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Buying on Vinted: The Complete Guide

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Previously we have written a guide to selling on Vinted, and now it is time to share how to buy something on Vinted in this blog post. We will also cover the buyer fees on Vinted and even whether it is safe to buy on Vinted in our complete guide to buying on Vinted.

Buying on Vinted: The Complete Guide

What is Vinted?

Vinted is one of the most popular online marketplaces  buying and selling unwanted items. This means that you can get your hands on second-hand items from your favourite brands at competitive prices, and make some extra cash (you can never have too much money can you?).

Vinted have three main aims:

Sell simply on their selling platform – make money by easily listing your preloved items.

Shop smarter – find amazing brands that you love at affordable prices.

Join the community – become a part of a diverse community of Vinted users.

The Vinted app is available both on iOS and Android in the app store.

Wondering if you need to pay tax on Vinted sales?

Who owns Vinted?

Milda Mitkute & Justas Janauskas are the co-founders of Vinted, who started Vinted in 2008.

There is now a team of over 1,000 people working for Vinted across Europe.

Is it safe to buy on Vinted?

Like all online marketplaces, Vinted has its share of scammers, but that shouldn't put you off buying from Vinted.

We've put together some of our best tips to keep you safe and help you to use Vinted in the best way.

Vinted offer buyer protection, which comes with a small fee, however it means that if your purchase is significantly not as described, doesn't arrive or arrives damage you can report this to Vinted through the ‘I have an issue' button in the conversation screen between yourself and the seller.

 

You must do this within 2 days from the item being delivered to you, or Vinted alerting you that the item should have been delivered.

 

Here are some common Vinted scams and how to avoid them, including sellers asking for your email address to complete the transaction.

 

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What can you buy on Vinted?

Vinted members are attracted to list items on Vinted because it is an easy way to sell second-hand clothes and other items like beauty products and more.

With a wide range of categories there is something for everyone on Vinted. Especially if you are trying to reduce your fast fashion consumption.

Instead of going to a physical store or to charity shops, you can shop from wherever you are.

On Vinted you can buy all sorts of items including:

  • Clothing, including new items and second-hand. These include children's clothes, women's clothes and men's clothes.
  • Homeware – second-hand homeware and new.
  • Beauty products including make up and skin care.
  • Great-value books.

Generally you can get a lower price or better deal on expensive items.

Here's where to find stock for Vinted.

How to buy something on Vinted

There are some fantastic finds on Vinted, from buying secondhand clothes from people getting rid of their old clothes and wanting to make a bit of extra money to some rare finds – you can find a whole lot of great stuff!

To buy something on Vinted simply browse through the website or app and click on the item or items you want to buy (we'll explain buying a bundle below).

Read through the description for relevant information and check the photos carefully to make sure that you are happy to complete your purchase.

You might want to look out for things like a photo of the label, the selling price, whether items are in very good condition or not, whether you are getting a good deal and perhaps even compare it to other search results.

From here you can either buy your item at the current price, or you can send the seller an offer. 

 

Even if your offer is accepted by the seller, you will still need to manually check out, so if you later change your mind then you won't have to complete the purchase.

 

You choose your postage option from those listed and complete your payment, either using card or your Vinted balance.

 

Then wait for the seller to post your item. They have 5 working days to print or access your shipping label then a further 5 working days to post your item or items.

Postage on Vinted

 
On Vinted, buyers are expected to pay for the postage, however sellers are in charge of their postage bags/boxes which is why many sellers will re-use delivery bags.
 
The way that Vinted works is to offer different shopping options. The seller can then choose which shipping method to turn on or off from their account.
 
When listing an item, the seller will choose the parcel size from small, medium or large. This ensures that the buyer pays for the correct postage of the item.
 
Apart from Royal Mail, the seller is then sent pre-paid shopping labels to either print out, or QR codes to scan at parcelshops – see how to sell on Vinted without a printer for more information.
 
