Vinted users fury as app’s size update mislabels thousands of listings

Vinted users fury as app's size update mislabels thousands of listings

Sellers and buyers on the second-hand shopping platform Vinted are expressing outrage after a recent update automatically recategorized clothing sizes, leading to widespread inaccuracies in listings. The change, which affects women's and children's apparel, was implemented without direct notification to all users, prompting frustration among those now forced to manually correct their items.

What changed in the sizing system?

Vinted's update replaced its previous sizing format-which combined a single numeric size with a letter (e.g., S/8 or M/10)-with broader ranges. For example, a size L previously listed as a 12 is now labeled as a UK 16-18, while an XXL/16 has shifted to XXL/UK 24-26. The company claims the new system aligns with international brands and other platforms, aiming to improve accuracy for cross-border shoppers.

However, critics argue the change creates confusion. One user on X (formerly Twitter) called the grouping "stupid," predicting it would "make it twice as hard for buyers to find things in their size." TikTok creator Lisa described the update as a "nightmare," noting sellers with large inventories must manually edit each listing-a task she deemed unnecessary amid long-standing user requests for separate letter and number sizing tags.

Sellers hit by operational disruptions

Many sellers have temporarily suspended sales by switching to "holiday mode," a feature that pauses their shops. Hannah-Abby, a 35-year-old from Devon, told the BBC she lacked time to update her listings and criticized Vinted's lack of direct customer support. "It's really frustrating that you can't speak to a person," she said. "Most of my friends have also put their pages on holiday mode."

Stephanie Gallen, from Glasgow, discovered garments she listed as size 14 were relabeled as 20-22-a discrepancy she warned could mislead buyers. "If anyone [who is] size 20-22 buys them, they're going to be very disappointed," she said. Charlotte Lunn, a chronically ill seller from Derby, called the manual corrections "particularly frustrating," as Vinted income had become vital after losing part of her earnings.

"This makes both selling and buying harder. Not many brands say XL is a 20-22, which is what Vinted now does."

Frankie Bridger, plus-size fashion content creator

Vinted's response and user skepticism

The company stated in a website post that the update would make shopping "easier than ever," asserting UK users received in-app notifications with details. However, some customers reported being told by support agents that the change applies only to the UK-a claim the BBC has asked Vinted to confirm. The platform, which boasts over 100 million users (including 18 million in the UK), has faced prior backlash: last year, it reversed a shipping policy update after user protests.

Despite Vinted's assurance that the new ranges improve accuracy for international brands, sellers like Hannah-Abby say they'll avoid the platform unless the original system is restored. "I stopped buying clothes on Vinted recently," she said, "and I'm unlikely to return unless they revert this."

Key criticisms summarized

• Lack of communication: Users report no direct emails or alerts about the mandatory changes.
• Labor-intensive fixes: Manual edits required for each listing, with no bulk-update tool.
• Ignored user feedback: Long-standing requests for separate letter/number sizing tags remain unaddressed.
• Potential buyer confusion: Broad size ranges (e.g., XL/20-22) may not match brand-specific labels.