Vinted unveils Item Verification service

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Nov 10, 2023

Secondhand fashion platform Vinted is launching an Item Verification service in the UK, calling it “a significant step to increasing trust in the authenticity of higher-priced, secondhand items and combating counterfeiting”.

As an optional paid service to check the authenticity of selected designer items, it’s carried out by Vinted’s own experts. The service costs £10 an item for eligible brands listed at £100 or above. It’s paid for by buyers but is free for sellers.

The fee includes the verification service fee and shipping costs from the seller to the verification hub. The shipping from the verification hub to the buyer is covered by a regular shipping cost that buyers see at the checkout.

Members will see a banner with a diamond-shaped Item Verification badge once they choose an eligible listing.

At launch, the service will be available for items listed in the Bags, Shoes, Accessories and Jewellery categories across dozens of brands including Christian Louboutin, Gucci and Prada. The service will gradually introduce more brands and categories.

Question marks over authenticity is one of the main problems for shoppers buying from resale sites, particularly those that aren’t curated and where site control over what’s listed is fairly loose. Verification services can therefore be vital for boosting consumer confidence and encouraging more people to click the buy button for higher-priced items. 

Adam Jay, CEO of Vinted marketplace, said: “We understand that authenticity and trust are paramount in the world of online second-hand shopping and we believe this should be accessible to all. That's why we've worked hard to provide our reliable verification service for designer pieces at an affordable price. We see this new service being a significant step forward in our ambition to provide our community with the utmost confidence.”