I've made over £5k as a seller on Vinted – here's how

From taking the right photographs to investing in 'bumps', these are my top tips for selling clothes second-hand

It’s no secret that I love to buy vintage – but I’m also a huge fan of selling second-hand stuff (Image Credit: Amelia Allen)

Since I started The Resource a few weeks ago, I’ve focused a lot on what you can buy pre-loved, across both fashion and interiors. What I haven’t touched on is how you can sell – to clear space in your home and wardrobe, to pass on what you no longer love to someone who will, and to make a fair amount of cash while doing so.

This newsletter will focus on selling clothes, mainly through Vinted – a pastime which has netted me just over £5,000 in four years. Earning money by selling my old clothes, then parlaying that back into second-hand platforms to find pieces that suit me better is, in my opinion, the most satisfying individual example of the benefits of a circular fashion economy. It reminds me of those ‘clothes swap parties’ you might have had with your friends as a teenager (why did we stop doing those?) but on a much bigger scale.

Let’s face it: we all have those pieces in our cupboards, taunting us by being too small/too short/the wrong colour/an impulse sale purchase. I try to be really strict with myself about selling these items on, and I probably get rid of two or three things a month.

Here’s how I make selling my clothes work for me, and the tips and tricks I’ve picked up along the way – from how to price pieces correctly, to posting, photographing and more. The advice assumes that you already have an account, but if you don’t, download the app and it’ll advise you how to set one up – which is, happily, a very simple process.

Keep a large bag in your wardrobe – and add to it regularly

I have an old laundry bag at the bottom of my cupboard, into which I chuck anything I think I might want to sell. If I try something a few times and it just doesn’t feel ‘right’ anymore? Into the bag it goes. I go through this bag once a fortnight or so, and photograph everything in there to be uploaded onto Vinted gradually (more on that later).

Having a dedicated spot for everything you think you might want to part with is a game-changer, as it gets suspect items out of your wardrobe fast – and if you haven’t missed that top/dress/jumper/questionable hat by the time you come around to photographing it in a few weeks’ time, chances are you’re right to be selling it.

Photographs: the dos and don’ts

Vinted will tell you that photographs make all the difference when it comes to selling an item. It’s true that when something is presented well, it makes it much easier for potential buyers to imagine it on themselves – but you don’t need to go to the trouble of getting display mannequins or steaming everything perfectly.

• Pop trousers and skirts on clip hangers, so that buyers can see the cut; even better, model them yourself and take a picture on self-timer from the waist down.

• Dresses, shirts, coats and jackets should go on padded hangers and be hung from, say, the top of a door frame, so that they can be photographed full-length.

• Lay jumpers out in full on a plain, flat surface, with their sleeves neatly folded across.

• Include close-ups of everything, including labels, washing instructions, details on cuffs and collars, plus any flaws. You should post at least five or six photographs for every listing.

• If there’s still a tag, take a clear picture of this too – buyers love things that are brand new.

• If you happen to have a picture of yourself wearing something that you don’t mind sharing, always include it in the listing. A word of warning, however: Vinted won’t let you use brand photographs, so steer clear of any website screenshots.

The photographs from my recent successful sale of a pair of new Sézane boots (that I loved so much, I refused to admit they were the wrong size when I bought them…)

Write a clear description (and include hashtags!)

The description of your item is your biggest opportunity to make a sale. Include the size, brand, quality, colour and material in the heading, then expand on that in the more detailed description box. If your item is new with tags, make sure to include the acronym ‘NWT’ in the heading, too.

Input as much information as you can, especially for more expensive items. Measurements, fabric details and whether or not something is true to size can all convince potential buyers to take the plunge. Think about what you’d want to know if you were purchasing the item for yourself.

Hashtags are enormously useful, as they will help your item appear in searches. Tag the brand, but also think creatively – if a dress isn’t from Chanel, but it’s tweed and has pearl buttons, try putting in #ChanelStyle. Think about what people might search for: in this case, I’d also add #eveningdress, #eventdress and #blackdress, for example.

