We’ve all experienced it – asking a girl where she found her gorgeous top, or her unique bag, or maybe her cute little jacket – only to be met with “I actually got it on Vinted!”. You then find yourself wondering how some people have the magical ability to find gem after hidden gem on Vinted when you never seem to have much luck shopping for pre-loved pieces.
So how do you find good clothes on Vinted? Well, what everyone is keeping from you is that it is not down to luck. There is a formula to getting good deals on Vinted – master it, and you will be the stylish, environmentally conscious, if not slightly annoying, I-actually-got-it-on-Vinted babe.
Follow my guide to snag the best Vinted has to offer – and no, these aren’t useless, quick tips like ‘negotiate’. This five-minute read will fill you in on the exact process of finding great pre-loved pieces at affordable prices.
Part One of Two: Finding the Best Pieces
People who find great stuff on Vinted start off by searching for specific things
Vinted is a sea of crusty, un-inspiring photos, since the person who took it just wants to get rid of their item and make a bit of cash. It’s on you to have a vision. Establish beforehand the specific items you are looking for right now (e.g., “black cashmere cardigan”). If no specific items come to mind, are there any brands that you covet or that you trust the fit and quality of? (e.g., “COS” or “Reformation”).
Now that you know what you’re looking for, start searching your key words. Apply the relevant filters to make sure that only pieces in your size come up and use the favourite function as you browse to collate the items you love into one place.
Tips for quick and effective browsing
Don’t scroll to the bottom: trudging to the depths of the search page is time consuming and pointless. Generally, you won’t find much down there, as the algorithm will boost the best pieces to the top.
Save your searches: click the bookmark icon next to your recently searched items to keep the search pinned there. Click and revisit your searches daily, skimming the top of the page to see if anything new has been listed that takes your fancy.
Search on the weekends: especially on a Sunday evening, as this is when most people will be listing new items.
Don’t dismiss the ugly photos: a lot of people will immediately skip over the bad images, but that’s exactly why you want to pay special attention to them; a closer look might reveal exactly what you’re looking for (this is where having a vision is so important). Black pieces in particular can be hard to photograph, and, often, a little imagination is key.
Check your Recommended for You page: some consistent searching and saving will do wonders for your algorithm, and your Recommended for You page will become well tailored to your preferences. Check it daily, once again just skimming the top.
The thing about Vinted is being consistent and playing the long game. You have to know what you want, and you can’t be in a rush for it.
Part Two of Two: Getting a Good Deal
Now that you’ve had a good search, there are probably a few items in your favourites that you’re considering purchasing, but we want to make sure you get the best deal. Negotiating on Vinted is all about getting into the mind of the seller, picking your battles and taking calculated risks. Here’s what you need to do.
Check how many favourites the item has, when it was listed and the price to determine your next move
For example, if you love an item, it is listed at a price within your budget, and it already has a tonne of favourites, you want to quickly make a reasonable offer (no more than 10% off the selling price). This is because the item is likely to go soon, and the seller will have a lot of offers in their inbox, so you need to be fast and competitive.
If the item was posted a while ago and doesn’t have many likes, you have more bargaining power as the seller probably just wants rid of the item; in this scenario, you can be more cheeky with your offer.
When the seller accepts your offer, or if they counter with an offer you find acceptable, proceed to payment as soon as possible to make sure no one beats you to the punch (the seller may well have accepted multiple offers from multiple buyers). I recommend ensuring your notifications for Vinted are on so you can move quickly.
Should I ask the seller questions on Vinted?
The number of questions you ask the seller will depend on how much you want the item, how likely it is to go and how detailed the description is. Review the description carefully, and for popular listings, only ask the seller questions if it’s absolutely necessary or a dealbreaker. You need to weigh the risks of buying the item with limited information here, however, particularly if the item is expensive. For less popular listings you can ask more questions and take more time to consider your purchase. The seller will most likely happily entertain your queries, as you will be one of very few leads for them.
The types of questions you ask will depend on the listing and your needs. Generally measurements are always great since they will help you determine the fit of the item, which is often the hardest thing to get right on Vinted. Asking for more pictures can be really helpful too, if the listing does not have enough. I will warn that asking these types of questions can also be really annoying for the seller, so only ask them if absolutely necessary and accept that the seller may not provide the information you asked for; if they have one, they might even accept another offer for ease, so it’s all about determining how likely this is.
Even if it is more time consuming and risky, ethical consumption is so important; it can also be really fun once you get the knack. Continuous practice of the advice in this guide is guaranteed to help you to level up your pre-loved purchases – happy shopping!
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