Omg really? Even though, I wouldn’t dare to sell my LV papillon, only in case of need...I love it too much, and now since its shape is coming back in fashion, I get to wear it more often
Vestiaire Collective experiences?
- Thread starter Kopisusu
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VC strategy to get sellers into their originally little French site despite high commissions was to be extremely seller friendly, giving sellers months of time to send items and the possibility to cancel at any point. That strategy clearly worked, as sellers felt no commitment and could work out deals elsewhere. Now that they have got this big, I feel they are slowly looking into the buyer side of the equation. They better do, because if not they won‘t survive. First it was the possibility they introduced for the buyer to cancel the sale if the item was not shipped the first week (before your money could just sit there, in VC’s account, for weeks, waiting for the seller to make the decision of whether they wanted to sell to you... sounds incredible now).
But they still have a long way to go. My last experience, I bought a pair of new Gucci Brixtons. The pics in the listing where not good, and I made a very low offer. The seller immediately accepted which made me more suspicious, but I have several of these shoes so I was confident that even if VC messed up, I would be able to check authenticity myself. So I went ahead with the payment, immediately. Then a few days letter I get a notification that VC has reimbursed me the money for the sale. No explanation. I contact them and they said the seller cancelled and to ask him directly. Which I do in the listing’s comments. The seller then says that he cancelled because he is “not at home” and won‘t be able to send the item (he has a month to do that). So, I make an offer, they accept and then they cancel, all in the space of 10 minutes. You would think he would have realized he was not at home when he accepted my offer...
But of course the interesting thing is that the item was offered for direct shipping. Whereas I chose that it went to VC first for the authenticity check... My feeling is the seller didn’t want that...
So I have contacted VC to voice my doubts about the authenticity of the item, and of course, as usual, no response.
I don't use the app, they always have website problems and I use a digital camera for pictures, so it would be quite difficult to get the pictures from the camera to the iPad anyway, but since they seem to always have problems with the webpage, I am not using the app, because I simply don't trust their software. Several friends who used the app needed to reinstall their tablets or iPads as it didn't work anymore.
Notifications have problems from time to time, so when you ask them why there wasn't one, it is always the same reply that with this item there was a problem and they manually needed to do something...
Honestly, I stopped the offer function because the offers were plainly ridiculous, I often had the feeling that it was kid who just wanted to negotiate, waste of time, this way it is take it or leave it instead of going through the whole dance of getting one ridiculous offer after another. You got to wonder in which reality some people are living. I pulled my Marmont bag because somebody left comment after comment that she can only afford $100 and that includes sending and sending is expensive as she is in the US, so I should sell it to her for $60 (does VC charge that much for shipping to the US?). At one point I went "Look, if you can only afford 100, you can't afford Gucci and especially not the Marmont, may I suggest you budget or buy something that is available in that price range, because I am not selling it for a price you can afford" Massive whinge that I am treating a prospective buyer not friendly enough.
VC strategy to get sellers into their originally little French site despite high commissions was to be extremely seller friendly, giving sellers months of time to send items and the possibility to cancel at any point. That strategy clearly worked, as sellers felt no commitment and could work out deals elsewhere. Now that they have got this big, I feel they are slowly looking into the buyer side of the equation. They better do, because if not they won‘t survive. First it was the possibility they introduced for the buyer to cancel the sale if the item was not shipped the first week (before your money could just sit there, in VC’s account, for weeks, waiting for the seller to make the decision of whether they wanted to sell to you... sounds incredible now).
But they still have a long way to go. My last experience, I bought a pair of new Gucci Brixtons. The pics in the listing where not good, and I made a very low offer. The seller immediately accepted which made me more suspicious, but I have several of these shoes so I was confident that even if VC messed up, I would be able to check authenticity myself. So I went ahead with the payment, immediately. Then a few days letter I get a notification that VC has reimbursed me the money for the sale. No explanation. I contact them and they said the seller cancelled and to ask him directly. Which I do in the listing’s comments. The seller then says that he cancelled because he is “not at home” and won‘t be able to send the item (he has a month to do that). So, I make an offer, they accept and then they cancel, all in the space of 10 minutes. You would think he would have realized he was not at home when he accepted my offer...
But of course the interesting thing is that the item was offered for direct shipping. Whereas I chose that it went to VC first for the authenticity check... My feeling is the seller didn’t want that...
So I have contacted VC to voice my doubts about the authenticity of the item, and of course, as usual, no response.
Actually the seller has 7 days to ship, during the lock down a lot of the UPS and DHL shops were closed and DHL and UPS were totally booked out, often you had to wait for days to be able to schedule a pickup, for VC that didn't count and if you weren't able to send in time, it reflected negatively on your account, I had to cancel 2 items as well as their chosen carrier couldn't pick up. If you only have 7 days before it negatively impacts your account, it might be better to cancel than to risk a strike against you. Most of us also afford designer items by working a lot, which sometimes means being away on short notice, if a work emergency happens, my first thought is work and not VC.
As seller, I rather send to VC for the check, as then I don't have to deal with a buyer who has zero clue or might have buyer's remorse, might have damaged the item, etc. Most people who sell really don't like the direct shipping AT ALL. Anything I ship, I take pics with a time stamp of back and front, then a picture of the item packed and sealed to make sure nobody can do a switch or claim a damage that isn't there.
