Designer clothes have typically been associated with huge price tags, but that is quickly changing with the rise of second-hand marketplaces such as Vinted and Depop. These brands have taken on eBay and quickly become a game-changer for those seeking high-end clothes at value prices.
"We’re living in an age where shopping second hand is incredibly easy. Gone are the days of searching high and low for a particular item - you can search for it within a marketplace app, and with just a few taps it will be on its way to your door," explained Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk. "Vinted and Depop have been emerging as popular choices in the Latest Deals community, and for good reason."
According to Tom, and the users of LatestDeals, there are many ways to save money when shopping on the sites. Here are some of their best hints and tricks to saving when shopping.
Favourite As Many Items As Possible - Sellers Will Contact You With Discounts
Getting active on the app will soon begin paying off. With Vinted, sellers will get a notification if you favourite one of their products - and because they want to make a sale, they will often message you directly to see if you would like a discount.
Even if something you want is way out of your price range, it can’t hurt to tap that heart button. That’s because the algorithm will soon work out the kind of items you’re interested in, and begin recommending similar products for you to consider.
As user, Deb Laurence, added: "Don’t be afraid to make a cheeky offer - they can always say no." What’s more, you will also get notified when the seller drops the price of an item if it’s on your favourites list.
Build Up Your DNA on Depop - Add Designer Brands For Tailored Picks
On Depop, you can cultivate a DNA, which is basically a summary of your shopping interests. Pick your favourite styles and brands, then include your sizes for customised results.
If you’re just starting out on the app, try searching for a few items and clicking onto sellers you like the look of. Follow them, then find their friends to follow them as well. Before long your feed will look much more appealing.
Plus, did you know you can filter individual shops? Find out if they’re selling a particular brand by clicking on the filter button in the top right corner on the iPhone app.
Move Quickly On Vinted With Wardrobe Spotlights - Others Will See Items Too
Wardrobe spotlights on Vinted appear when a seller pays for increased visibility on their items. It’s worth having a browse, as they will often have a large range of products, but if you find something you like it’s important to snap it up.
Waiting around for reductions won’t work here - increased visibility is a double-edged sword, as while you will see items you may not have noticed otherwise, so will other people. Get in there before someone else grabs your favourite.
Filter According To Lowest Prices First - Sellers Can List As Low As £1
"I go to lowest prices first - I find some good £1 items, including good makes for kids' clothing," shared user, Elizabeth Bourne. "People just want to make space rather than wait to sell for a higher price."
Tom added: "You’d be surprised at the number of listings which are almost ridiculously low, simply because people want to prioritise clearing out clutter and making sure clothes, shoes and bags go to a good home. Take a look and see what bargains you can find."
Mistype Designers To Find Hidden Listings - They Won’t Appear In Searches
Did you know that, sometimes, you can uncover hidden listings by deliberately making a spelling mistake in the search bar?
As Heather Gledhill explained: "I always mistype designers - you will be very surprised how many people don’t check their spellings on their listings. I’ve found some bargains this way as they don’t come up in searches when people type the correct spelling."
Another user, Saffron Phillips, added: "I always do this - such a good trick."
Pounce On Old Listings and Offer Less - Sellers Will Want To Get Rid
Leah Woods said: "If you spot an item which has been up for longer, offer even less. Often means they’ve not had much interest and will be willing to sell for a cheaper price."
Tom added: "If you have your eye on a particular item, watch it for a while and see if they reduce the price over time. Once they’ve done it once or twice there’s a good chance they’d be willing to accept a lower price. Don’t wait too long, though, especially if there’s multiple likes on the listing - or somebody else will snap it up."
Ask Sellers For Bundles - Get More Bargains For Less
If you’ve got your eye on more than one item in a seller’s shop, don’t be afraid to ask if they will do you a deal on a bundle. More often than not, sellers will be happy to negotiate with you as ultimately they want sales and you want the items.
It’s ultimately a win-win and you could be surprised at what you could pick up simply by opening up a conversation. Both Depop and Vinted have very user-friendly messaging interfaces, so why not strike up a chat and see what you can get?
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