Online shopping's popularity continues to rise, and the opportunity that it offers to millions of online sellers continues to get bigger. That is why online selling competition keeps on growing, and tons of different items are available on various marketplaces, waiting for the right buyers to purchase in the convenience of their homes. Unfortunately, alongside the convenience of online shopping, the rise of counterfeiters and dishonest sellers have also become widespread.

The biggest victims of the counterfeit industry are big fashion brands like Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Dior, Rolex, and many other luxury brands. And while the selling of fake items under these names is illegal, there are dishonest sellers who exploit the luxury brands' high prices and pose their items to be authentic to get more money. Unfortunately, there are buyers that are not aware of their purchase's integrity.

Luckily, most online marketplaces nowadays like Vinted have authenticity policies in place to protect buyers and sellers from fraud.

Read on and find out how you can comply with Vinted's Item Authenticity Policy and how to navigate your way in selling luxury items without being flagged as a counterfeit and avoid your listing from getting removed.

What is Vinted's Item Authenticity Policy

Vinted's authenticity policy is straightforward⁠ — zero tolerance for inauthentic items. Noncompliance with this policy can result in hiding or removing your listings. So, to ensure that your listings are not hidden from your potential buyers' sight, you must provide sufficient evidence that the item you are selling is genuine.

The platform requires that any seller who wishes to list items from popular brands that are a common target of counterfeiters must show proof of authenticity through photos of the following:

• Receipt- The receipt or an invoice of your item from an authorized distributor is essential in proving its authenticity as anyone can use it to trace its origin.
• Certificate- A certificate of authenticity or authenticity paper is one way to prove that an item is not a counterfeited product. Whether from the brand or a third-party authenticator (if you acquired it secondhand), if this is available in your possession, you must include it in the photos.
• Tag and Date code or authenticity code- Most luxury brands have a brand or tags inside that bear their name and serial number. This is one of the most crucial indicators you can compare with other similar authentic items if available. For example, Louis Vuitton bags have a country code in their product code (serial number) that shows where the bag was made.
• Logo- Logos of luxury brands are always perfect, which many counterfeiters overlook. One of the easiest ways to distinguish a fake item is by looking at the logo. Each brand has this stamp of quality consistent in spelling, shape, color, font, the material used, and how it is attached to the item.
• Pattern- Patterns in luxury brand items are consistent and seamless because of the high level of care and details. You can quickly identify counterfeits as their patterns don't usually align consistently.
• Stitches- Authentic products always have clean, straight, and more stitches, which most fake items don't have. Showing the stitches on the photos can supplement your claim that the item is high-quality and is similar to how the brand stitchings are.
• Original packaging- The original packaging is a big deal when proving your items' authenticity. All high-end brands come in high-quality packaging, which counterfeiters don't do as it will cost them extra. Authentic items often come with premium boxes, cloth drawstring bags, and branded tissue paper not wrapped in plastic bags.

You may also include any other relevant details that you feel will show your item's authenticity in the photos. The more proof you have, the higher your chance of convincing Vinted that what you sell is not fake and that you comply with their authenticity policy. Remember, your integrity as a seller is vital if you want to build your customers' trust and grow your business.

Tips on how to showcase the item's authenticity

Showcasing your item through photos is crucial not only for your buyers but also for the Vinted team. To show your item's authenticity, you must upload at least three photos of your items' details, depending on the type of your listing. As a guide, here are the elements that fall into each category:

For clothing, undergarments, and swimwear:

• The brand's logo patch or logo embroidery
• The label on the neckline/waistline
• Tags such as care tag or brand tag
• Stitching lines
• Zippers, buttons, or other similar details
• Your purchase receipt or the price tag
• Any engravings, if available

For shoes or other footwear:

• Insole and outsole
• Sizing label (often on the shoe tongue for sneakers)
• Stitching lines
• Shoebox and dust bag, if available
• Your purchase receipt or price tag

For bags, purses, and wallets:

• The logo on the item's outer part
• Box, dust bag
• Serial number (available on luxury brands)
• Heat-stamped logo or logo
• The item's heat-stamped logo or engravings
• Stitching lines
• Your purchase receipt or the item's price tag
• Inner label

For accessories such as jewelry, belts, and scarves:

• Engravings
• Stitching lines
• Serial number (available on luxury brands)
• Label
• Buckle (for belts)
• Your purchase receipt
• The item's original package or box
• Price tag

For electronics and devices:

• Brand label
• Barcodes, date codes, serial numbers, or QR codes (whichever is available)
• The entire packaging
• Your purchase receipt or the price tag
• Photos showing the different angles of the device, including close-up views of its details

For cosmetics (only brand new items are allowed in this category):

• The entire packaging of the item
• Photos of all sides from different angles
• The item's batch number
• Close-up views of details
• Your purchase receipt

What happens when sellers list inauthentic items

Note that Vinted can permanently remove your items and block your account if you repeatedly list and intentionally disregard their Item Authenticity Policy.

So, to avoid the removal of your listing, disputes from buyers and brand owners, and getting your account in trouble, always conduct thorough research if you are unsure if your item is real or fake.

If you see a counterfeit item listed on the platform, you may report it to Vinted by doing the following:

1. Go to the item you want to report
2. Locate the Flag symbol in the lower-right corner of the image to select the reporting reason.

Grow Your Business with OneShop

To succeed in the business, you must maintain a good reputation and adhere to marketplace policies. To do that, it is crucial that you stay honest with your listings and you stir clear from selling counterfeit items.

Don't worry if you think that sales of authentic goods are slow on Vinted, as you can always venture to other online marketplaces and crosslist. Many successful sellers use this strategy to boost their sales. Not only can they have a higher chance of closing a sale, but it also allows them to adjust the price.

While crosslisting may sound time-consuming and can require quite an effort, you can always opt to use automation tools like OneShop.

OneShop is an all-in-one tool that helps thousands of sellers do more things with minimal effort. With this app, you can crosslist to multiple platforms such as Poshmark, Mercari, Depop, Tradesy, eBay, and other marketplaces (soon). All you have to do is draft your listing once and crosslist to another marketplace, or bring them in from another site and post on every site the app supports.

This automation service also offers additional in-app features that guarantee benefits to all its subscribers. With OneShop, you can track your performance as a seller, and sales, set goals, order shipping supplies, schedule USPS pick-up and help you look up an item's registered ID to see what brand the item is.

Furthermore, OneShop has an in-app seller community where you can interact with thousands of other resellers and share ideas about topics relevant to online selling.

Try OneShop and get first-hand experience on how automation can help you grow your business and free up your time. Sign-up now and take advantage of its amazing features with its 7-day free trial!