article of clothing smelling of someone else's BO + BO is very difficult to eradicate from fibres.

I would feel ill if I was wearing a top that stank of a stranger's sweat if I got hot🤢🤮

In vinteds T&Cs it says you cannot return an item if you wash it - it has to be returned as you received it.

The seller may accept the return, but they could then raise an issue saying you have washed the item and it is not as they sent it and the way vinted are they may then pay the seller so you may lose the refund and the item.

Just wash it, and problem solved. You leave them shit feedback and they could do the same. As for a private message, what would that solve. ‘Oi buy some deodorant because your clothes are humming’. Just leave it.