Vestiaire Collective experiences?

[nicole0612]

Did the commission rate go down overnight? I submitted an item and as expected they want me to list at a lower price. I was expecting to put in the usual $5 less, but my portion was much lower than I expected so I did a test. I typed in the exact same amount.
Look at my share when I submitted it (photo 1: $4785 listing price—> $3732 for my share) vs now in listing price negation (photo 2: $4785 listing price—> $3588 for my share), my share is now ~$150 less for the same listing price. What is going on?

Update: I did not respond to their “we cannot list your item until you decrease your price message” because I was waiting to hear back from them on why my share went down by $150 overnight for the same listing price. Suddenly I got a notice that it was listed later that day without any action on my part at my original price...but with their new lower commission amount for my portion.

 

[Deleted 698298]

They are really the worst. Buyer of my bag was notified of a difference in a base of my bag (25cm instead of 24cm), therefore rejected the purchase and bag is back with me, while they didn't spot THE CUT across your bag. I mean who's in charge there...
It's such a shame we don't have Fashionphile or Ann's etc. in Europe. I would gladly sell my bags directly at lower prices to avoid this nonsense.

Ann’s Fab Finds is selling via VC so it seems

 

[Deleted 698298]

My friend runs similar place in Poland (a copy of VC lol). However, she takes full responsibility for the items that passed their control, super rarely they pass something that is not as described (eg. recently a new employee forgot to pack dustbag) but in such case they always refund without discussions and apologise. I would just not pass in Poland like that. She goes an extra mile sometimes with her connections and get dustbags fresh from stores, pays for micro repairs and cleaning etc.

What’s the site in Poland? Do they ship intl?

 

[doni]

The seller receives a shippinglabel from VC, but of course the personal details of the buyer are mentioned on the label: name/address, but also mailaddres and mobile tel.nr. On the other hand: The buyer can see the name/address and even mobile tel.nr of the seller on the label!
Approached one of my favorite sellers directly and managed to buy some articles from her outside VC, so directly.
Matter of trust between buyer and seller, when VC is not involved. So I think VC is taking quite a risk with their direct selling.
Furthermore: Do not understand why seller has to pay commission to VC when there’s no authenticity check involved‍.

I cannot agree more.

I am doing a wardrobe clearing, and what I have noticed as well is that in the past, it used to take them up to two days before they accepted an item. Now, they accept them in seconds. That means that there is not even a summary authenticity check, I can put whatever I want out there, and it would go direct to buyers, without any control. At this point, what are they offering that eBay doesn’t?

 

[CrackBerryCream]

Update in my case (unmentioned, long cut in Birkin bag not visible on listing pics): after I filed for a chargeback with my bank on Saturday morning I already received a positive message on Monday evening from the bank and got my money provisionally on Tuesday morning. Tuesday evening Vestiaire wrote me an apology and that they are going to refund my money... I think it was all because of the chargeback, where I uploaded all photos, proof of purchase, return shipping and communication.

VC lost me as a client for good. It's a pity as their selection in H bags in really good. But without the security that they will check authenticity and condition properly I might as well buy from eBay...

 

[CrackBerryCream]

I cannot agree more.

I am doing a wardrobe clearing, and what I have noticed as well is that in the past, it used to take them up to two days before they accepted an item. Now, they accept them in seconds. That means that there is not even a summary authenticity check, I can put whatever I want out there, and it would go direct to buyers, without any control. At this point, what are they offering that eBay doesn’t?

Funny our comments regarding eBay were posted at the same time. I have looked at many Birkin bags on Vestiaire and it's astonishing that they let people upload obvious fakes. It seems they only look at the first picture. If that looks halfway okay they let it through, regardless of the other pictures showing a fake authenticity card etc.

 

[EmilyM111]

What’s the site in Poland? Do they ship intl?

Yes. It’s called Keep The Label. They are still WIP in terms of experience for international buyers but improving over time. IMO good selection of less popular items and they do check authenticity thoroughly.

 

[doni]

So what I was afraid would happen has happened.

I received a gift directly from Loewe after they messed up an order. It was one of those leather snap bracelet. Very nice gesture but not a thing I or anyone I know would wear. I am clearing up my wardrobe and selling a bunch of stuff in VC, so I took it out, photographed it, put it back inside the box and put it up for sale. In total it was not outside the box more than 10 minutes max. Someone bought it. I sent it. Pristine, direct from the online store in its box, with dustbag, papers... I even used the same cardboard box it came in...

So now VC tells me that they are running a quality check because the buyer returned the item and argued it was not as described, by what I understand not new?
I mean, a newer item is literally impossible.

And now what?
This is stupid. Why am I paying a commission to be at the mercy of any unscrupulous buyer?
It doesn’t make any sense. I feel stupid...

 

[CrackBerryCream]

So what I was afraid would happen has happened.

I received a gift directly from Loewe after they messed up an order. It was one of those leather snap bracelet. Very nice gesture but not a thing I or anyone I know would wear. I am clearing up my wardrobe and selling a bunch of stuff in VC, so I took it out, photographed it, put it back inside the box and put it up for sale. In total it was not outside the box more than 10 minutes max. Someone bought it. I sent it. Pristine, direct from the online store in its box, with dustbag, papers... I even used the same cardboard box it came in...

So now VC tells me that they are running a quality check because the buyer returned the item and argued it was not as described, by what I understand not new?
I mean, a newer item is literally impossible.

And now what?
This is stupid. Why am I paying a commission to be at the mercy of any unscrupulous buyer?
It doesn’t make any sense. I feel stupid...

Sorry this is happening to you. What options do you have as a seller? Are you losing money on it?

