The Naughty Corner – Influencing, Alternatives & Things That Actually Worked

[Whowhatwerewolf]

This thread is the naughty corner offshoot of the de-influencing thread.

If you:

• want to suggest cheaper or better alternatives
• bought the thing and were glad you did
• want to talk about products that genuinely worked
• feel the urge to say something positive about an item being discussed elsewhere

…this is the place for it.

The original de-influencing thread is deliberately for talking people out of buying things. This one exists so those conversations don’t drift into recommendations and shopping there.

So please:

• post alternatives and “this was actually good” comments here
• use this thread if you want influencing rather than de-influencing
• consider this a pressure-release valve for good buys and success stories

That way we get two useful threads instead of one muddled one.

Welcome to the naughty corner. I'm going to try to stay out of here if I can because I'm trying to reduce my spending, but if you're naughty and you know it please crack on.

The original de-influencing thread is here https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5482885-de-influencing-thread-reasons-why-not-to-buy-things

Sounds good in a way @CortieTat that your Vinted is more limited but I do wonder whether yours will merge with the UK one in time. The UK one now seems to have merged or somehow been linked with the USA one now which is great except there's more temptation and things can take ages to arrive.
Good idea to transfer your profits out immediately!

I haven't noticed that? Though I am a relative newcomer to Vinted (long-time eBayer though).

Isn't the p&p from the States really prohibitive? It's become so on eBay, which is a shame as I have purchased amazing things from the US & other non-European countries in the past.

I think my pride & joy is a padded coral silk kimono, embroidered down the back with a huge intricate flower pattern, that the seller's father had bought for her mother in Japan when he was there during the war. It has been carefully preserved in a trunk ever since, unworn ... I think I paid about £40 for it!!

I've only ordered one item that came from America @EleanorMc67 and the shipping wasn't any more expensive I found this which explains a bit more about it https://share.google/anRi2mHJmUDd91Ay0

I have bought and sold so much on vinted this year. I bought a new pair of black clarks leather boots for 20. They are fantastic. A barbour jumper that I have worn loads. Lots of denim.

I would buy # 2 as you clearly have weighted up why you shouldn’t IYSWIM. I find it hard to find the right colour/weight/design polo knit so if you find one that works, great joy! I also have random H M stuff that has fared well despite being heinous mixes.

I saw a nice dior grey long sleeve one but that is a different proposition.

Me too, Stackers are fantastic,I bought mine from Vinted .

My understanding is that this is their standard (and very good) expansion practice, they connect a new country with an established market to give users in the new country a greater selection of items already from the beginning. Otherwise someone has to be first and the platform could take years before it becomes viable.

Vinted started in Sweden in 2022 and we were originally connected to Poland that already had a big and thriving community at that time. Then they slowly rolled out in Denmark and then Finland. The internal markets are steered top down by shipping prices, we used to have free shipping to and from Poland, now it’s reasonable but more pricey and local shipping is much cheaper.
How vinted markets are connected depends on the deals they are able to negotiate with the logistics companies, I think. It would probably make sense for us to get connected to Germany for instance, but it seems DHL has overslept the opportunity, only this year I had an option to ship with DHL to a buyer from PL.

Vinted has made a huge difference to selling on VC which now has Vinted breathing on their backs. VC has now a real customer service and pays out within a day.

That's interesting, thanks. Reading through that, it's sounds as if this is just for the duration of what they call their "launch period" - so I assume it will go up after that.

It would be great if this persuaded eBay to reduce their US postage rates - it's often more than the items I'm interested in buying!!!

By VC do you mean Vestiaire Collective? I do look on there, & see potentially lovely things - but the photography is appalling!!!

Don't you use eBay? Or Etsy? I still find the former very good for both buying and selling. Vinted I used to dislike as I thought it was all cheap, tatty & only for the very young. That's now changed, thankfully (I think ... 🤔?!!). But only been a buyer on it so far. I've also bought some great proper vintage clothing on Etsy.

Yes, Vestiaire Collective. The photos on all those platforms depend on what users submit. VC crops the background automatically but the majority of sellers are not professional product photographers so results vary a lot.

I sometimes buy on eBay, never sell. It’s difficult to sell if there’s no established market in a country because the international shipping costs are prohibitive for most buyers. We have Tradera in Sweden that is owned by eBay. It’s mainly used for specific goods - HSA and collectibles. It’s more expensive than vinted for sellers so it has lost market to vinted.
I have seen vintage items on Etsy but never bought anything. Again the shipping costs are high and the really interesting items are usually hidden well among cheap stuff from China, like on eBay.

I agree that the hardware isn't that robust. And I chose the grey colour as being the slowest to look grubby.

I did! Thank you for the affirmation
I called in yesterday and there were 3 left of which only one was my size. The week before there'd been a rail full of of them.

There's nothing negative anyone can say about it that I don't already know. I still love it.

