Explore the nuances of shipping times on Vinted, a major concern for sellers and buyers on this popular online platform for selling second-hand clothing.
The shipping process on Vinted
The Vinted community platform offers the opportunity to connect buyers and sellers to sell, buy, or exchange second-hand clothing and accessories. The shipping process on Vinted takes place in several stages.
Create an ad and find a buyer
As a seller, to list your item on Vinted, you must first create your ad by indicating as many details as possible, as well as the price, and attaching several good-quality photos. Details can be the size, height, and volume of a bag, or the size of a garment and its exact composition, as well as the color, the material (for a garment or an accessory), the degree of wear, etc.
The more details and precise photos there are, the more likely it is that the sale will be successful. Failure to provide these details may result in the cancellation and return of the price, the buyer.
A successful ad allows you to quickly find a potential buyer. The customer can consult the seller to obtain more information or place their order directly if they are sure of their choice and the price suits them.
Finalizing the sale and preparing the shipment
To validate a sale, the buyer must make a secure payment on the Vinted platform. The money is then blocked until the buyer validates receipt of their item, which results in the release of funds for the seller.
When the buyer has made his payment on the platform, the seller then has 5 working days to send the corresponding package. He must carefully package his item so that it is protected during transport and print the shipping slip which is provided on the Vinted site before shipping the package to his buyer.
There are several methods for sending. The buyer will have made his choices based on the options offered by the seller on the Vinted site. This may be deposited at a collection point (for example: Mondial Relay), in which case the buyer can collect the package at the destination at another collection point. The seller can also deliver it to a post office counter for shipment by Colissimo, or entrust the package to a carrier (example: UPS).
What are the standard delivery times on Vinted?
On Vinted, the standard deadline for sending packages, to be respected for any sale, is set at 5 working days maximum. If the shipment has not been made within this period, the Vinted platform reserves the right to cancel the transaction.
The buyer will be refunded the amount corresponding to the purchase of the item not received.
It is therefore important, once the buyer has validated his purchase and made payment and the seller has received the shipping slip to print, to react quickly and find a carrier suitable for the type of shipment and reliable and fast transportation.
How to choose the right carrier?
There are several service providers for parcel deliveries: collection points (Mondial Relay type), La Poste rapid services (Colissimo tracking type), Chronopost, and national and/or international express transport companies (UPS type, DHL, etc.).
As a seller, it is advisable to check the conditions of each type of company as well as the deadlines and costs before making your choice. The size and weight of the packages sent can also be important in the choice of packages, each having different rules.
When placing an ad online, the seller has the choice to check their preferences for the choice of carriers. He will therefore be able to offer several options to his potential buyers.
Tips for reducing shipping times
The seller must take great care when packing the package. On the one hand, this is important to prevent the item sent from being damaged and, on the other hand, it avoids any problems during transport time and, in particular, ensures that the package is opened easily before its distribution to the recipient.
If the bubble envelope is acceptable for less fragile and light items (for example: a T-shirt or a children’s layette), we generally recommend using cardboard adapted to the format of the item because the cardboard protects better and is less likely to be damaged during handling during shipping. Provided you have carefully closed it and, for example, reinforced the corners, which are often more fragile.
Inside the box, the seller must also take care to protect the item sent, by wrapping it, for example, in bubble wrap, to protect it, especially if it is a fragile item. To prevent there being any play inside the box and the object being mishandled during transport, it is preferable to fill the gaps with newspaper or bubble wrap so that the object is well held in place. place in its packaging.
Finally, it is preferable to choose strong and thick adhesive tape to securely close the package and protect its contents even better!
Addressing them is also very important. Be sure to check the destination details when you print the slip. It may be helpful to add a handwritten address to the package directly, even if you paste the packing slip. In the event of tearing or if the slip is torn off, the package will not be lost because there will remain a legible address on the package.
In general, it is planned to add telephone numbers, which provide additional security, if the package is ever lost or if the carrier cannot find the destination address because he will be able to contact the buyer.
Delivery of the package to the carrier or post office must be done as soon as possible to avoid incompressible delays. For example, a shipment made during the week goes faster than if you wait until the weekend to deliver your package.
You must take into account certain criteria, such as the days your post office is closed (important in small villages), national strikes, that can impact the smooth circulation of delivery trucks, and holiday periods that can slow down the distribution of parcels.
The seller will have understood that the choice of carrier is of great importance, as is the speed of delivery of his package to the service provider.
What should I do if I can’t send the package on time?
The seller may not have had time to send the package within the 5 working days required by the Vinted platform. Whether linked to a delay, caused by the carrier, or by him, the sale risks being canceled if the 5 working days have passed and the buyer has not received his package.
It is recommended that the seller contact the buyer to notify them and explain the situation by offering additional time for delivery or a partial refund of the item. However, this may not suit the buyer.
It is possible to find an alternative solution, such as sending an item at a reduced price or any other solution that can suit both parties.
FAQs about sending Vinted packages
Can the seller make a sale outside France and under what conditions?
It is entirely possible, on the Vinted platform, to sell to a foreign customer. International sales are possible but must be done with great rigor, particularly with careful packaging and shipping times.
You will also need to choose a carrier that works internationally and compare prices to avoid shipping being too expensive. It is advisable to compare, in advance, the rate card of each international transport company according to the size and weight of the packages as well as the proposed delivery times.
What are the costs of sending a package on the Vinted platform?
Shipping costs vary depending on several criteria: shipping in France or internationally, shipping, size and weight of the package, and type of shipping (for example: simple shipping or with tracking).
How can I limit my impact on the environment when sending my packages?
Parcel shipments can impact the environment, particularly due to transport. However, a package is never alone in a truck and the carrier only makes one trip to deliver hundreds of packages. When you go to several stores to shop and use a car, the impact is more or less equivalent.
However, the seller can reduce his impact on the environment by choosing more virtuous packaging and, if possible, by dropping off his package at the point of sale… on foot or by bike! In terms of packaging, you can reuse old newspapers rather than throwing them away. If you receive packages yourself, especially during the end-of-year holidays, rather than throwing them away, you can store them, if they are in good condition, to reuse them to send your company’s products. sales.
Storing egg cartons is useful for securing fragile items in packages. We can also keep packaging boxes to reinforce the protection of the items inside the packages.
Sellers who have a talent for recycling can use old fabrics like pillowcases to make bags that will be used to protect the clothes we send. When you send packages regularly, you end up finding tips for taking care of your packaging and preparing it in a more environmentally friendly way.