Don't you think it is a bit rich to accuse somebody of selling an item of not being authentic just because somebody was not able to send within 7 days? They might have had a very valid reason for that. I am about to move countries, so I list my items cheaply as I want to get rid of them (I did switch offers off as I really don't want to deal with lunatic lowball offers from bored children or people who think they deserve to get everything for next to nothing), it doesn't mean that the items are fake, it means I want to sell them ASAP so I don't have to bring them with me, have more space and a bit more money I can use for the new house, but I am always worried when an item goes with direct shipping because people simply don't read descriptions, you have to list them as the size that is in the item, now designer sizing can vary widely, I usually take a French 36/38 but if I buy I tend to buy in a shop and buy what fits, so it can happen that an item is labeled 40 because the cut is very small, I mention it, I give the measurements, I had 2 brainiacs who tried to return because they wear a 40 and it was too tight (I honestly can't do more than say "cut very small, please see the measurements"). Luckily VC checked the items, found them as described, nothing happened apart from the fact that it took a month longer to get paid - if it would have been checked by them, it would have been straight and smooth.
I totally agree with the offer button; however that limits the buyer to offer more than 30% less. now, because I have disabled, People tend to leave the most crazy amounts on the comments, and sometimes not in a kind way....
Shipping costs, depending on the Location can vary up to 70$ and then you have to calculate the import tax that varies according the country and the cost of the bag.
This is the reason why if I am buying something, check first the location of the item. I have had the Import duties & Taxes Shock just before paying, since you don’t know how much it would be until you are in the last step of the purchase.
Actually if I am looking for something, unless it is incredibly rare, I tend to limit it to the EU to avoid all the import duties etc. But given from what you tell me, I am surprised the woman with the $100 to spend didn't demand that I give her the bag for free if she has shipping and tax. Seriously, a Gucci Marmont for 100? I don't think she ever checked the prices.
Yes, the whole comments, again, I think a lot of bored children or people who think they should be given designer items for nothing because they want them. I honestly rather give them to a charity shop or give somebody a present than reward that "I want it, give me now" thinking.
Well, I didn’t mean to be accusing. What I said is, the pictures in the listing were few and badly taken and were not sufficient to form even a first opinion about authenticity. The seller accepted a VERY low offer on a new with tags item. He then cancelled the sale within minutes of accepting the offer because they were ”out”. He didn’t said he will put them back on sale or anything else. So it didn’t sound like he accepted a low price because he wanted to sell the item quickly... It is the whole combination of facts that makes me think that something may have been wrong with the shoes. Of course I may be wrong and he had sellers regret, but one has to be careful and form opinions when buying pre-loved.
In any event, my point is that in general, this direct shipping option is going to naturally attract more people selling fakes and I feel there is hence more reason to be careful. Moreover when they have no quality control regarding what is listed (in the past they justified this because they checked the items in person anyway...). They claim they select the items for direct shipping on the basis that they are of brands that in their experience, are “not being at risk of counterfeiting”. I personally really beg to differ that this is the case for Gucci, but what do I know, they are the experts...
I understand about the risk of Direct Shipping of getting fakes but also if you have an issue, they can check the item. Furthermore, I believe sellers wont risk to be Downgraded or suspended knowing that fakes might go to authentication.
I find that people who is new to the pre-loved market follows too blindly the suggested price given by VC, so it doesn’t surprise me that after posting the article with a low price, they realized of their mistake and decide to cancel the transaction and relist weeks later. ( that happened with a lair of LV shoes and a Burberry jacket)
They seem to be changing the brands a lot as well, but I think anybody being caught sending a fake loses the ability for direct shipping. I switched offers off when I found out you can do it, because it was such a hassle, but I remember before I did that, that once or twice I accepted a low offer by mistake, with the tablets that can easily happen.
A couple of things I bought during lockdown also couldn't be sent, the sellers sent messages, they had the item somewhere else, one in the flat where they used to live during the week and during lockdown they were basically "caught" at their weekend home and one had the items with the parents and you couldn't get there in time.
I am not saying the seller isn't a bit shady, but to say it is a fake is quite an accusation. I would have asked for better pictures if the pictures aren't good? I would think it would be nuts to try and sell a fake, there is a big professional seller I stumbled across, they can't do direct shipping and I had doubts regarding their items as the lighting is always so harsh and contrast so strong that you can't actually see the items, seems they tried to palm off something that wasn't quite authentic...
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But it was not that his listing was low. He accepted a very low offer. And it was after accepting the offer that he cancelled the sale because of being out.
Any way, no big deal, it happens. But there are and always have been fakes in VC, and I just think this direct shipping is another way of them being increasingly flippant about this. JMO.
I think if they say they relist and put it up for a higher price, they can lose seller status, which is good as before you often bought something and then the seller decided to relist for a much higher price. I lately complained twice as they didn't even ask and put items up for ridiculously low prices, there was none of the "Please lower blah blah blah" just them changing the price to ridiculously low - they put a pair of YSL boots up for 80 and a Balenciaga jacket for 70, I was really not pleased and deleted the items straight away and then complained.
He might have accepted by mistake and then cancelled and you only have a few options to cancel, got damaged, can't send it in time, changed your mind... I am not sure if they don't punish the "changed your mind" so maybe he went for a safe option?
Yes I agree, so far no disappointment whatsoever and when bags were not as described they always contacted me in advance.
I honestly got one of those super bright lights and examine every item under it before I put in up, sometimes they come up with the most absurd reasons, like if you pull out the inner bags and there might be a piece of dust....