Vinted Returns

eisbaer

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of Vinted - particularly their returns policy. 

I have bought/sold quite lot on ebay and a little on depop, but am new to Vinted. I recently bought a white blouse, and despite specifically asking the seller if there were any stains or defects and being told there weren't, it arrived with a big yellow stain that won't wash out. 

Vinted have a returns policy that the buyer always pays for return shipping, even if the item is clearly damaged/not as described/not what was ordered etc. 

On the Vinted forum it looks like lots of people have had the same problem and are basically just told by vinted "that's the policy". 

It seems like many sellers are selling rubbish and hiding any defects in the photos, gambling on the fact that the cost of returning an item may make it not worth making a return and they'll keep the sale. This maybe also has a negative impact on the good sellers out there who are having to reduce prices due to low buyer confidence. 

My question is, is Vinted allowed to have a policy where buyers have to pay for return shipping, even in situations where it clearly is not their fault? This seems to go against normal online shopping regulations and is at odds with what happens on other second hand platforms such as Ebay?

Thanks everyone

soolin

I know nothing about vinted, but assuming they are in the UK then they must abide by UK laws, and that requires the seller to pay return costs. However I have no idea how you would enforce that easily. 

eisbaer

This is what I thought, and they are definitely operating in the UK.

I wonder if there is any small print whereby these regulations don't apply to items from private sellers? It is the same set up as ebay though, and the one time I had an item arrive broken from a private seller on ebay I never had any issues with having to pay return shipping. Can't understand why the standard laws would apply on ebay, amazon marketplace etc. but not Vinted. 

vitamin_joe

My experience is that returns are at the discretion of the seller. Vinted offer very little protection. I don't know legally, how they can offer less protection that the law allows. Return postage is paid by buyer, even if the item is not as described or  possibly a completely different item to the one advertised.

I'm quite angry about it. About 25% of what I've bought on vinted is a lot of crap- and the description has been- if not an actual lie- just wrong. I'd like to know why there's almost no protection for buyers.

An amateur outfit, a money-making scheme, they do not care about buyers.

forgotmyname

I would avoid a site with those terms and conditions, similar to all the ebay sellers who state once posted the
buyer takes all the risk. No comebacks etc.. Best to just avoid them from the start no matter how cheap.

Is it a legal requirement for a private seller to pay the return costs?  It maybe an ebay rule but is that
based on a legal rule?  Privately selling used items not a business.

Spread the good word about the way they treat customers and how certain sellers are taking advantage
of the fact buyers pay return costs and some will happily sell tat knowing the return costs will outweigh
the cost of just throwing it away.

Tiggeroo1

eisbaer said:

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of Vinted - particularly their returns policy. 

I have bought/sold quite lot on ebay and a little on depop, but am new to Vinted. I recently bought a white blouse, and despite specifically asking the seller if there were any stains or defects and being told there weren't, it arrived with a big yellow stain that won't wash out. 

Vinted have a returns policy that the buyer always pays for return shipping, even if the item is clearly damaged/not as described/not what was ordered etc. 

On the Vinted forum it looks like lots of people have had the same problem and are basically just told by vinted "that's the policy". 

It seems like many sellers are selling rubbish and hiding any defects in the photos, gambling on the fact that the cost of returning an item may make it not worth making a return and they'll keep the sale. This maybe also has a negative impact on the good sellers out there who are having to reduce prices due to low buyer confidence. 

My question is, is Vinted allowed to have a policy where buyers have to pay for return shipping, even in situations where it clearly is not their fault? This seems to go against normal online shopping regulations and is at odds with what happens on other second hand platforms such as Ebay?

Thanks everyone

Under the Consumer Rights  Act of 2015 they can't force you to return the item if for the following reasons : not as Discribed or Damaged. If you change your mind about the item, then the postage costs are down to you. I Sell on Vinted, and I am saddened to see the way they treat people. I recently purchased an item through Vinted and when it arrived wasn't Brand New as Discribed but open and Used. Vinted told me to send it back at my cost, I reminded them of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which they totally ignored. I dug my feet in and even threatened them with legal Action, gave them a time frame to respond, on the day I was going to pass this on to Trading Standards, I got a message asking how the situation was with the buyer. After explaining everything once again, they refunded me in Full. So don't give up and be prepared to see your threats through. The Law is on your Side as a Consumer! 

TGH

Vinted may look to be a UK site, we can't sell to oversea buyers, but the reality is that Vinted is a Lithuanian-based online marketplace.
At the moment there is a lot of unrest amongst both buyers and sellers.  The site is rife with scammers.  Buyer Protectionis added for a fee to every purchase and that includes their "Refund Policy"

AnnieVK

Hi.  I am new to Vinted. 
Need a new wardrobe so have bought a lot of clothing in past 2 weeks. 
I have had so many issues. 
Wrong items being delivered. 
Sizes not in line with the manufacturers size charts (basically items have wrong size in them) 
2 part sets described as same size but 1 part 1 size other part different size.
All this in 2 weeks!
I wish I had known that Vinted was a site where buyer protection is not worth the wording though buyers pay for this protection each time they buy. 
Sellers can sell any old rubbish and post what ever they like to buyers without re-course.  Buyers always have to pay return postage even if they seller is at fault.  It should not be allowed and should not be legal.  How do they get away with it?
I have been buying and selling on eBay for over 20 years without an issues at all.  If I make an error in the listing I pay for the customer to return it. 
Vinted just takes your money and NO responsibility at all.
ALL I CAN SAY IS VINTED IS A HUGE RISK TO ALL BUYERS. 
BUYERS BEWARE..................  

TractorFactor

I have this exact issue.

I've not gone through the returns process but have "chatted" to them stating the item is damaged so they can pretend it's their terms and conditions that the buyer pays return postage but the UK law cannot be overwritten.

I've stated in my message to them whether I should approach my bank for the return postage.

In the mean time, I'll post the item back tomorrow and see what they say. I'll report back here. 

soolin

Vinted get away with it as they claim they only allow private sellers, no businesses at all, and aren’t therefore subject to all sorts of buyer ‘rights’. 

Normally of course I would recommend checking the sellers feedback carefully, but if something is returned, at buyers cost, the sale is completely cancelled and no feedback can be left.

[Deleted User]

AnnieVK said:

Hi.  I am new to Vinted. 
Need a new wardrobe so have bought a lot of clothing in past 2 weeks. 
I have had so many issues. 
Wrong items being delivered. 
Sizes not in line with the manufacturers size charts (basically items have wrong size in them) 
2 part sets described as same size but 1 part 1 size other part different size.
All this in 2 weeks!
I wish I had known that Vinted was a site where buyer protection is not worth the wording though buyers pay for this protection each time they buy. 
Sellers can sell any old rubbish and post what ever they like to buyers without re-course.  Buyers always have to pay return postage even if they seller is at fault.  It should not be allowed and should not be legal.  How do they get away with it?
I have been buying and selling on eBay for over 20 years without an issues at all.  If I make an error in the listing I pay for the customer to return it. 
Vinted just takes your money and NO responsibility at all.
ALL I CAN SAY IS VINTED IS A HUGE RISK TO ALL BUYERS. 
BUYERS BEWARE..................  

Purely as a buyer, i can honestly say i've never encountered any of that type of thing, luckily.
I buy from Ebay aswell as Vinted, for the vast majority of my things and never have i been as unlucky as you.
I hope you've not wasted too much money, that's an awful feeling.