Mum warns 'learn from her mistake' after £4 second-hand shoes from Vinted left her ill
An online shopper is encouraging people to 'learn from her mistake' after a pair of second-hand shoes she bought for just £4 left her ill.
It's natural to be a sucker for a good deal, and second-hand clothes are often a good way to save money if you're looking to refresh your wardrobe.
There's all sorts of second-hand stores out there, but it was Vinted that 29-year-old Becca Maddon, from Watford, was scrolling when she came across a pair of second-hand trainers with a sparkly design.
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At just £4, the mum was unable to resist and bought the trainers in March.
But in spite of her initial attraction, she didn't wear them for months after they arrived, and they sat on a shelf before being put inside a vacuum sealed bag while she moved house.
It wasn't until this month that Becca actually wore the trainers for the first time, when she put them on for a family birthday party.
Unfortunately, that's when her problems began.
After wearing the shoes, the Vinted user noticed that she'd developed a large red rash on her feet.
She initially thought it might have been eczema, but she decided to call 111 after the rash began to spread and itch.
Becca went to see her doctor, and was told the rash could be one of two things: an allergic reaction to something in the trainers, or the disease scabies, which is an infestation of the skin by microscopic mites which burrow their way in and lay their eggs.
Doctors provided her with treatment for the rash, though Becca was understandably unnerved at the idea that she might have scabies.
Fortunately nobody she lived with seemed to be having the same symptoms, and after consulting a second doctor Becca was assured it was more likely to be an allergic reaction to something in the trainers.
Becca doesn't blame Vinted or the seller for the incident, but in the wake of the ordeal she's urging people to learn from her mistake and to be careful with second-hand shoes and clothes they buy online - a sentiment echoed by Vinted itself.
The company said: "We're sorry to hear of the member's experience and hope that she is in better health now.
"In our listing rules, we ask members to check their items before listing, as any items put on sale should be clean. We recommend washing or disinfecting them in a way suitable to the item's material.
"Any stains that don't wash off, defects or other flaws must be indicated in the listing description. On receipt of an item, we also ask members to check their item thoroughly and report any issues to us, so we can assist promptly.
"Members may wish to wash their items before wearing if necessary. We encourage members wishing to list items to check their items first, some advice can be found [on our website].
"And should any members wish to report an issue with an item they have received, they can contact us directly within the app - just tap the 'I have an issue' button in the transaction."
Emily Brown