Hey Everyone! 

I want to share a personal experience I had recently on Vinted, because if you’re selling anything of value on the platform, you really need to be aware of this.

So here’s the story of how I sold a gorgeous pair of Hermès Oran sandals for £250, got accused of sending a random skirt, had my payment suspended, and after days of stress finally got my money back. But not before the buyer walked away with both the refund AND my designer sandals.

Yep. She’s done quite nicely out of it.

What Happened?

I listed a pair of authentic Hermès Oran sandals (Size 37, orange) on Vinted. Within days, they sold for £250 - fab! 

I packed them up with care and shipped them using InPost via QR code (more on that mistake later). I wrote the buyer’s name by hand on the label.

A few days later, the buyer opened a claim saying they received a skirt instead of the sandals. Yes, you read that right – a floral skirt. One I’ve never seen before in my life!

Vinted immediately suspended my payment.

The Buyer’s Response

When I contacted the buyer, they said they were just as confused – claiming they also received a skirt and that this has never happened to them before. I replied firmly and told them I always record myself packing and posting, and would be reporting this as fraud to the police. They backed off quickly and said they also take videos opening “especially when items aren’t cheap.” She wasn't able to provide this video however...

The Buyer’s Story Didn’t Add Up

She messaged me saying it was the first time anything like this had happened to her and she was confused too. But when I looked at her profile more closely, something felt off.

At first glance, she had lots of 5-star reviews. But digging deeper, I noticed:

🕵️ All the reviews were from the same circle of users, reviewing each other.

She had the item sent to a locker at a local supermarket with no trace to her home address.

Her own Vinted was selling high value items, but not in consistent sizes, which makes me think she was reselling items which weren’t hers.

It screamed suspicious behaviour and it made me wonder how many others had fallen for the same thing.

The Evidence Was All There

I take videos of every item I pack and post, especially higher-value sales. I knew I’d packed and shipped the sandals.

Her photos clearly showed:

• The package wasn’t tampered with
• The handwritten name I wrote was clearly visible
• The packaging was sealed exactly how I’d left it

And since InPost doesn’t weigh items, there was no way to prove what was actually inside the parcel at the point of posting. I also couldn’t contact Inpost directly because the label was generated via Vinted! 

Vinted “Support” Was a Nightmare

Trying to get help from Vinted was exhausting.

I was given the options below - None of which related to what had happened and all of which would leave me out of pocket.

I spent days emailing, submitting messages, and chasing support, only to be met with what felt like AI-generated responses on repeat.

No matter how clearly I explained what had happened, I kept getting vague replies like:

“We’re sorry for the inconvenience. Our support team is reviewing this issue.”

And Messages such as 

“Your patience is greatly appreciated, unless you have additional information which could help with the investigation please refrain from replying to this message” along with "Please understand the investigation process could take up to 35 days"

It took a LOT of persistence, screenshots, video evidence, and a bit of public pressure…

Finally — A Resolution (Sort of)

Eventually, Vinted confirmed I would get my £250 payment released.

BUT they also said the buyer would get a refund too.

And she still had my shoes.

So to summarise:

• Buyer: Gets a refund, my £250 sandals, 
• Me: Gets my money, a ton of stress, and no way to recover the shoes

Not exactly justice and the worst bit; Because the sale was cancelled by Vinted I was unable to leave the buyer any form of review to warn others! 

My Advice to Every Vinted Seller:

🎥 1. Always video yourself packing and posting

• Start filming with the item in full view
• Show the item going into the parcel
• Seal the parcel on camera
• Always use a printable label. 
• Take a photo of you placing the item in the locker.

Keep these videos saved for 30+ days.

❌ 2. If possible Avoid InPost & QR-only drop-offs

• InPost doesn’t weigh items — so there’s no proof of what you sent
• QR codes give no real record of what’s inside
• If anything goes wrong, you have very little recourse

Instead, use Royal Mail or Evri with:

• Weight recorded
• Tracking
• Preferably home delivery, not lockers

🏠 3. Never send expensive items to parcel lockers

If a claim arises, it’s harder to prove delivery to the actual buyer. Insist on home address delivery for items over £50. Lockers are anonymous, hard to trace, and make fraud easier.

If You’re Caught in a Dispute…

📧 Contact Vinted Directly

If you’re getting AI responses or no real help, escalate it. Use:

• support@vinted.co.uk
• legal@vinted.co.uk

The Template I used to get you started:

Subject: Urgent Fraudulent Claim – Order #[Order Number]

Dear Vinted Support,

I am writing to dispute a claim regarding Order #[Order Number]. The buyer falsely reported receiving the wrong item (a skirt) instead of the Hermes sandals I sent.

I have video evidence showing the correct item being packed and posted via InPost. The package shown in the buyer’s photos matches what I sent, including the handwritten name.

The payment has been suspended, and I have not received the item back. I request a full review and release of payment.

Thank you,

[Your Vinted Username]

👥 Join Facebook Groups for Advice and Support

These communities are amazing when you’re dealing with a tough case:

• Vinted UK Scams and Bad Users
• Vinted UK Scammers name and Shame

People share tips, escalate contacts, and support each other through similar scams.

Final Thoughts

What happened to me was stressful, time consuming, and unfair, but it taught me some valuable lessons.

Vinted is convenient, but it’s not fool proof.

If you’re selling expensive items, be proactive. Protect yourself.

✅ Film everything

✅ Avoid InPost

✅ Don’t send to lockers

✅ Question too-good-to-be-true profiles

✅ Chase Vinted support hard and don’t back down - pester them non stop and be tenacious but calm and stick to the facts

Hopefully, sharing this helps someone else avoid the same fate.

Let’s hold platforms like Vinted accountable and support one another in the process.

Feel free to share your own experience or tips in the comments!