Edit: The original post below discussed my experiences with Vinted and the app. My family regularly uses it to sell items and I experimented with it for a while.
I may have been unlucky, but a series of unfortunate experiences ultimately led me to stop using Vinted. While I can’t be 100% certain, I did find myself questioning the legitimacy of some items I’d already accepted. Although this isn’t necessarily Vinted’s fault, the overall quality was lacking in at least two items and left me feeling wary about making future purchases.
Another issue arose when I ordered a mug that arrived chipped. While this wasn’t the seller’s fault, dealing with Vinted to resolve it proved frustrating. I was asked for numerous photos and answers to questions, only to be asked for the same information again after providing it. It became a repetitive and drawn-out process. As a result, I’ve unfortunately stopped using Vinted.
Original post
I started using Vinted after my family recommended it for finding bargains. It’s a popular app that’s been around for a while, and I’m gradually getting familiar with it. My thoughts will be largely based on the experiences of a buyer, though my family are keen sellers and have contributed to part of this review give a different perspective.
After losing a fair bit of weight this year, I’m looking to refresh my wardrobe. Vinted is known for specialising in clothes, so it’s a great place to find decent items that can be expensive on the High Street. The clothes on sale range from new to used, and I understand are sold by private sellers.
The positives are the cheap prices and the wide selection of clothes. However, the downside is the inconsistent delivery speeds. When buying new jeans from organised sellers, deliveries have been quick, and those using InPost seem to be the fastest. Interestingly, my slower deliveries have been for non-clothing items. In one instance, a seller who couldn’t deliver on time sent an invite asking if I’d consider a longer delivery time, which I did accept. While not a big issue, it’s worth noting that as a seller pays postage and buyer protection, fast delivery is therefore preferable. In my opinion, the sellers getting a week to pass items to delivery firm is too long. Therefore it is a slight lottery when buying as some will post immediately and you will have the item in a couple of days, then others taking a week and a bit more.
To help you search for items, your account profile can be set with all your clothes sizes and preferences, including the brands you’re interested in. Logging into the app brings up a home page displaying items that match your profile and recent searches. I haven’t had any difficulties navigating the app and it seems reliable.
The search tab, which is mainly for clothes, now includes home, electronic, entertainment, hobbies/collectibles, and sport sections. This is great to see more categories available. Additionally, there’s an inbox tab for messaging between sellers and buyers, allowing updates on your purchases (or sales), and a profile section.
I’ve saved money by buying new Levis jeans at a fraction of the cost compared to shops. All the clothes I’ve bought seem legitimate, and the app offers buyer protection by taking an extra payment when you purchase. This is handy, as I have plans to buy more items.
When speaking to my family who use Vinted to sell clothes regularly, they advised some pros and cons. The pros are that the app is easy to upload clothes quickly. Also when buyers favourite items that my family are selling, they can then send them offers.
Vinted encourages sellers and buyers to leave feedback for each other. If no feedback is left, sellers automatically receive positive feedback. Additionally, sellers don’t pay any fees when listing items, and the platform allows them to compare pricing with similar items when listing to remain competitive. Sellers can also offer bundles or discounts.
The only downside as a seller on Vinted is that you’ll have to wait longer for your money. This is because you’ll need to wait for the item to be collected by the buyer and approved. Additionally, you’ll need to be prepared to sell it at a low price. As a buyer, I didn’t immediately realise I needed to approve items I had received, but the expert Vinted users in the household advised me to do so.
For now, I’m happy just buying, but I’ll probably also try selling at some point. Overall, I’ve had a good experience using the app so far and definitely will be making more purchases.
Leave a Reply