It’s no secret how much I love buying items from Vinted. I love the satisfaction of giving preloved clothes a second chance in my wardrobe. After creating my Vinted account in the Spring of 2023, I can safely say that I buy more secondhand clothes than I do on today’s high street. Considering how much money I was spending on ASOS etc, that’s a huge ‘pat on the back’ moment for me. With fast fashion making a dominant impact on our environment, making the effort to buy secondhand clothes seemed essential.
However, some are still a little sceptical or wary of buying from secondhand sites like Vinted. I can understand why, you want to make sure you’re not wasting your money. You may feel that it’s too good to be true when it comes to the price or quality of the item. I’m here to tell you that I felt the same before I signed up for Vinted. Since I started using the secondhand shopping site, I’ve learned some ways how to get the most out of buying from the site.
Here are some ways I get the most out of buying from Vinted:
1) Don’t be afraid to ask the seller questions
If you see an item which you like, but I have some questions in terms of the fit, quality etc, then don’t be afraid to ask the seller. It’s better to have all the information you need to make sure you’re 100% happy to make the purchase. For example, if you see a pair of jeans you like, but you’re not sure whether they’d fit you, maybe because of your height, ask the seller if they’d fit someone of your height. Even ask the seller their height if you need to, it’s better to know this kind of stuff before buying.
2) Check the price with the original RRP
What I mean by this is that if a seller is selling an item which is BNWT (brand new with tags), are you really getting a bargain? If the seller’s selling price is very near to what it’s selling on the brand’s website, then it’s not worth it, only if it’s out of stock in your size. You may as well just buy it from the brand’s shop/website. Something to bear in mind before making the purchase.
3) Look at the seller’s reviews
This is the biggest factor I consider before buying anything from anyone on Vinted. If the seller has less than 4 stars, then I don’t tend to buy from them. If a seller has received a 1-star review, it’s usually due to them not sending the item or even the buyer has received the item and it’s in poor nick. Something to look out for!
4) Make sure the seller is active
I can discuss this one from past experience. I remember I bought a pair of boots from a seller, not noticing that they hadn’t been active in more than 6 months. Ended up getting a refund as they obviously didn’t send the item.
5) Saved searches are key
I have a few saved searches in my “Your Searches” section on my Vinted. I only like to buy from certain brands due to sizing etc. Saving your searches allows you to see when anything new has been added and you can get in quick with an offer or even buy straight away!
6) Check what courier the seller posts with
Check who the seller uses for their courier. For me, I like to use Royal Mail or Evri ParcelShop as I find them easier to post with. I like to give a couple of courier options for any buyer as some may not trust Evri or have a good postman. It’s worth asking the seller if they’d be willing to send the item with your preferred courier if they’re willing to accommodate, even better! But don’t be disheartened if they don’t.
7) Be a reliable seller yourself
If you’re selling items on Vinted, don’t be a d*ck and don’t send the parcel on time. I know things can happen to stop that from happening, and if that’s the case, let the buyer know. Some may be happy to wait, others may not be so willing to wait. It’s important to get those 5-star reviews, the better the reviews you get, the more reliable a seller you’ll look to potential buyers. Also, the more 5-star reviews you get, the more people will want to buy from you. It’s pretty simple!
To be a dedicated second-hand seller through Vinted, it’s important to manage your account properly. This includes making prompt deliveries and being descriptive and honest about the items you’re selling.
