Vinted - Sellers Beware!

no1scribbler

There is an easy SCAM that buyers can exploit to gain the product and get a refund. All they have to do is claim the item is damaged. Vinted wont bother investigating properly and will just refund the buyer. The buyer doesn't have to send the item back. Vinted will claim the item isn't packaged correctly although when challenged will refuse to offer proof in the form of pictures. Their decision is always in favour of the buyer its always final and there isn't an appeal process. I was lucky the monetary amount was small but the fact that i have been duped even if indirectly and I suspect Evri may have been less than gentle with the package but either way if its the buyer or the courier at fault the Seller still gets shafted and that doesn't sit well with me. At least alternative selling platforms will insist the buyer return the item for a refund making sure only damages in transit are responsible and not deliberate damage by the buyer to exploit a one sided dispute process.

Exodi

I think this probably belongs in the https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/praise-vent-warnings subforum as I can't see that you're asking a question (reported to be moved).

That's not to say I don't sympathise with you, quite the opposite. If you were to look at the vinted subreddit, you'll see a trove of similar experiences, the problem seems to be that Vinted is not very thorough in their investigations, a fact bad actors are all to happy to exploit.

If it's any consolation, most online marketplace platforms generally side with the buyer, it's just how it is. At least there's ambiguity on whether the item was genuinely damaged. I've seen plenty of stories where nefarious buyers have just used AI to generate an image of the product damaged and even when the seller can prove the images are AI generated (e.g. distorted text), Vinted, in typical fashion, still don't care.

That said, if you feel the buyer should be forced to return an allegedly faulty item, be aware that you would likely be responsible for the shipping cost back to you in such a scenario. Many sellers I'd imagine of 'small monetary value' would likely find it more economical to not have the item returned.

It's a risk with Vinted unfortunately, but one I'm all too willing to take. As the saying goes, I know it's crooked, but it's the only game in town (if you're selling second-hand clothes).

subjecttocontract

Thats one of the reasons I only sell stuff that's collect only, I just will not post anything of value. No great loss for me but I can understand if you do post it can be a problem.

soolin

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82167428#Comment_82167428

On Vinted there is no collection option at all.

Ectophile

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82167428#Comment_82167428

Make sure it's pay on collection. There's a common scam where the buyer pays online for something and then turns up in person to collect it. A few days later, they put in a claim because the item was never delivered. And, of course, the seller has no proof of delivery.