5 Common Mistakes Beginner Vintage Resellers Make

Every reseller starts somewhere. But how you start determines how quickly you grow — or how quickly you drop out.

Most resellers who quit within 3 months make the exact same mistakes. Mistakes you can avoid.

So before you open your first box or upload your first hoodie to Vinted… Read this blog and learn what not to do.

1. Buying too many different clothes

Vintage = chaos. But you need structure.

Rookie mistake: 3 jackets, 2 jeans, 5 tops, 1 cap and a pair of loafers. Result: your store has no focus, no target group, no consistency.

Fix:

• Choose 1 category (e.g. sweaters & hoodies)
• Become the expert in that
• Don't scale until you know what sells

2. Follow your own taste instead of the market

It's tempting: “I would wear this myself so it will definitely sell.” Wrong.

Selling vintage isn't about your style — it's about what other people are buying.

Fix:

• Check out what's trending on Vinted
• Analyze top sellers on Instagram
• Base your purchasing on proven demand

3. Using bad product photos

One dark or unclear photo can cost you €20.

Photos are your shop window. And bad photos are like selling with the curtains closed.

Fix:

• Use daylight
• Photograph flat on a clean surface
• Add close-ups of labels & prints
• Extra points for model shots (even with tripod and timer)

4. Pricing too high for fear of making a loss

You buy a hoodie for €15. And you think: “I ask €40, then I have a margin.”

But what happens? No one buys. And you get frustrated.

Fix:

• Focus on speed over maximum margin
• Start at €29.99–€34.99 for regular Nike/Adidas items
• Give a temporary discount after 7 days
• You build profit through volume, not by waiting

5. Not providing customer service

Vintage is a human business. If someone asks you a question on Vinted or Instagram and you respond slowly or abruptly? That's a missed sale.

Fix:

• Reply within 2 hours
• Use emojis, show enthusiasm
• Help your buyer make choices (size, fit, combination)
• Offer a bundle discount if someone is in doubt

Conclusion

Everyone makes mistakes. But smart resellers learn from others.

Want to grow, sell, and make a profit? Start by avoiding these mistakes — and doing what works.