Sometimes you can get the shipping cost for free.

Buying a bundle on vinted

In the world of Vinted, there are times where you might want to purchase a bundle from a seller on Vinted.

When you find similar items from a seller on Vinted then you can request bundle – this is a great way to get cheaper items.

This is because sellers can offer postage discounts or a percentage discount for buying bundles.

Simply scroll down on the listing you are interested in and select ‘Shop Bundles' and press ‘Shop' to be able to add specific items to your bundle. Any discounts will also be shown here.

A seller will need to approve your bundle and then you can complete the purchase.

I can't buy on Vinted

If you find that you can't buy on Vinted there might be a few reasons.
 

A seller may have enabled holiday mode, meaning that they cannot post at the moment and therefore you cannot make a purchase.

 

Another reason you can't buy on Vinted could be that you are trying to purchase an item in the beauty category, and the seller has selected a shipping partner that doesn't allow beauty items or liquids (Vinted class all beauty items as ‘liquids' which aren't allowed to be shipping via Evri and Inpost locker). If a seller hasn't selected a compatible shipping partner then the buy button won't appear. 

 

Another reason that you can't buy on Vinted could be that you are trying to make a purchase outside of your Vinted region. For example, if you use Vinted in the UK you won't be able to purchase something from Vinted in France or Italy.
 

How to contact Vinted

There are many reasons why you might need to get in touch with Vinted's support team. Perhaps you've fallen for a common Vinted scam or you have a Vinted item not as described.

If you are looking for how to get in touch with Vinted then look no further than our useful article: how to contact Vinted.

How to buy on Vinted without using balance

If you have been selling on your Vinted account then you might find yourself with a Vinted balance.

When you make a purchase, your Vinted balance will be used first towards your purchase.

If you want to buy on Vinted without using your balance then you will need to withdraw your balance to your bank account first.

Buying fees on Vinted

Vinted do not charge seller fees (apart from optional extras such as Vinted Wardrobe Spotlight) but they do charge buyers a Buyer Protection Fee.
 
This fee is made up of a fixed amount, from 30p – 80p plus 3-8% of the purchase price (not including the postage cost).
 
This buyer fee on the Vinted marketplace could put potential buyers off selling on Vinted, but by having no selling fees they encourage sellers to list more quality items, so many people think it is a good idea.
 
The buyer will also need to pay for postage unless it is their, or the seller's, first Vinted purchase or sale.
 

How to buy on Vinted without buyer protection

You cannot buy something on Vinted without paying for buyer protection.

This is automatically applied at checkout and cannot be removed.

Vinted's Refund Policy

Unlike shopping at other stores online, because Vinted is a marketplace, sellers do not have to refund you unless an item is damaged or significantly not as described. You do have less consumer rights when shopping for second-hand clothes on Vinted, but don't let that put you off.

That means you should try to buy the right size first time round. 

If you do happen to have a bad experience with a sellers on Vinted then you can contact customer service through your Vinted account to rectify things.

For more detailed information on refunds or shipping, check out Vinted’s FAQs or help pages. These resources provide in-depth answers to common questions and issues.

Quick-Reference Checklist

For those of you who prefer a concise guide, here's a quick-reference checklist for buying on Vinted:

  1. Browse the Vinted app or website for items.
  2. Check item descriptions, photos, and conditions.
  3. Send an offer if you'd like to negotiate.
  4. Choose your postage method.
  5. Complete your payment.
  6. Wait for the item to ship.

Buying on Vinted: The Complete Guide
 
 

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Emma Drew

Emma has spent over 15 years sharing her expertise in making and saving money, inspiring thousands to take control of their finances. After paying off £15,000 in credit card debt, she turned her side hustles into a full-time career in 2015. Her award-winning blog, recognized as the UK's best money-making blog for three years, has made her a trusted voice, with features on BBC TV, BBC radio, and more.

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