I'm a Vinted expert – the five words you should include in descriptions to boost sales, and pricing rule you must follow

Scottish Sun

3 days ago

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
WITH household bills continuing to rise and the prices of household essentials skyrocketing, most of us will be feeling the strain on our budgets.
So it's no wonder that thousands of Scots are looking for quick and easy ways to make some extra cash.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
1
A Vinted expert has revealed how sellers can boost their chances of making more cash
Credit: Alamy
And one way that savvy savers are going that, is by using Vinted to sell their pre-loved items like clothing, technology and much more.
The platform works similarly to eBay and Facebook Marketplace and was first launched in 2008.
Since then, it has grown massively - and in the UK alone, it has an astronomical 16 million users.
So with more and more people using the app for their side hustles, one Vinted expert has shared her top tips to help users boost their sales.
Faye Oakenfull, marketing director at Centra, has revealed her four strategies that can help sellers maximise their profits and earn more cash.
And the first thing that can help drive sales is adding a specific five-word phrase in the product descriptions.
The expert explains that telling buyers that "I'm having a clear out" can encourage them to have a look through your wardrobe for other items they might fancy.
Adding this, as well as providing detailed descriptions of the item, is a good way of increasing your chances of conversion and hitting those keywords.
Faye says: "Be thorough about size, condition, and materials in your descriptions. Include measurements rather than just size labels since sizing varies between brands.
"The more transparent and accurate your listing, the more confident shoppers feel clicking 'Buy.'
I've found the rudest Vinted seller ever - people are stunned when I show them her 'unhinged' messages pestering me
"You can also add other relevant details to your listings. For instance, if you're selling a fair number of items, you could mention that you're having a clear-out – this can encourage people to browse your wardrobe."
The Vinted pro also told how there is a pricing rule that sellers must follow if they want to increase their chances of making sales.
Vinted's statistics show that competitive pricing strategies are doing well due to high competition and more people using the app - which also means that sellers are asking for reasonable prices.
But Faye suggests that sellers should price items a little lower than similar active listings, explaining that this can improve chances of being featured higher in search results.
The more transparent and accurate your listing, the more confident shoppers feel clicking 'Buy'
Faye Oakenfull
She said: "Before listing an item, search for similar products that have sold recently.
"Position yourself just below comparable listings to attract more views."
But it's not just about pricing each item - offering bundle discount sales can also make you more appealing than other sellers.
Everyone enjoys a good deal, and shoppers are becoming more conscious of value and are even more likely to take advantage of savings where they can.
Bundling encourages customers to buy more at once, especially when they're already browsing your wardrobe.
Faye says: "Offering percentage discounts on multiple purchases is a satisfying way to increase your overall sales value while saving on shipping costs".
The expert's final tip is about how you show off your item - and she says it's all about taking high-quality pics.
Use a plain background to avoid distractions, and photograph items from multiple angles – front, back, close-ups of details, and any flaws.
This not only gives buyers a better view of the product but also helps build trust.
New Vinted rules to be aware of
IF you fancy clearing out your wardrobe and getting rid of your old stuff on Vinted, you'll need to consider the new rules that recently came into play.
If people are selling personal items for less than they paid new (which is generally the case for second-hand sales), there is no impact on tax.
However, since January 1, digital platforms, including eBay, Airbnb, Etsy, Amazon and Vinted, must share seller information with HMRC as part of a crackdown.
You're unlikely to be affected if you only sell a handful of second-hand items online each year - generally, only business sellers trading for profit might need to pay tax.
A tax-free allowance of £1,000 has been in place since 2017 for business sellers trading for profit - the only time that an individual personal item might be taxable is if it sells for more than £6,000 and there is a profit from the sale.
However, firms now have to pass on your data to HMRC if you sell 30 or more items a year or earn over £1,700.
It is part of a wider tax crackdown to help ensure that those who boost their income via side hustles pay up what they owe.
While your data won't be shared with HMRC if you earn between £1,000 and £1,700, you'll still need to pay tax as normal.
Faye said that when it comes to choosing how you present them, like opting between trying it on and modelling it or showing it flat, it is down to what each person is comfortable with.
But she explains that a good middle ground is hanging items on a hanger, as this allows for clean, consistent photos without the need to model, while still showing shape and length clearly.
She said: "Quality photos are the foundation of successful listings.
"Natural light works best for capturing true colours and details that buyers want to see.
"Consistency in your photo style across listings can also help create a cohesive and trustworthy seller profile.
"If you can, avoid using flash, and try to take your photos during daylight hours to give your items a natural, true-to-life appearance."