Pants that are too short, a skirt that no longer fits you, a pair of shoes bought on a whim… Your closet is overflowing with clothes and accessories that you don’t wear, or no longer wear. Sites for sale between individuals, such as Vinted, are the ideal solution to get rid of your old things while making some money. Or, for people on the other side of the app, to revamp your wardrobe for less!
A second-hand specialist, Vinted has conquered the hearts and wallets of many buyers thanks to its economic and ecological virtues. It remains to know how to find good deals, but also and above all skillfully avoid the scams that have plagued the platform in recent years.
Payment outside the application, counterfeits, non-compliant items, dishonesty… In a few clicks, malicious people could extract a lot of money from you. Here’s an overview of the most common scams on peer-to-peer sites like Vinted.
The Vinted platform is reliable and secure. If a buyer or a seller offers you to go through another means of payment, by Paypal or by bank transfer, flee immediately: it is probably a scam. Very often, malicious people who try to extract money from you also ask you to exchange by email or SMS rather than on the application’s messaging system: systematically refuse.
Other very common scams concern the sale of counterfeit products…
This is a type of scam that both sellers and buyers can fall victim to. Because if some people do not hesitate to pass on their counterfeit clothes on Vinted, unscrupulous buyers can also open a dispute by pretending that you have sold them a counterfeit… And therefore keep your item while being reimbursed.
To avoid these deceptions, do not sell luxury or branded items without proof of authenticity, and keep a photo of the proof of purchase. If you are a buyer, check: the seller’s comments, the consistency of the price (beware of too good to be true discounts!), the invoice, the certificate of authenticity, the original packaging, the seams, the patterns, the logo…
Warning: even when the transaction does not concern a luxury product, you are not immune to a scam…
It’s a well-established scam. A buyer orders an item from you and declares it not as described once received. He takes the necessary steps to return the garment… But does not put anything inside the package. Indeed, the exchanges between buyer and seller do not pass through the hands of Vinted, and the application will therefore not be aware of the deception. Your only solution? Rely on the assessments of the buyer before the transaction. If you still find yourself in a similar situation, do not hesitate to open a dispute.
You will have understood: buyers and sellers are not immune to scams on the various applications and sites for sale between individuals. Systematically check the notes and comments of the people you interact with and remember to respect the rules and conditions of use of each platform to be protected in the event of a dispute.
