Vinted scammers

[RrogerD]

There seems to be a business model being used by one of the sellers on Vinted that I've come across: many of the items listed have incorrect sizing (for clothes); the title is different to the description which is different to the item label. On some they have even hidden the label in the photo. Buyer purchases item, complains and asks for a refund and this is where I see the scam happening. Firstly, buyer has to apparently pay for return postage but more likely, seller will deny item as being received back; ie no refund given, allowing them to repeat to the next unsuspecting fool.
Vinted's Ts and Cs say that buyer has to pay return postage even if not their fault.
But what's worse is that EVERY communication with Vinted appears to be a Chat-bot reply. Yes, we have been in this situation and yes, have tried probably eight times to get a resolution through Vinted and have got absolutely no where.
I urge persons to think twice before using Vinted.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Vinted's Ts and Cs say that buyer has to pay return postage even if not their fault.

If that's the case then they're operating illegally as far as I know. Unless there's some exclusion for private sellers that I didn't know about, I thought all sellers had to provide returns if the item is not as described or not fit for purpose.

Retailers have additional requirements to provide returns for a change of mind, which private sellers don't.

This is how it works on ebay anyway, which seems fair and logical. But it's possible that ebay goes beyond the basic legal requirements though.

 

[RrogerD]

If that's the case then they're operating illegally as far as I know. Unless there's some exclusion for private sellers that I didn't know about, I thought all sellers had to provide returns if the item is not as described or not fit for purpose.

Retailers have additional requirements to provide returns for a change of mind, which private sellers don't.

This is how it works on ebay anyway, which seems fair and logical. But it's possible that ebay goes beyond the basic legal requirements though.

According to ChatGPT, Vinted simply act as a middle-man between private seller and private seller, rather than them themselves being a 'business'. The latter does have to cover this sort of situation. Also, I believe that they are French based and sop maybe perhaps, excluded from normal English operating laws (?)

 

[johnny2007]

Yes, plenty on Vinted and eBay as well.
Now that eBay takes care of delivery with their 'simple delivery', the sellers effectively wash their hands off once the have posted the item.
I heard of empty boxes, boxes that look like they've been opened and repacked and wrong items sent.
Then buyer has to fight eBay to get the money back.
Everything I buy on eBay is from sellers with good feedbacks and anything over £10, I immediately make a video when opening the box.
Also, when I sell I make a video of the packing process and sign the closing tape with a marker.
That way, if someone claims of having received an empty box or different item, at least I can prove it's not my fault.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

I find ebay buyers to be incredibly honest. I've been selling for years as a small business, have sold 10,000s of items.

Anything within Large Letter size gets sent with stamps, with absolutely no tracking of any kind. If anyone says they haven't received it I refund or replace without question as I can't prove otherwise. The number of issues is vanishingly trivially small - much, much less than I'd spend on tracking. Way less than 1%, so probably the actual number that Royal Mail does lose.

But I don't touch Vinted or Facebook marketplace as either a buyer or seller. That seems to be a lawless wild west.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

According to ChatGPT, Vinted simply act as a middle-man between private seller and private seller, rather than them themselves being a 'business'. The latter does have to cover this sort of situation. Also, I believe that they are French based and sop maybe perhaps, excluded from normal English operating laws (?)

I doubt that either of those reasons would be good enough to circumvent consumer law.

I'm not sure what the law is though, where a private seller is doing the selling. But we all know that most of them are actually tax-dodging businesses anyway.

 

[ReganAndCarter]

I never experience such problems with my tailor.