Woman Captures Herself Opening Vinted Bargain, Horror at Extra 'Surprise'

Newsweek

28-04-2025

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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A woman was left stunned after opening a second-hand clothing parcel from Vinted and discovering an unexpected "surprise" inside.
Danielle Plowman, 41, who shares petite fashion content under the handle @the.petite.lady, documented the moment she unwrapped her latest Vinted purchase on camera. "When your Vinted bargain comes with a surprise," she wrote in the video which showed her initial excitement turning into disbelief and garnered over 2,500 likes and 1.4 million views.
"I ordered a pair of mid-rise straight leg jeans from Vinted for $9.32 (converted from £7). I was really excited about the bargain—they looked like exactly what I'd been searching for," Plowman told Newsweek. She initially believed she had struck gold.
A split image of Danielle Plowman opening her Vinted parcel.
A split image of Danielle Plowman opening her Vinted parcel.
the.petite.lady/the.petite.lady
"At first, I was thrilled—they looked like such a good fit and were in great condition. That same day, I'd just shared my best Vinted finds from the last few months, so when I picked up this parcel, I hopped on stories to keep the buzz going. But when I turned the jeans inside out, I spotted a stain in the crotch area. I was honestly just so shocked—it's not something you ever expect to see! I didn't really know what to do at first," she explained.
The jeans, a swirly black and white patterned pair from the brand Cider, appeared perfect—until she turned them inside out. In the video, Plowman visibly recoils as she notices the stain.
"This might be my worst Vinted find ever," she said, placing her hand over her face in disbelief.
Fortunately, the situation was resolved quickly. Vinted and the seller both acted promptly, issuing her a full refund. Newsweek reached out to Vinted for comment.
Despite the mishap, Plowman remains a passionate advocate for second-hand shopping.
"I still love second-hand shopping! This was just one rare mishap. I've bought loads of brilliant pieces over the years and I think it's such a great way to shop more sustainably and save money. That said, it was a good reminder to check items thoroughly before accepting them. I chose to share the experience because I think it's important that my account stays real and transparent—not just the highlights," she said.
Plowman, who stands at 5'2", runs The Petite Lady, an Instagram account and soon-to-launch website dedicated to helping petite women find well-fitting, stylish clothes.
Instagram users were quick to respond with a mix of sympathy, humor, and perspective.
"Now imagine working in a charity shop and seeing this on a daily occurrence and much MUCH worse!" one user commented.
Another added, "No way! I had these on my Vinted favorites list, but they were sold while I was on holiday!! Are you telling me I've had a luckiest escape?"
Some users downplayed the incident. "I don't think it's a big deal. If you can see the stain on the outside then I'd understand but that's clearly not the case. Let's all just chill out and accept that sometimes stains happen."
"It is unfortunate that it wasn't disclosed. But can we NORMALIZE the things that happen to most women," another user wrote.
One commenter, however, shared a more fortunate second-hand surprise. "I got £20 in a jacket pocket once," said Becky.
Do you have any amazing thrifting finds that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to [e-mail] and they could appear on our site.