I've been selling on Vinted for a few years but before that I've sold on eBay for over 16 years. I've sold thousands and thousands of items in that time.

I have draft listings in my Paperless app stating things like "Please see photos for measurements, composition and washing instructions. All items are from a smoke-free home. I'm open to offers on all items...' etc etc and that saves a huge amount of time (I have several drafts for feedback/reviews too.)

I always research the item I'm selling first and generally list mine at slightly under the lowest price so I hit the top of the search, unless I know my item is in better condition/a rarer size etc, or I think others have undervalued. In that case I list at the price I want and wait for theirs to sell so mine is the remaining option. It can often just be a waiting game.

I take clear photos from all angles including with a measuring tape to guard as far as possible against disputes. I'm very clear in my descriptions and if anything list as a slightly worse condition than the item actually is. I'd rather under promise and over deliver than the other way round - it's not worth the hassle nor risking my thousands of 5* feedback/reviews.

I keep clear records of what I bought items for originally and what I've sold them so there's a clear paper trail in terms of the 'profit' I've made.

I've only ever had one tricky customer on Vinted, I accepted a return from him even though he was telling fibs about the condition of the item as he paid for return P&P and it cost me nothing. I've only had one or two with eBay, and I've found eBay CS to be vastly improved in recent years, it's no longer entirely geared for the buyer as it used to be. eBay has always decided in my favour as they can see the sort of seller I am.

My best advice for sellers is know your item's worth. People do get amazing bargains and there are those to be had, but it's not a race to the bottom. I've lost count of the number of times I've had something listed at a higher price than someone else and mine has sold over theirs. People like to buy from trusted sellers, with comprehensive listings and good photography, who answer messages. It's all about confidence.

I do buy on both but very little in truth, I use them both for sales mainly. My second hand selling pays for my holidays every year!

https://www.meandem.com/soft-shoulder-military-coat-chestnut

This me and em coat in the sale I bought as an alternative to an unlined fully wool blazer I bought and returned from hush. I was after a short warm brown coat. It's not for everyone but I'm happy and the quality and reduced price are great.

I think my pride & joy is a padded coral silk kimono, embroidered down the back with a huge intricate flower pattern, that the seller's father had bought for her mother in Japan when he was there during the war. It has been carefully preserved in a trunk ever since, unworn .

Sounds lovely! Could we have a photo?

Away for the weekend but I can do next week!

That should have said it had been stored in a trunk - I'm not that careful I'm afraid & have worn it a little - but it is mostly just displayed & admired!!

That's lovely - wish the navy was reduced that much!!

Thank you so much @NoExchangeBeforeChristmasThen for your post which has a lot of good advice for sellers in it. I'm going to start doing the photos with a tape measure thing as I think buyers will appreciate that and it's easier than listing measurements (with less room for me to make a mistake).

That was a good reminder about sellers knowing their item's worth. And also that it's a waiting game. I'm probably guilty of being impatient and reducing my prices too low if something hasn't sold in a week. That's great in a way as it keeps things moving along but there are a few bits I know I sold much too cheaply. Oh well, I love a bargain myself so at least it's give and take.

Also a great point about not risking a bad review. I'm always very clear about condition and take lots of photos of any flaws.

Thanks again and best of luck with your sales! I'm so impressed that you sell so much more than you buy. That's the position I'd like to get to.

As do I! Thankfully the brown works well with the colours in my wardrobe. The quality is very good. I'm a big fan of me and em. Need to unsubscribe....again.

Have a Primark suitcase that's lasted over 20 years. Bought as it was all I could afford at the time and went through a phase of wanting it to break, but no!

Stuck with it now. It's sister, bought at the same time lasted about 10 years before the zip broke. Wish I'd had it fixed as otherwise solid.

Also had a pair of shoes from there that were real leather that went on and on.

I think they used to do limited editions of good quality stuff but not sure they still do.

Vouch for samsonite too, my wheelie bag shows no wear and tear after lots of uses.

I've got luggage straps that brighten up my plain suitcases and make them easier to recognise - mine are in a Van Gogh Starry Night pattern. But I also like the look of these covers which would be more protective https://amzn.eu/d/0f0UmVyj

@NoWeddingHats I promised you the photo of the vintage Celine skirt, I finally received it. It’s absolute bee’s knees, the quality is amazing. Works great with a random top, slippers and compression socks (😅)

I hope it’s the right place to post this and my pictures are de-influencing enough.

Never seen those before. I have Tripp luggage, and no problems with it, but I like the idea of something to make your cases stand out, and give a bit of protection to as well.

Swap them for black knee-high boots & an angora cardigan (buttoned to the top of course) & you can rock a sexy librarian vibe ...!!!

I love the suggestion ❤️
I wear boots in winter and sometimes cardigans (you can actually see my daily outfits in the shopping my wardrobe thread) but I equally often wear compression socks under my trousers so you have an opportunity to admire them when I try something on.