Is Vinted the New eBay?

eBay has always been the number one in online marketplaces for getting a good deal, but as Vinted branch out from just clothing, will Vinted be the new top spot?

Vinted Adds Collectables Category

In February 2025, Vinted announced they are adding a new category onto their website titled hobbies and collectables. This allows users to buy and sell items like trading cards, action figures, coins, stamps and memorabilia.

This was a big step for Vinted as since their launch in 2017, they have focused solely on clothing and homeware. It suggests they have hopes to move into a bigger market and bring in more users.

This made a big difference in their rivalry with eBay because before this, eBay was the only place collectors could go to buy and sell their collections and often within an auction, so the price creeped up. Whereas, in Vinted it is one set price, and you can offer a lower price but nothing higher.

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Is Authenticity better on eBay or Vinted?

Vinted has an optical item verification service for eligible designer items, this is where a team of experts check the item’s authenticity before it’s sent to the buyer. All the items sold on the platform must be authentic.

Once verified, the item is shipped to the buyer, along with a digital verification report and hangtag. However, you must pay an extra fee if you want your item verified. It costs an extra £10 at the checkout if you want to make sure the designer item you are buying is real. Which should really be a free service.

On the other hand, eBay’s authenticity guarantee is a free service for buyers and sellers that provides physical authentication of high-value items. An independent authenticator physically inspects eligible items, and if they pass, they are sent to the buyer. If an item is returned, it is inspected again by the authenticators before being sent back to the seller.

Is the security better on eBay or Vinted?

eBay generally offers more robust security and better protection for both buyers and sellers, especially with its money back guarantee and longer history with trusted payment history. While Vinted does have a strong security system due to its encrypted payments, 2-step verification and holding orders until they are received, it is difficult to get a refund as it is often down to the seller whether or not a refund is valid not the platform, which leads to more disputes about pay and a larger chance for scams.

The differences here may just be down to eBay’s extended experience as Vinted is still a relatively new platform that are making updates and changes every month.

Vinted vs eBay: which one is better?

Vinted has often been classed as the Gen Z version of eBay. It really opened the eyes of the younger generation into the second-hand market and helped them opt for slow fashion. Which is important as Gen Z have many environmental concerns.

Gen Z favours Vinted for its affordability, it offers them value for money during economic uncertainty.

It is especially popular within Gen Z because of the vintage style of clothing, the trend of Y2K looks and low-rise 90s jeans are back, and the teens are loving them!

Even though eBay tends to be for the more devoted collector, Vinted are starting to join in on the fun. However, it is more likely you will get more for your item through auction on eBay because there is one set price on Vinted and the users tend to steer towards the lower prices. Predominantly because they are the younger generation that do not have as much money to spend.

The interface on eBay is more dated than Vinted with Vinted being an app as well as a website, making it more accessible for the younger generation. eBay has had the same interface for years and shows no signs of changing, which for their customers works but is deterring new customers from joining. 

It is free to sell on Vinted making it more appealing for casual sellers, whereas on eBay you must pay a seller fee which is a percentage of what your product sold for. This deters people away from eBay despite the fact they may get more for their item overall than Vinted.

Currently, Vinted is the best place to buy second-hand clothes and accessories, and eBay is the best place to buy collectables, electronics and homeware. But with Vinted shifting their attention to the collectable’s world, is eBay about to lose their crown?

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