A Vinted shopper was left disgusted after receiving a pair of leopard-print jeans that were carelessly 'screwed up' inside a parcel resembling a 'hospital bag' and covered in 'sweaty fake tan marks'. The buyer, who shared her experience online, said she got 'the ick' before she had even fully unpacked the purchase.
Unboxing disappointment
After struggling to break through layers of heavy packaging tape, the fashion fan discovered the jeans had not been neatly folded. Instead, they were bundled carelessly, and the poor presentation was soon overshadowed by the garment's condition. When she turned the trousers inside out, she found deeply ingrained stains left by the previous owner, who had allegedly worn the jeans without washing them before shipping.
'Initially, they look alright [...] so I look inside the trousers and they are covered in sweaty fake tan marks,' the disgusted shopper recalled. The grim discovery was enough to ruin the purchase, and she confirmed: 'Safe to say I've initiated a refund already.'
Vinted's refund policy
A spokesperson for Vinted said: 'For each purchase on Vinted, buyers have two days after delivery to confirm receipt or raise an issue.'
'A refund can be issued if an item does not arrive, is damaged, or is significantly not as described under our refund policy. More information is available in our Help Center.'
Steps to take if this happens
According to Vinted, buyers should pause the transaction immediately as soon as they notice something is wrong. They should open the chat with the seller for the specific order and click the 'I have an issue' button under the order status, then choose 'Item significantly not as described' or 'Damaged/Defective' as the reason.
Buyers should upload clear, well-lit photos showing the discrepancies, such as hidden stains, unmentioned tears, wrong size label, or inaccurate branding, and add a brief text description explaining how the item differs from the original listing. Once reported, the issue is sent to the seller, who can choose whether to offer a refund without returning the item, a partial refund, or a refund if the item is returned.
If the seller refuses to assist, marks the claim as invalid, or stops responding, buyers can tap 'Contact Us' or 'Escalate to Vinted' within the dispute thread. Vinted support will review the photos alongside the original listing and make a final decision. This must be done within 48 hours of receiving the item to ensure a refund.
How to avoid a Vinted shopping fail
To reduce the risk of disappointment, Vinted shoppers are advised to zoom in on product photos to check for hidden bobbling, fading, missing buttons, or stains, and to always ask for measurements such as pit-to-pit or waist measurements. Reading descriptions carefully is also key, as phrases like 'well-loved', 'plenty of life left', or 'vintage condition' can be polite code for heavy wear and tear.
Checking a seller's reviews, requesting inner photos, and looking at their 'last active' status can help avoid ghost accounts. Filtering searches to 'New with tags' or 'New without tags' can weed out heavily worn clothes, and asking about pets and smoke can address odour concerns. Payments should always be kept on the app, as paying outside Vinted voids Buyer Protection, and buyers should watch the final total, including postage and fees, and consider bundling items from the same seller to combine shipping costs.
