‘Banned over a pair of £2 sandals’: Why some sellers are complaining about Vinted
BBC News
By Emma Simpson, Business Correspondent
Single mum Emma Neil was a dedicated user of Vinted, frequently selling and buying items on the platform. That changed when she listed a pair of sandals for £3, relisted them for £2 after they didn’t fit, and was subsequently permanently banned by Vinted. They cited "fraudulent activity, such as selling counterfeit items."
"I did feel like a criminal," says Neil, one of thousands of users who have shared their experiences on sadvintedfaces.com, a website created by freelance marketeer Catherine Warrilow.
A Growing Community and Rising Complaints
Vinted boasts 17 million UK users, with what it claims is a positive experience for the "overwhelming majority." However, Warrilow has logged over 4,000 complaints from frustrated Vinted users.
Automation vs. Human Error?
Warrilow suspects Vinted’s automated systems are to blame, as users often receive copy-and-paste responses and get ignored by customer service.
Matthew Connor, a professional seller with ten thousand positive reviews, was also banned for allegedly selling counterfeit items, losing him thousands in potential sales. After appealing, his ban was lifted but not before he experienced the sudden loss of his business.
Vinted’s Response
Vinted declined to comment on individual cases but stated that its teams work diligently daily to keep the platform safe and genuine.
