Vestiaire Collective Authentication Process: Everything Sellers Need to Know

As a resale marketplace focused on secondhand luxury and designer clothing and accessories, buyers on Vestiaire Collective count on the fact that every item listed for sale on the platform is genuine. To protect that trust, Vestiaire Collective runs a thorough authentication process that keeps fakes off the marketplace and protects buyers and sellers alike. Every listing is reviewed before it goes live, and many items are inspected again in person after they sell.

For sellers, understanding how this process works makes it easier to get listings approved and avoid the failed checks that can lead to account suspension. In this guide, we'll walk through each stage of Vestiaire Collective authentication, how long it takes, and how it affects payouts. We'll also cover what happens when an item fails, and understand how to prepare listings so they pass review the first time.

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Key Takeaways

• Vestiaire Collective digitally reviews every listing before it's published. Additionally, items sold with Authenticated Shipping get a second, in-person inspection at a Vestiaire Collective hub.
• On some items, the buyer can choose between Direct Shipping and Authenticated Shipping at checkout, so every item you list should be ready for a physical inspection.
• Sellers receive payment only once the item passes physical authentication, or after 72 hours from the item's delivery for Direct Shipping orders, provided that the buyer doesn't report an issue.
• If an item fails authentication, the sale is cancelled and sellers must pay a $15 fee to get the item back. In some cases, the seller's account might be suspended or even permanently banned as a result.

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What Is the Vestiaire Collective Authentication Process

The Vestiaire Collective authentication process checks for two things: that an item is genuine, and that it matches its listing. Rather than relying on a single inspection, the platform spreads these checks across different points in a sale, depending on how an item is sold:

• Digital Verification: Vestiaire Collective reviews every listing before it's published.
• After-Sale Physical Inspection: Items sold with Authenticated Shipping are shipped to Vestiaire Collective for authentication before being forwarded to the buyer.
• Pre-Sale Checks: Express Delivery items have already been inspected and are stored at Vestiaire Collective, ready to ship once they sell.

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How Does Vestiaire Collective Authentication Work?

Vestiaire Collective authentication happens in two stages: a digital review when an item is listed, and a physical inspection at one of the platform's hubs. Every listing goes through the first stage, while only some items go through the second. Below, we'll take a look at what happens in each stage, and learn which types of items each type of verification applies to.

Digital Verification When You List

Before a new listing appears on Vestiaire Collective, it goes through a review to confirm that it meets the platform's standards. Vestiaire Collective uses human verification and AI to check the listing's photos, description, and item details for anything that might indicate that the item is inauthentic. This check makes sure that the listing includes at least 3 original and compliant photos of the item, verifies that the title and description match the item pictured, ensures that it's an item that's eligible for listing on the platform (no fast fashion or items with unclear origins), and looks for any red flags that might point to a fake.

Luckily, the review is usually quick, with most listings approved or rejected within 24 hours, though some can take up to 48 hours. If a listing fails its initial digital check, you'll typically get an email explaining why your item cannot be listed.

Physical Authentication and Quality Control

Once an item sells, the shipping method the buyer chose at checkout decides whether it's physically inspected. Authenticated Shipping sends the item to a Vestiaire Collective hub before it reaches the buyer, while Direct Shipping sends it straight to the buyer and skips this stage. The exception is Express Delivery items, which have already been authenticated and are stored at Vestiaire Collective for direct shipping to the buyer.

Direct Shipping is available only if an item meets all of the following criteria:

• Price: The item is listed under €1000 (or the local currency equivalent).
• Location: The buyer and seller are in the same eligible region.
• Brand: The brand isn't excluded from Direct Shipping.

If a buyer chooses Authenticated Shipping, there are two things you'll need to do:

• Ship within 7 days using the prepaid label Vestiaire Collective sends you.
• Pack only the item and its accessories, leaving out promotional materials and liquids.

The item must be sent to one of Vestiaire Collective's hubs in the US, UK, France, Hong Kong, or Singapore, where authentication experts check that it's genuine by examining things like materials, finishes, stitching, serial numbers, and engravings. They'll also confirm that it matches the condition, color, size, and other details outlined in the listing. Once the inspection is complete, you'll receive an Authentication & Quality Control Report by email and in the app.

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How Long Does Authentication Take?

The authentication process on Vestiaire Collective typically takes 2 business days, though it may take longer during holidays and busy periods. Before an item can be authenticated though, it has to be shipped to the hub. As a seller, you have 7 days from the moment the item sells to ship the item out to the authentication hub, after which it can take up to a week to arrive. After it arrives, it will be authenticated and forwarded to the buyer by Vestiaire Collective.

