The Ultimate Guide to Buying and Selling on Vinted
Tips and tricks from self-confessed Vinted addict, Alicia Boothroyd
I first began selling second-hand clothes on eBay in my teenage years. Stuck in a rural village with limited part-time job opportunities, I started listing my family's discarded clothing, kept in constant supply by my Mum's car-boot sale habit. Over the years I've sold hundreds of items of clothing (and probably bought that many too). I’ve switched between eBay and Depop, but now find myself firmly in the Vinted camp. From my own experience, items sell better on Vinted, and clothes are usually cheaper to buy too. That's not to discount Depop or any other second-hand online marketplace. I still occasionally buy clothing on Depop, and do find the app's 'suggested for you' algorithm is much better than on Vinted - plus it can be great if you want to start your own brand or second-hand 'shop'.
Without further ado, here are my tips for buying and selling!
Buying
Ask for measurements
One of the most irritating aspects of online second-hand shopping is being unable to return items just because they don't quite fit. Don't be afraid to ask for any measurements, especially if you're unsure if the item will fit or the seller is vague about sizing. You can then compare the measurements with an item of clothing you already own to better gauge the size. Note to sellers - buy a tape measure!
Send reasonable offers
I often send an offer which is 10-20% lower than the asking price, and most of the time it’s accepted by the seller.
Avoid buying from sellers with poor reviews
Seen an item you like but the seller has 2 stars? RUN. Seriously, save yourself the hassle - if they have form for not sending items, not listing items accurately or whatever else it might be, chances are they will do it to you too. If they're selling your dream piece of clothing then you can risk it, but don't say I didn't warn you.
Be patient
If you're looking for something specific but don’t find it straight away, save the search and check it regularly. If you're patient, chances are it will appear on Vinted (or Depop, or eBay) eventually. Even better, this should 'train your algorithm', and then Vinted will start to show you better suggestions!
Selling
Photos are everything
Nobody wants to buy a crumpled t-shirt or a dress they can’t quite tell the colour of. If you want to maximise your chances of selling an item, take photos from different angles with plenty of natural light, ideally on a white, plain background, making sure you capture (and mention) any flaws. Try and ensure that the item looks its best - if you can’t be bothered to iron a crumpled item, sticking it in the tumble dryer with a damp cloth for five minutes works wonders.
Find yourself a model
Most of the time clothes (especially items like jeans or trousers) look much better on! You can photograph the clothes on yourself, or if like me you're awful at posing, try and rope in your housemate/ sibling / friend of a similar size to model.
Invest in a mannequin
If you're serious about selling, then a mannequin can be a good alternative to a real-life model. I used to use one when I lived with my parents, and it was a worthwhile investment. This might not be practical if, like me, you live in a flat with next to no storage space. However, if you've got some room in your broom closet or garage then a mannequin will make most items of clothing look great (and also tends to complain less than your sister or housemate).
Make life easy for yourself
Make selling as easy as possible by having packaging on hand. You can save bags and envelopes from online deliveries and try to re-use them, or if you're planning on selling in bulk it’s worth buying some big plastic envelopes and a sharpie.
Be patient
There often seems to be no rhyme or reason as to why some items sell and others don't, but if you're patient (and potentially drop the price with time) then you'll be able to shift most items eventually.