The pricing dilemma

Vinted is basically the Wild West when it comes to pricing. Buyers have the opportunity to make you an ‘offer’, which you can either accept, decline, or counter – and if you list something for £20, don’t be surprised if someone offers you a fiver.

I’d advise thinking about how much something is worth to you before you list it, and price it slightly higher than the figure you have in mind. I almost always end up accepting an offer of some kind, as buyers love feeling like they’re getting a discount; over-pricing just a tad means you’ll be happy with the final result, too.

That being said, anything that you just really want to be rid of – old Zara tops are my personal poison – I’d price fairly, as it’ll help them sell faster.

When to list

There’s no hard and fast rule here, but I’d advise thinking cleverly about the best times to post expensive listings: you’re likely to get more interest just after pay day, for example. Likewise, summery dresses tend to do better in May than November, while everyone spends the 27th, 28th and 29th of December frantically searching for New Year’s Eve party frocks.

Use Vinted’s features: bumps, star wardrobe badges and offers

Vinted offers a number of features which will help you to make a sale, and I’d recommend using them all – they really do make the process much quicker and easier.

• Bumps: when you list an item, the app will ask if you’d like to pay to ‘bump’ it – which essentially shoots it to the top of the homepage for buyers. I always go for the three-day bump option; even though it costs a few quid each time, it’s nearly always worth it and gets hundreds more eyes on your item.

• Star wardrobe badges: speaking of listing, Vinted offers something called a ‘star wardrobe’ badge to sellers who list at least five items within a 30-day period. This provides you with extra visibility and recognition on the platform, which is very helpful. So, while I photograph pieces in batches, I upload them over the space of a few days – which makes sure I retain my badge.

• Offers: we’ve covered offers from buyers, but sellers can make offers too. If someone ‘likes’ your item, you can send them a personal discount – which I normally do if it’s a big-ticket item. It might be time consuming to send a separate message to each interested party, but it does really help.

• Messaging: make sure you stay active when it comes to your inbox, and answer any questions about measurements, condition and pricing swiftly. It can be what clinches a sale!

• Bundles: I always recommend switching on ‘bundle’ deals through the app, which means buyers can get a discount if they buy more than one item. It’s especially useful if you’re selling lots of cheaper items (see: old Zara tops…)

THESE are the madly glamorous postage bags I use, which I order from Amazon – I know they’re plastic :( but they ensure items arrive in good condition

Closing the deal

Eventually, a buyer will either purchase something for the listed price, or you’ll accept an offer of some kind. Congratulations! Soon, you’ll be quids-in and the proud owner of more wardrobe space.

Vinted has several different postage options for sellers, and I’d highly recommend going through these in your settings: while it’s worth having as many turned on as possible to maximise sale potential, it’s a nightmare if someone chooses to have their item shipped in a way that’s difficult for you. Download the apps for every postage option, and check where your nearest drop-off point is. Is your Evri option half an hour away, at a corner shop that’s only open between 5am and 6am? Uncheck it on the app – for your own sanity.

Any money paid to you will be held in escrow until the buyer receives their item, and confirms they’re happy. You have about a week to send it, but do post as quickly as possible – it’ll help with getting a positive review. A word to the wise: if you miss the postage window, the sale is cancelled and you’ll have to list the item all over again.

A word on reviews…

I don’t want to brag (she says, about to brag) but I have a clean record of five star reviews – 140 of them, to be exact. Some are automatically generated – meaning that a buyer has received their order on time, and not made any complaints – but most are active pieces of feedback from buyers. People have left comments saying things like: ‘highly recommended seller’, ‘easy and straightforward sale’, ‘gorgeous shoes, as described’ and ‘quick delivery, very happy’.

All these reviews are available to view on my Vinted page, and I think they really help when potential buyers are considering whether or not to make a purchase from me, especially of a more expensive item. Bad reviews can really put buyers off – I know that I’ve stepped away from purchases myself because of negative feedback from other customers.

Selling may feel like a complicated process to start with, but it’s also enormously gratifying and a great way to make some extra money. Have any questions about selling on Vinted, or more generally? Meet me in the comments below! x