Tips for Buying and Selling on Vinted

If you've followed me for a while you'll know I'm a big fan of Vinted. It's a great way to buy and sell pieces you've lusted after for a while at a fraction of the cost. I've found some cracking items on there, some of which are now my most worn garments. It allows for high end items to be much more affordable and therefore accessible. Needless to say I've also purchased some duds too - you win some......

Of course, there's also the sustainable element to Vinted. Buying and selling pre-loved is a much more ethical way to shop - an important issue given the toll the global fashion industry is taking on the planet. Vinted has also become a favourite amongst pre-loved shoppers due to the ease of postage/delivery for consumers as well as the lack of seller fees. Although the platform is suitable for things other than just clothes, for the purposes of this blog I'll just be talking clothes.

Selling on Vinted - how to make cash from you wardrobe:

• Good quality photos

  As obvious as it seems, we've all seen it time and time again. Take the time to take lots of good quality photos (no blurring) in decent lighting. The more transparent you are with the item you're selling, the more interest you'll garner. Logos, washing labels, hemlines, linings, collars - get detailed photos of them all.

• Be honest

  Any imperfections, stains, etc. must be photographed and described. Reviews are quite important on Vinted and people may not return your item, but they can leave a negative comment if you're not up front in the first instance which may affect future sales.

• Measurements

  Yes, I know it's quite annoying to get the measuring tape out. But when an item is preloved it may have shrunk a little. Never mind the inconsistencies of brands sizing labels. To avoid the hassle of a message from a potential buyer wanting to know measurements at a later date, take photos of the measurements so that this is clear to buyers.

• Offer bundle discounts

  If you have a few pieces in a category, e.g. sportswear, it can be worthwhile uploading them at a similar time and then offering a bundle discount. If someone finds you and requires a few items in that size you're more likely to get an offer on a bundle.

• Check your postage settings

  Vinted has partnered up with a number of delivery companies - InPost, Evri, DPD. If one or more of the companies have drop off points which are inconvenient for you, you can turn this option off. To do this go to your profile>Settings>Postage and you can disable any that don't suit you.

• Research your item's value

  It can be disappointing how low some items sell for and so it's often a toss up between getting rid of items and not feeling gutted for how little it went for. So do your research. Compare on other sites such as eBay if you're unsure of the entry point. But leave room for haggling - this is pretty much a given on Vinted.

• List little and often

  Yes I know this is annoying too! If you're anything like me, you'll set aside an hour once every 2 months and bombard Vinted with 20 items. But in fact, it's better to eek your items out over a few weeks and upload a few items at a time - this way you'll be top of the news feed more frequently and so, more likely to be seen.

Buying on Vinted - find those gems

• Ask questions

  It's perfectly ok to ask the seller questions - maybe you want measurements (see above), or a photo of the back? We all know the frustration of something arriving and it's not quite right. Coupled with this, you only have 48 hours to notify a seller/Vinted of an issue with an item - so returning isn't quite as easy as buying.

• Research the item's size details

  As we all know, brands' sizings are notoriously inconsistent so check out size guides if you're buying a brand you don't have experience of. Just about all brands now provide size guides on their own websites - a small in one brand might be the equivalent of a medium in another.

• Is it a bargain?

  This is especially an issue if the item is BNWT (brand new with tags). Do a quick online search and see if you can find how much the piece is brand new. I have experience of this where I almost bought something on Vinted but then found it on the original website and it was a similar price. You will have more consumer rights buying direct from the shop, so it's definitely something to consider.

• Save searches

I love this one - such a useful feature. If you've been looking for a particular item for a while, save yourself some time and save your search. No need to start afresh each time and it will show you the newest additions each time you select the saved search. If you tap into the Search bar, your previous searches will populate underneath. Any you'd like to save, tap the save icon on the right (see below).

• Read the reviews

  Unfortunately, not all sellers are reputable. Check out the reviews - similarly, remember to leave a review once a purchase has completed. Spread the love!

• Remember the fees

  Buyers pay the fees and postage on Vinted so remember to allow for this when putting in an offer on an item. This can sometimes tip something into not being such a bargain after all. Also, bear in mind that Vinted often selects the most expensive postage option so it's sometimes worth checking what the postage options are and change if appropriate and possible.

• Google search the item

  Did you know you can now search an image on Google? To do this, select a full image of the item and screen shot it. Then open Google Lens (open the Google app on your phone and select the camera symbol on the right). Then it's just a case of uploading the image you've screenshotted and it'll give you its search results. This is a good way to check the retail price of the item or show you the item on the original website (and therefore some styling inspiration).

• Talk the talk

  Be wordy in your description. "Good condition" just doesn't cut it. The more descriptive you are, the more trustworthy you'll appear to buyers. People buy from people and having a nice description gives it that personal touch.

I hope you've found my tips for buying and selling on Vinted useful. I'm sure many are things you already knew but some may have served as useful reminders. Vinted can be a fab place to clothes shop - whether you're using it from an ethical point of view, looking for something different or trying to bag yourself a bargain.