Is it unreasonable to ask Vinted or Ebay sellers for clothing measurements?

[NedsAtomicWheelieBin]

If I go to a shop I can try something on to see if it fits. If I buy something from a shop online I can buy a size up or down to find out what fits best and can return what doesn't fit. But if I buy something from Vinted or Ebay I want to know the measurements, underarm to underarm and neck to waist/hem. It's all well and good saying it's a 12 or 14 or 16 or a Medium or Large, but that doesn't really mean anything. So if I am interested in buying something I always message the seller asking for the measurements. So few sellers respond. I know this isn't AIBU but am I? Clothes sizes vary so much and I just want to know if something is likely to fit before I buy, especially when most don't accept returns.

This thread is making me wonder if some sellers actually don't know how to use a tape measure!

I will often ask for the length of something as I'm a short arse, but wouldn't ask for detailed measurements unless the item is expensive. I really appreciate it when sellers list tge sizes though - I'm far more likely to buy the item if I know it's going to fit, rather than wondering whether I should take a chance.

I ask for specific measurements if I think I need them. If there is no response, I don’t buy.

It’s making me wonder why they don’t just send their stuff to the charity shop when they have such contempt for their buyers and see the money they receive as so paltry. The postage costs on Vinted mean nothing comes out at less than around a fiver.

Because I use the money I make to buy clothes on Vinted. I rarely spend more than £10 on anything, more likely I buy things priced £1-£5.

I’ve never asked for measurements I just go by the brand. I’ve had one thing that turned out too big, I just relisted it.

If you have lots unsold, the likelihood it’s too expensive. I’m amused by the price some people give to their secondhand stuff. It I don’t buy designer (I’ve never spent more than £150 on any item of clothing new in my whole life/ including my wedding dress!)

I once passed on a pair of trousers on Vinted because although they had measurements, it didn’t specify if they were 12 or 14. I have no idea what my inside leg measurement is. But I do know I’m a regular leg length in most high street 12s!

Sometimes I respond; often the request comes while I’m out at work or can’t lay my hands on a tape measure. If it’s. £3 item it’s not worth the hassle, if it’s higher cost then I’d make more effort. Often someone else will buy something before I’ve had a chance to get back to the person asking for measurements. So it’s totally not unreasonable to ask but you risk losing out on sought after items.

I will ask what the size on the label is and it annoys me if this isn’t specified.

I couldn't be arsed measuring something to be honest.

This is probably even more important to me. Please tell me what the fabric is!!

Well you're not being unreasonable to ask, but the people on this thread who take it as a personal affront that they aren't given are being unreasonable. 95 times out of a hundred, it's not a shop or reseller, it's someone clearing out a drawer. They've probably stuck the item in a box somewhere after taking pics, and for the price of the item can't be bothered to get it out again for measurements.
Yes they are likely to add them on Etsy, sometimes on eBay and depop. But you're also likely to be paying £30 for that item, instead of a fiver.

As to why people don't include measurements - if I'm taking photos for Vinted, I've got a pile of 10-20 items in front of me. Taking things off the hanger where I'm taking the photos, laying it down flat, doing the measurements and taking photos of them in a way that still looks appealing probably doubles the time taken on one item. That might mean I get 10 items pictured instead of 20. Adding the measurements might help a sale for 1 in 30 items. It's worth more to me financially to list more items than be a perfectionist.

I will a tally generally go get measurements if asked. But sometimes that's straight away, and sometimes it's that night or the next day, depending on where I am when the request comes in. Often it sells in the meantime. So really I guess what it comes down to is how much do you really want the item? If it's something you've been after a while, then is it worth the chance of it selling in the time in between?

Although, if something looks small/ big, I will generally measure or list what size I think it probably correlates to and give details where I can. It seems daft to me to list something as a 14 because on the label it says it, when it would fit a size 10. Write in the description it would prob fit a 10, but the label says 14.

I have to say, I'm fascinated at how many people appear to think it's fussy and difficult to want to buy clothes that are likely to fit properly, especially when high street sizes are so unreliable, when the item probably isn't on the store website any more, and when clothes can stretch or shrink with wear and washing, oh and when you're unlikely to be able to return the item.

I must be their basic, fussiest nightmare as I never shop without a tape measure. (I never haggle though.)

Incidentally, if I had less than a fiver to spare, I'd be even more careful not to chuck it away on something on something that might not fit.

Because it's not a bloody shop

You can call it whatever you like if it makes you happier but I've not seen anyone on that site giving clothes away, or swapping them, or using them to try and raise money for a cause I might support. They're selling something I might want to buy, nothing more and nothing less. And, regardless of price, I'm not going to buy it if I can't tell if it's going to fit because I consider that wasteful.

So I'll scroll on and you, by the sound of things will find a buyer who doesn't care, which I admit, I do find kind of fascinating but all good.

Yes, you are being unreasonable. If something is a size 8 from New Look, for example, you should know if a size 8 from New Look fits you or not.

I do wonder if people who ask for measurements have never been in a shop before?!

My absolute pet peeve is people messaging saying, “I’m a size 12, do you think this would fit me?” How on earth would I know?!

I had a woman asking me for multiple measurements for a Primark coat that was £3. Very irritating.

The only time I think asking for measurements is acceptable is leg length on jeans, as this is (usually) clearly on the label or is petite etc (but only if not mentioned and no picture of the label).

I do wonder if people who ask for measurements have never been in a shop before?!

Are you really unaware of inconsistentcies in sizing between brands and even within brands?

I do wonder if people who ask for measurements have never been in a shop before

You mean one of those places where you don’t need the measurements because you can try clothes on before committing to buy them?

They’re not that inconsistent! For example, I know that Next and Sainsburys clothes all come up big, so I’d size down. I know Zara can come up small etc. You can also check sizing/measurements on their website. A t shirt will be pretty standard! Arm length is also pretty standard for a coat.
I’ve never asked a seller to send me numerous measurements before.

There is a brand I like a lot where I have recent purchases of 12,14 or 16. Another brand where I am 0, 1 or 2 (they don't use 10,12 etc). Another brand where a size 14 judging by the website was fine, in store I needed a 10.

They are. The labels in my wardrobe range from 10 to 16, they all fit. Sizes differ within the same brand.

Incidentally, if I had less than a fiver to spare, I'd be even more careful not to chuck it away on something on something that might not fit.

I don't understand that if you do need the cash generated by selling items cheaply on Vinted that you don't understand that the person buying them very cheaply probably doesn't have money to waste.

I have money to waste and I shop on vinted. I'll commonly buy a few of whatever im looking for as I can afford to take a gamble and can usually sell on anything that doesn't fit

I don’t recognise this world in which people need 4 different clothing sizes. I can count on one hand the number of times an M/12 hasn’t fitted me. I certainly don’t ever need a size 16!

I have also only ever had 1 or 2 sizing failures buying on Vinted. My items sell quickly (<24 hours) so I don’t think the “can’t buy without measurements” buyers really matter in the overall scheme of things.

Mine don’t! Possibly by one size, depending on the store, but not by four dress sizes.

It’s reasonable to ask but as a vinter I find it quite irritating tbh! Especially on very cheap items. I know IABU. I buy a lot on vinted and never ask, if they don’t fit I resell.