Renting vs Vinted… Which is Better?

Renting vs Vinted… Which is Better?

As parents we make a huge number of decisions for our children every single day, and one that many of us spend time on is their outfit. We are now lucky to have a huge range of choices available to us for how we (continuously!)  restock their wardrobes…the only issue is finding out which options work best for you and your family. 

Over on the grid, we asked parents how they felt about buying preloved clothes on vinted, and we weren’t surprised to hear that many love it. Of course we think renting is the way forward, but that doesn’t stop us loving second-hand shopping too. Cost, sustainability and practicality are all key factors, so let’s get into the pros and cons of renting vs buying preloved…

Cost effectiveness

Renting baby clothes can be a very financially savvy choice, especially when our little ones grow out of things at the speed that they do…Rather than investing in an entire wardrobe of items that will only fit them for a matter of weeks, renting children’s clothes will allow your family to access much higher quality clothing at a fraction of the cost – over 80% off of retail value on most items with Borro plus only one postage fee.

On vinted, the cost is at the seller’s discretion and whilst generally items will be cheaper here than they are at retail value, there’s no guarantee that you will find what you need at the right price. You do get the chance to barter the price by making offers which can lead to a great bargain if the seller is feeling friendly. Then again you are paying one upfront cost for an item (plus fees and postage) that may potentially not fit them within a month or so. However if you resell it once you’re done with it, you could end up making some of your money back! Over on the grid, one mum told us ‘I haven't made loads doing it but it's always been enough to buy the odd pair of toddler shoes etc and we have a local locker drop off that I can walk to which makes it worth it. I also sold stuff for pretty cheap so it sold!’ so all in all it can be timely but worth it? Unless you find things from multiple sellers…another mum said ‘It's been good for shoes and coats but I haven't bothered with anything else as by the time you pay postage It's not always worth it.’ 

Sustainability

Obviously at Borro we are big on extending the lifecycle of all of our clothing, so naturally we love that vinted keeps some clothing in the loop. Re-selling items that would otherwise be thrown away means that it’s one less item that will be sent to landfill that ultimately doesn’t need to be there. To make the most of those items, you need to re-sell them or donate them to a charity store (if they are in a good enough condition once you’re done with them). One mumma on our insta said: ‘I still try to sell it but have found it to be so slow in actually selling baby stuff. Adult stuff seems to be quite different though’. 

By comparison, at Borro we aim to take that hassle away from busy parents and ensure clothes stay in the loop for longer - just pop them in the post back to us when you’re done with them. Once they have been checked and cleaned, we ship them off for another family to enjoy and continue the lifecycle of that piece of clothing. We also only stock eco-friendly fabrics like 100% GOTS cotton which is not only better for the planet but better for our children’s skin too – a big mum win. 

Time cost

Renting clothes for our children generally means getting a subscription box with a set amount of clothes in it, but with Borro what you get, and how much you get is entirely up to you. Borro is set up much more like a catalogue, if you only want sleep suits, but you want a bunch of them, you can simply shop by that category. Which makes it a much more time efficient way to get your baby’s and toddlers clothing sorted.

Generally, this is the biggest issue with shopping on vinted. And I have known this struggle with my own children…shopping on vinted can be much easier than shopping in charity stores time wise due to filtering tools, but often sellers don’t properly label their items, and to be most effective you’re ideally looking for bundles (a Vinted needle in a haystack). Before you realise it, you’ve lost an hour to doom scrolling, trying to find that one sleepsuit you like in the right size and for the right price. Vinted can be amazing for one off purchases if you find the right thing, but the minute you’re looking for several items, the cost of your precious time adds up.

Our verdict

Both methods have their benefits, and while we would always suggest renting as the overall winner, that won’t stop us hunting on vinted for a decent bargain every now and then.

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Questions?

Why Borro clothes?

Renting means less waste, more wardrobe flexibility and no more piles of outgrown clothes. It’s a smarter, more sustainable way to dress your little ones.

With Borro, you get high-quality kidswear without the commitment, just what you need, when you need it. Helping you save time, save money, and save the planet.

What about stains?

Don't panic! Let us worry about the stains. Stain insurance is included. Obviously it's best to prevent stains if you can, or treat them as soon as possible. But we will never charge you.

If the garment can't be saved, it will be upcycled or recycled. Nothing ever goes to landfill, and we'll never charge you.

Subscription & exchanges

Subscription

All the clothes are individually priced and there's no minimum amount or set subscription - we're flexible!

Rent as many/few things as you like and you'll see at checkout what your monthly subscription will be. (If you want us to pick out a coordinated bundle of 10 items for you, it's £29/month).

Exchanges

We know little ones grow as fast as the weather changes! You don't need to return your previous order to order new clothes, so simply send back items whenever you no longer have a need for them, and add any new items to your subscription, by adding them to your basket and checking out.

Delivery & returns

Delivery

Your order will be packed and dispatched the next working day. Delivery takes 2-3 working days.

Returns

Pop them inside the bag/box they came in, attach the free pre-paid returns label, then drop off at your nearest Evri ParcelShop.

We only include one pre-paid returns label per order, so if you choose to send just some of an order back and the rest later, you will need to pay for the postage of the second return. 

Once we've received your items we will amend your subscription so you only pay for what you've got.

We recommend returning items 4-5 days before your subscription renews in order to allow enough time for delivery and processing to avoid your next monthly payment going out. If you're a few days late, you can always cancel online (use the link in the order confirmation email). As long as we receive the clothes within the next few days, that's fine.

Sustainability

At Borro we maximise the use of each item of clothing by providing a service that ensures it's well maintained, repaired and enjoyed by as many families as possible.

So if a garment is used by 6 different users, the global warming potential is 49% less, with a CO2e (kg) per user of 1.18, instead of 2.29.

All Frequently Asked Questions