Vinted item, opinions please.

lindos90

Recently discovered Vinted (thanks to a recommendation here🙂) 
I've got a few things up for sale, and bought a few things too 🤦‍♀️😂.

I've just received a pair of sandals that were described as 'good' condition. However I feel they are really dirty. (Lots of that gross dead skin and sweat stuff stuck to the inside) 🤢. I don't even want to try them on.
(They also have very worn soles, and either cream or self tan on the insides of the straps, but they don't bother me as much as the sweat/dead skin cell substance 😂)
As I'm new to Vinted, I just wanted to check if the ettiquette is that buyers accept items will need cleaning, or if items should be cleaned before selling?

I'm reluctant to give poor feedback as the sellers feedback is otherwise 5*s.

They were not very expensive, but with the cost of postage it came to about £5 in total. I'm not necessarily wanting to ask for my money back, but maybe just highlight to the seller that it's not nice to receive sandals in this condition, and maybe she will clean things before selling in future.

What would be your advice please? (I have sent a message to the seller to say I was disappointed with how dirty they were, which I thought was better to do than to say it on the feedback)

MalMonroe

Hi, if you google 'vinted item condition', you will see that you're not alone. 

If you're not happy then you should give the appropriate feedback. The positive feedback is probably from people who were sent items in good condition. People who've received rubbish very often don't report because, as in your case, the items were cheap to start with. 

Those sandals sound like something I wouldn't even advertise on freegle or freecycle. Very often on those sites people will say 'needs a good clean'. And I think, well why not clean them, then? I don't see the point of not cleaning items I'm giving away or selling.

I would want my money back but it's probably going to cost you to post them back to her. Some people really have no idea. 

I wouldn't use Vinted at all, I'm afraid. I did try selling a few items on there once but nobody even looked at the ads!  My things were probably too clean? (sorry couldn't resist).

Ebay was better. And things I've bought from Ebay are usually good. Sometimes you can get a good bargain but also, sometimes things that seem to be a bargain are just cheap and nasty. 

Sorry you've had this experience. Probably just bin the sandals, give her a realistic review, understand that I'd lost about a fiver and never touch Vinted again. (Is what I'd do.) 

Obviously, this is just my own opinion.

lindos90

The seller has responded and said they had been in storage, suggesting it was just a bit of dust. Then she messaged and said her sister sent them for her.
I'd even sent photos to show her. Quite annoyed that she's not even apologised really.

As I'm not that experienced im not sure the best course of action. If I did decide to ask for a refund, would I just get the cost of the sandals back, but not the postage charge? If I'm refunded, am I not then able to leave feedback? Are sellers allowed to do revenge feedback? (As I've not got much feedback, a low star would really affect my rating, and not sure if want to risk that)

I agree with you Mal, even when I give things away I clean them first, especially clothes or kitchen items. Even garden items get at least a wipe down.

soolin

lindos90 said:

The seller has responded and said they had been in storage, suggesting it was just a bit of dust. Then she messaged and said her sister sent them for her.
I'd even sent photos to show her. Quite annoyed that she's not even apologised really.

As I'm not that experienced im not sure the best course of action. If I did decide to ask for a refund, would I just get the cost of the sandals back, but not the postage charge? If I'm refunded, am I not then able to leave feedback? Are sellers allowed to do revenge feedback? (As I've not got much feedback, a low star would really affect my rating, and not sure if want to risk that)

I agree with you Mal, even when I give things away I clean them first, especially clothes or kitchen items. Even garden items get at least a wipe down.

This seems to be getting a bit of a thing in some categories on Vinted. As long as you haven’t completed the transaction (marked as all Ok) then you can mark it that you have a problem, and that suspends the money going to the seller. However , on Vinted the buyer is usually expected to return the goods at their own cost and they can get the transaction cancelled. I think if you do it at that stage you get all your money back except the buyer protection fee and the return postage.

Apparently on occasions if the buyer submits good enough evidence to Vinted showing item was completely not as described then Vinted will refund anyway, but this seems to be extremely rare. 

However, if it’s been longer than 2 days since receipt then the transaction will be marked as closed, and you are then reliant on the good will of the seller as Vinted won’t get involved once transaction is finalised. 

Verulamium_Vixen

I don't use Vinted but my daughters do. It seems to me that it's a vehicle for scammers.
While they have made some good purchases, they have also lost money on some sellers not sending goods my girls have paid for
No offence to decent sellers,  just my experience and observations, perhaps we're just unlucky 

Pollycat

Verulamium_Vixen said:

I don't use Vinted but my daughters do. It seems to me that it's a vehicle for scammers.
While they have made some good purchases, they have also lost money on some sellers not sending goods my girls have paid for
No offence to decent sellers,  just my experience and observations, perhaps we're just unlucky 

As soolin says:

soolin said:

As long as you haven’t completed the transaction (marked as all Ok) then you can mark it that you have a problem, and that suspends the money going to the seller. 

so you shouldn't have lost any money if the goods weren't sent as the order would have been marked 'I have a problem' and the funds not released.

soolin

Verulamium_Vixen said:

I don't use Vinted but my daughters do. It seems to me that it's a vehicle for scammers.
While they have made some good purchases, they have also lost money on some sellers not sending goods my girls have paid for
No offence to decent sellers,  just my experience and observations, perhaps we're just unlucky 

If items aren't received then buyers automatically get their money back. Payment is only released to the seller once tracking shows confirmation of delivery, and even then buyers have 2 days to click the prompt button to say they have an issue. If buyers click the 'I have a problem (big red button) then funds are suspended until it is investigated. 