 

[nicole0612]

The weirdest thing happened. I sold a bag with its box and dustbag, and when packing it up I noticed that the box had become damaged. I contacted VC customer service to see if they could contact the buyer to see if they still wanted the bag. The buyer had not contacted me prior to purchasing, so no messages between us etc.
The most shocking thing happened. First, I waited over 4 hours in a queue for my turn to come with the chat option, but that is not too shocking with VC. The shocking part was their suggestion to me. They gave me the buyer’s direct email in their chat response and told me I should contact the buyer directly to see what they wanted to do!!!
I took a screen shot because I thought they would delete it at any second! I think people get banned from VC for sharing private info, and they just gave it out to me.

 

[Ylesiya]

My 5 cents as a seller on VC.
Things either go smoothly or they go completely south. I was just reading everyone's stories and everything seems to be just beyond ridiculous.

My experience:

- weird measurements by their "experts". Listing long necklace, I am specifying FULL length of the item. They receive it and mark it as partially compliant because they measured half length. So instead of 100+ cm, they say it's 56. Brilliant. Buyer rejects, my stats are affected.

- demanding receipts for some items out of the blue. This is the most ridiculous part I've ever seen. I am paying extraordinary 25% commission off the sale, so that I can sit in peace while "experts" are checking the item. It seems like without the receipts they are unable to do this. On a number of occasions I had to provide kinda collages to them comparing some items from TRR and Fashionphile to my items because there was no other way I could think of that I could prove authenticity of my item. I don't understand what this authentication is all about if you can't tell a simple original item from counterfeit??! I am not talking about super expensive watches with complications or anything like that! The last one was a pair of Chanel CC earrings which is a very common model with perfect beautiful stamps dating 2014. Guess what - they wanted the receipt although it was never stated in my description I had it. And what a nice "authentication" it seems to be if you are provided with the full set! I am just wondering that if I had it, why wouldn't I just sell on eBay without this ridiculous commission and poking my brain while they are unable to recognise a common item?? It's like you never know what is going to happen next time with them! This whole third party authentication is sometimes such a joke that I have no words.

- approving listings could be an extreme pain. I have no idea what sort of weed they smoke sometimes and why sometimes my listings are just bluntly refused. On one of the last occasions it was a pair of perfect earrings with perfect stamps in perfect condition shown from all the sides and against a ruler together with the original receipt! Just sometimes it's WHY?... And yes, as many ladies mentioned before - the website is actually full of counterfeits which are obvious. Just yesterday I saw a VCA set which is screaming that it's a counterfeit. How on earth did it pass through???

- customer support does not exist. They will always try to get rid of you rather than actually try and understand your problem and help you out with it. Honestly - sometimes I just want to slap them.

I can go on and on to be frank. Sometimes things are smooth and okay but if they something does not go as planned, it becomes a real, real pain with them.

 

[doni]

Sorry this is happening to you. What options do you have as a seller? Are you losing money on it?

I have to wait for the review. I sent all the emails exchanged with Loewe, so if the issue is authenticity I should be fine. I am not loosing money in any event because it was a gift. But it could happen with anything else. The buyer may send an item to VC after using or damaging it and what defense you have? What if they swap for a fake or another item? Yes, it is for items under 1000 eur, so it is not going to be an Hermes bag, but 900 eur is still a lot of money... It is disgraceful that as a seller you are paying commission but you cannot opt out of direct shipping, it is up to the buyer.

At this point I wonder what’s the difference with ebay...

 

[doni]

The weirdest thing happened. I sold a bag with its box and dustbag, and when packing it up I noticed that the box had become damaged. I contacted VC customer service to see if they could contact the buyer to see if they still wanted the bag. The buyer had not contacted me prior to purchasing, so no messages between us etc.
The most shocking thing happened. First, I waited over 4 hours in a queue for my turn to come with the chat option, but that is not too shocking with VC. The shocking part was their suggestion to me. They gave me the buyer’s direct email in their chat response and told me I should contact the buyer directly to see what they wanted to do!!!
I took a screen shot because I thought they would delete it at any second! I think people get banned from VC for sharing private info, and they just gave it out to me.

For a European company this is outright ilegal... They are loosing it...

 

[Ylesiya]

I have to wait for the review. I sent all the emails exchanged with Loewe, so if the issue is authenticity I should be fine. I am not loosing money in any event because it was a gift. But it could happen with anything else. The buyer may send an item to VC after using or damaging it and what defense you have? What if they swap for a fake or another item? Yes, it is for items under 1000 eur, so it is not going to be an Hermes bag, but 900 eur is still a lot of money... It is disgraceful that as a seller you are paying commission but you cannot opt out of direct shipping, it is up to the buyer.

At this point I wonder what’s the difference with ebay...

If I have to ship to someone (eBay or other selling platforms directly), I take photos and/or videos just before passing the item to the courier (eBay does not care though, they only want to please buyers, even if they are fraud).

My guess is that the buyer simply did not like the item or changed her mind for whatever reason and she is using this loophole to get her money back by making this claim. Very very typical on eBay these days - zero protection for a seller.

 

[doni]

If I have to ship to someone (eBay or other selling platforms directly), I take photos and/or videos just before passing the item to the courier (eBay does not care though, they only want to please buyers, even if they are fraud).

My guess is that the buyer simply did not like the item or changed her mind for whatever reason and she is using this loophole to get her money back by making this claim. Very very typical on eBay these days - zero protection for a seller.

I get this. But the point is (or was) I sell in VC and pay them a commission precisely so I do not have to do all that or give any thoughts to buyer’s remorse