Secondhand September: How to shop smarter on Vinted
Since finding out about Vinted as a cash-strapped student at University in 2018, it has become the main way in which I shop for clothes. If you don’t know, Vinted is an online marketplace designed for buying and selling clothing, accessories and homeware.
So, why use Vinted?
By buying and selling clothing on Vinted, instead of directly from fast fashion brands, you are reducing waste and the environmental impact of clothing, extending the life of clothes rather than them ending up in landfill after one or two wears.
Vinted can also be an affordable alternative for buying new clothes, as often people will sell good condition (sometimes even unworn with the tag still on!) clothes at low prices because they simply want to declutter or make some extra money.
The platform is secure and allows you to track the status of your orders, so you can get that excited feeling when you find out your parcel is out for delivery! They also have great customer service to help if you have any issues with your order or your item when it arrives.
Here are my top 5 tips for shopping smarter on Vinted:
Have a set budget to avoid impulse/overbuying
Just like you would with any online shopping, make sure you set a budget in advance of how much you would like to spend. Whether this is a budget you are willing to spend on one particular item, such as a coat or bag, or a budget you are willing to spend over a period of time, such as on a monthly basis.
This will help you to limit your purchases and avoid impulse buying, which ultimately will lead to you getting more use out of the pieces you do buy. Whilst Vinted is better for the environment compared to fast fashion brands, overbuying second-hand can be just as harmful, as it leads to you not fully appreciating or wearing all of the items you have, reducing their lifecycle.
Buying less and having a set budget you are willing to spend will also allow you to save money and invest in higher quality items that will be more durable and last longer.
Read descriptions carefully
Make sure you pay close attention to the descriptions of anything you are looking to buy, as sellers often give details about the condition of the item such as if there are any signs of wear or imperfections, and the fit of the item like if it runs small or big. By reading the description carefully, you know exactly what to expect and are able to make more informed decisions about what you buy.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions (politely!)
If you would like to find out more about an item, don’t be shy to message the seller! At the end of the day, they want to sell their items to someone who will get more use out of them, so most sellers are really helpful at answering any questions you may have about sizing, condition or pricing.
However, I would not recommend going straight in with a blunt question. I try to build a rapport with the seller by sending a friendly message along the lines of 'hello, I really like this item and would love to know more about the fit please?”, as sending a personable, polite message makes sellers more likely to respond. This particularly applies when negotiating, as sellers are more likely to consider and accept offers if you ask them nicely!
Do some shopping around
If you have your eye on something in particular, I would advise shopping around, as the price may differ from seller to seller. If there is a certain brand or style of item you are looking for, I would recommend searching for these, clicking on any you like, then scrolling down until you see the option for ‘similar items’.
When you click on this, Vinted will show you items that are similar to the one you are viewing i.e. the same style, colour and size, so you might even find something you like more by doing this! Shopping around also allows you to make offers to different sellers, getting you the best price for the item you want.
Make sure to leave feedback
If you have a successful experience with a seller, make sure to leave them feedback! Leaving feedback builds trust within the Vinted community and holds sellers accountable for their service and items. In turn, this makes people more likely to use the app, as they feel confident to purchase having seen other people’s positive experiences.
Leaving positive feedback for sellers can encourage them to list more items on Vinted, which contributes to the secondhand economy, as it leads to more items being listed and sold on the marketplace, reducing the demand for new clothing.
Final thoughts:
Overall, Vinted is a great marketplace to buy and sell clothing on, limiting the demand for new fast fashion items to be products and reducing the amount of clothing ending up in landfill.
I’ve had nothing but positive experiences using Vinted (and if you want to check me out on there, my username is xshaunax7) and have purchased some of my most loved and most worn pieces using the app. I have also sold many items to a home where they will be able to be fully appreciated and worn, which makes me extremely happy.