GadgetGuru

If the seller was apologetic and seemed reasonable, I would have left it alone. Personally I would have offered at least a small partial refund, just to keep teh customer happy over everything else. 

However, considering there was no apology, just excuses, I would send the item back out of principle, even if I have to cover postage. Let the seller deal with the dead skin!

You should not be afraid of revenge feedback, and if any is left you should contact Vinted. No-body should feel like they cant leave bad feedback from their experience because of fear of the repercussions. Your feedback, as long as its truthful of your experience, will help other buyers too!

soolin

IftiBashir said:

If the seller was apologetic and seemed reasonable, I would have left it alone. Personally I would have offered at least a small partial refund, just to keep teh customer happy over everything else. 

However, considering there was no apology, just excuses, I would send the item back out of principle, even if I have to cover postage. Let the seller deal with the dead skin!

You should not be afraid of revenge feedback, and if any is left you should contact Vinted. No-body should feel like they cant leave bad feedback from their experience because of fear of the repercussions. Your feedback, as long as its truthful of your experience, will help other buyers too!

Feedback is much less important on Vinted, sellers get 5* automatically if buyers don't leave any for them, but if an item is returned and sale cancelled then buyer can't leave feedback at all. 

Partial refunds are also difficult as you can't do it through Vinted- and would need to arrange to send a new payment to buyer via bank transfer or paypal.

Pollycat

If you click on the very small i next to the condition in the listing, it gives you this guide to item condition:

Choosing item condition

The item condition helps members filter the catalogue and find items more easily. For this reason, it’s important to stay as objective as possible when deciding which condition your item falls into. Here are all the item conditions in more detail: New with tags: Just like in the store. The tags are still attached and/or it’s packed in the original packaging. Never used and has no flaws. New without tags: Brand new, but the tags or original packaging isn’t there. Never used and has no flaws. Very good: Used a few times, but still looks great. It might have a few slight imperfections, which are clearly shown and mentioned in your listing. Good: Used frequently and may have signs of wear, which are clearly shown and mentioned in your listing. Satisfactory: Used a lot and has defects, which are clearly shown and mentioned in your listing. Buyers might cancel the order and return the item if its condition is significantly worse than the listing suggested. Thus, it’s always safer to choose a poorer condition if you’re in doubt. We may hide a listing if we see that a wrong condition is chosen too.

It's up to you to decide if the item condition is 'significantly worse than the listing suggested'.

If your item is trekking-style sandals, I find that these do collect dirt in the insole.
I wear these a lot and give them a clean when they need it.
But I do know that any muck is mine. 

I'm always very careful when describing items on eBay.

I find that listings on Vinted are often quite light on details and photos compared to eBay.

But - I've never been disappointed with any purchase from Vinted.
In fact, a lot of items have been better than described.
I guess those sellers took notice of 'it’s always safer to choose a poorer condition if you’re in doubt.'

lindos90

Pollycat said:

If you click on the very small i next to the condition in the listing, it gives you this guide to item condition:

Choosing item condition

The item condition helps members filter the catalogue and find items more easily. For this reason, it’s important to stay as objective as possible when deciding which condition your item falls into.

Here are all the item conditions in more detail:

• New with tags: Just like in the store. The tags are still attached and/or it’s packed in the original packaging. Never used and has no flaws.
• New without tags: Brand new, but the tags or original packaging isn’t there. Never used and has no flaws.
• Very good: Used a few times, but still looks great. It might have a few slight imperfections, which are clearly shown and mentioned in your listing.
• Good: Used frequently and may have signs of wear, which are clearly shown and mentioned in your listing.
• Satisfactory: Used a lot and has defects, which are clearly shown and mentioned in your listing.

Buyers might cancel the order and return the item if its condition is significantly worse than the listing suggested. Thus, it’s always safer to choose a poorer condition if you’re in doubt.

We may hide a listing if we see that a wrong condition is chosen too.

It's up to you to decide if the item condition is 'significantly worse than the listing suggested'.

If your item is trekking-style sandals, I find that these do collect dirt in the insole.
I wear these a lot and give them a clean when they need it.
But I do know that any muck is mine. 

I'm always very careful when describing items on eBay.

I find that listings on Vinted are often quite light on details and photos compared to eBay.

But - I've never been disappointed with any purchase from Vinted.
In fact, a lot of items have been better than described.
I guess those sellers took notice of 'it’s always safer to choose a poorer condition if you’re in doubt.'

Thanks Pollycat. The item is none of those really. The closest is the 'satisfactory' but without the condition or defects being clear on the listing (neither in the description now photos). Anyhow, they messaged me and explained the sandals were packaged and sent by (or belonged to) their sister and they didn't realise they needed cleaning. As I would have to send the item back to get a refund it really wasnt worth pursuing. I'm just hoping it might make them a bit more careful (or honest) about their items in future. I decided not to leave personal feedback and left it for the automated one as I couldnt leave a low or high score with an easy conscience. 
They are just fashion sandals, they are not treking sandals. If I was a bit more savvy I might have been able to upload a photo. No matter, it has been a learning curve about vinted anyway, and as always its great to have such helpful opinions from this forum, thank you.