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How Authentication Affects Seller Payouts

Sellers on Vestiaire Collective only get paid once a sale is complete, and when that happens depends on the shipping method that the buyer selected at checkout. If they chose Authenticated Shipping, the sale is considered complete as soon as the item passes inspection at the hub, which can take up to a week or more in some cases. If they chose Direct Shipping, the sale is automatically completed 72 hours after the item is delivered, as long as the buyer doesn't report a problem with the item. That said, if a buyer has an authenticity concern after the 72-hour timeframe, they can still report it to Vestiaire Collective, and you may be forced to cancel the sale if the item is indeed found to be counterfeit.

Once a sale is complete, Vestiaire Collective releases the payout within 24 hours, and you'll be able to withdraw the funds via PayPal, Venmo, or bank transfer.

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What Happens If Your Item Fails Authentication

Unfortunately, not every item makes it through Vestiaire Collective's authentication process. The outcome of a failed check can vary, from a rejected listing to a cancelled sale or even an account suspension. Below, we'll look at different failure scenarios and what you can do if one of them happens to you.

Items Rejected at Listing Approval

If a listing fails digital verification, it cannot be published on Vestiaire Collective. The most common reasons for rejection include using stock images rather than real photos of the item, failing to clearly show the item in its entirety or include key details, and staging the product on a mannequin or worn in the main photo.

Listings can also be rejected if Vestiaire Collective has doubts about an item's authenticity, if the item doesn't match its description, or if it's an item that the platform doesn't accept, such as fast fashion, samples, and pieces with anti-theft tags left on them.

To give a listing the best chance of approval, we suggest providing Vestiaire Collective with the original receipt or certificate of authenticity if you have it, and sharing any details you can about where you bought the item. If you think a listing was incorrectly rejected, you can contact Vestiaire Collective's customer service to appeal the decision.

Counterfeit or Non-Compliant Items

Counterfeit items are fakes made to imitate a brand's products without the brand's permission. On Vestiaire Collective, items with undisclosed non-original components are also considered counterfeit, so a genuine bag fitted with a fake handle would fail authentication in the same way a replica would.

If your item fails authentication, Vestiaire Collective cancels the sale and refunds the buyer. You can still get the item back by paying a $15 fee (or £15/€15), but if you don't pay to have it returned or provide evidence to prove that the item is authentic within 6 months, Vestiaire Collective will destroy it.

In addition to losing a sale and potentially an item, counterfeit items also put your account at risk. If Vestiaire Collective deems an item of yours to be fake, you could face a temporary or even permanent suspension of your account. For repeat offenders, selling privileges are revoked, and they will not be able to open another selling account in the future. Their counterfeit items sent to Vestiaire Collective are destroyed, without the option to reclaim them.

Items That Do Not Match the Listing

During quality control, Vestiaire Collective's experts compare the physical item to its listing, comparing its actual condition, color, size, material to the information and photos in the listing. If an item differs materially from the listing, it fails the check and will be returned to you for a fee.

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How to Prepare Your Listings for Authentication

Many of the issues that get listings rejected or cause items to fail authentication can be avoided with a bit of preparation before you list. From our experience helping sellers crosslist to Vestiaire Collective, listings originally created for other marketplaces often need updated photos and more detailed disclosures to meet the platform's strict requirements. Below, we'll cover how to document an item's origin and what to disclose about its condition to give your listings the best chance of approval.

Proof of Origin and Supporting Photos

Authenticity is an integral part of Vestiaire Collective's marketplace, and as a seller, you need to be able to prove that an item you list is 100% authentic and genuine, and be able to back your claims up with proof.

Be prepared, and gather any receipts, invoices, and authenticity cards you have before you list. When photographing the item, focus on the details Vestiaire Collective's authenticators examine, such as serial numbers, labels, hardware, stitching, and any flaws.

Disclosing Condition, Repairs, and Modifications

Even for authentic items, an undisclosed flaw or modification can still cause problems during quality control. That's why Vestiaire Collective requires sellers to describe any wear, defects, or visible alterations in the listing. Most modified items are accepted as long as the change is explicitly described in the listing and shown in the photos. Watches are the main exception: a watch that has been serviced or modified by a third-party watchmaker rather than at authorized service centers won't be accepted.

When it comes to re-dyed items, a full re-dye or dyeing part of an item a new color is permitted, but must be clearly disclosed. Minor fixes like a shortened hem, on the other hand, don't need to be mentioned on items in Very Good condition or below, but we do recommend including these details to avoid disappointed buyers. Anything that should have been disclosed but wasn't will show up in the Authentication & Quality Control Report, giving the buyer the option to cancel the order.