Vinted AI photos: save evidence before buying

When NOS spoke to Vinted seller Lucas, his aim sounded harmless: make a wrinkled garment look a little neater. An AI tool turned it into something closer to a fashion campaign—clean background, flattering light and even a slightly different colour. What feels like presentation to a seller can quietly remove the evidence a buyer uses to judge the actual item. The same problem can run in the opposite direction. Another seller, Manon, faced a refund dispute involving photographs of alleged damage and ended up without both the item and the payment. She now records fragile goods before packing, inside the box and after sealing it. The difficult question is therefore no longer simply how to spot an AI image. If listing photos and claim photos can both be altered, which image should a marketplace trust?

Vinted told NOS that AI assistance is not automatically forbidden when an image accurately represents the item and follows the rules. Yet its public catalogue rules also stress that photos must show the real condition and visible defects. The border between improving light, removing a background and changing the object remains hard for ordinary users to read. In a second-hand transaction, provenance now matters more than polish.

• Look beyond the hero image: ask for untouched photos of labels, seams, soles, serial numbers and wear; colours and defects should match across the set.
• Do not treat “looks like AI” as proof: visual guesses are unreliable. Ask for measurements and new photos that can be checked against the description.
• Act within the buyer window: inspect immediately after delivery and do not tap “Everything is okay” before checking; private-seller disputes normally have a short two-day window.
• Build a seller timeline: retain original files and record the item, inner packaging, outer box and seal. Keep payment and dispute messages on-platform.

Practical takeaway: buyers should film the opening before confirming receipt; sellers should keep more than the compressed upload. A time-stamped sequence that explains what existed when is more useful than a photograph that merely looks convincing.

Sources: NOS reporting on AI images on Vinted; Vinted catalogue, buyer-protection and shipping guidance. Last checked 9 August 2026.