Vinted, Europe’s largest online C2C marketplace for second-hand clothes, has taken the lead on this by narrowing sizing categories. These changes go into effect for women’s and children’s apparel. That’s because the Lithuania-based platform now has more than 100 million users globally—including 18 million in the United Kingdom alone. It also failed to notify all the users impacted by these changes, creating incalculable frustration from the community.
Further complicating the updates, the changes led to the items being misclassified based on their dimensions. For example, current UK size L, formerly known as a UK 12, is now considered a UK 16-18. The size for items like dresses have changed from an XXL/16 to an XXL/UK 24-26. This change is leaving users concerned as to the credibility of listings. This new policy shift has made purchasing and selling on the platform far more confusing and difficult.
For one Frankie, a plus-size fashion creator on TikTok who goes by the user name frankiegotjacked, said she was heartbroken by the news. With this in mind, she remarked that the new sizing has the potential to create frustrating orders for a large majority of customers. Very few brands claim XL is a 20-22,” she noted, emphasizing the controversy and complication with the new categories.
In response to the backlash, Vinted has partially defended its move, arguing that the new changes are meant to improve the accuracy of size listings. “Now, the sizes you see on these listings will be more accurate, especially for items purchased from other countries or international brands,” the company stated.
Users have taken to Twitter to lambast the change, with many asserting it has made transactions more difficult. As the frustrated user Stephanie Gallen pointed out, that’s not the point. She cautioned that shoppers searching for size 20-22 goods could find themselves frustrated as a result of the reclassification.
The update comes at an interesting moment for the key rival, which posted an operating profit for the first time last year. For starters, it doesn’t charge any sales fees and it calculates shipping costs right inside its app. User satisfaction will be key to its future growth and ability to fend off continuing competition from sites such as eBay and Depop.
Vinted is meeting the vitriol with iron resolve. Its biggest hurdle will be to earn back user trust, while ensuring that its new sizing system meets industry standards. The company’s next steps will be held to very high standards by its massive user base. These users rely on it to find sustainable fashion alternatives.