Maria fell into the second-hand trap – she is not alone

Maria Aarhus was looking for a certain blue Holzweiler sweater for a long time.

– My size in this color quickly sold out in the shops, she says to TV 2.

According to her, the sweater cost NOK 4,000 in the shop.

– I worked a lot this summer, and really wanted to treat myself to it, says Aarhus, who studies in Bergen.

On the recycling app, she found several people who sold the sweater she wanted. But she didn’t get the hang of it at first.

– But suddenly someone answered, then the process went very quickly.

According to the ad, the sweater should be “small” and little used. It should also be free of signs of use.

Aarhus says that she has exclusively had good experiences through Tise.

– I felt very safe. The seller said that there were many people who were interested in the sweater, and then I felt that I had to buy it right away, she tells TV 2.

Further down in the text you can read what rights you have when you buy goods.

Disappointed when the package arrived

After payment through Vipps, it was mostly one-way communication from Aarhus’ side.

The package that the seller claimed was on its way to Aarhus never arrived. When she contacted the seller, she received no response.

– In the end, the seller deleted the ad and blocked me. It was frustrating.

Aarhus did not give up and sent a message of concern to Tise. Then it didn’t take long before a message ticked on the mobile that a package was on its way.

Many people experience second-hand problems

When the package finally arrived, she was delighted. But the joy was short-lived.

– The sweater was the wrong size. It also had signs of use, which the seller did not disclose. I was really disappointed and informed that this is not the product I paid for. It’s hard to feel cheated, says Aarhus to TV 2.

TV 2 has been in contact with the seller, who does not wish to comment on the matter.

Aarhus is far from alone in experiencing trouble around second-hand trade.

So far this year, the Consumer Council has received around 5,500 inquiries concerning purchases and sales between private individuals – which are mainly about second-hand goods.

– Many people find that the product they buy is not as it was advertised, or that the trade stops along the way, says senior legal adviser at the Consumer Council, Thomas Iversen.

In recent years, second-hand trade has become increasingly popular via recycling apps and online.

Iversen clarifies the importance that the item the buyer receives must be in line with the advertisement.

– The seller cannot withhold negative information about the item and what is written in the advertisement must be the complete truth. If the garment is advertised as an “S” but is actually a size “M”, you have the right to complain, he says as an example.

– A binding agreement must be kept

If there is a major mistake, you have the right to have the entire trade redone, says Iversen.

– If the item cannot be fixed, such as a dress with the wrong size than stated or if the product is a copy and marketed as genuine, then you are entitled to your money back, he says.

The Consumer Council reminds that an agreement is binding once acceptance has been given. Nevertheless, there are very few people who actually take the matter further, if an agreement is broken.

Iversen describes that this is a problem that is annoying for both buyer and seller.

– It’s a tiny pointer to people that you have to think before you write that you want to buy. When you say “I want to buy this” or give a clear indication that you want to buy the item, it is actually a binding agreement that must be kept, he tells TV 2.

Asking people to be alert

Much of the second-hand trade in Norway takes place through Finn.no. A new survey from Finn shows that 50 per cent are positive about giving used Christmas presents, and 70 per cent are positive about receiving them.

– We facilitate trade between private individuals and have no responsibility for the quality of the goods that are purchased, says head of consumer safety, Geir Petter Gjefsen.

But in order to make trading safe for buyer and seller, Finn has launched a new service this year.

– The buyer pays with Vipps, and the seller only receives the money when the item has arrived and been checked by the buyer. That way, there is security for both parties, he says.

Nevertheless, Finn asks people to be on guard against fraudulent attempts and rogue sellers.

– If an offer sounds a little too good to be true, it often is. If a product, especially electronics and other expensive brands, is sold at a very cheap price, it is smart to be skeptical and show caution, says Gjefsen.

In addition, you can check how long the seller has been a Finn user and what kind of ratings the seller has received.

Says it’s a big problem

Tise has grown strongly in recent years. The recycling app says it has seen an increase in attempts at cunning fraud.

One of the administrators of a group of Tise users on Facebook says she receives several messages a month from people who feel that the trade is not going as expected. The group consists of over 5,000 users.

– I get around five to six messages a month who want to reveal profiles they feel cheated by, to hear if others have similar experiences, says Sila Sobaci to TV 2.

She believes that Tise and other apps that facilitate the buying and selling of used goods must see the seriousness of the fraud that takes place on their platform.

– Unfortunately, we see that such cases are not resolved, since the fraudster usually uses a fake profile picture and goes under a different name, says Sobaci.

– As we grow, we also become a more attractive target for fraudsters. An increase in fraud attempts requires more from both us as an actor and that we have a secure solution, but also that users are aware, says Tise Norge’s marketing manager, Sigrun Stenseth, to TV 2.

Aarhus disappointed with Tise

Tise does not answer questions about how often users contact for assistance, but says that people contact for many different reasons, some with questions about how to use the product, others because situations arise in connection with buying and selling.

When Maria Aarhus contacted Tise regarding her toll purchase, she felt that Tise did not take enough responsibility. She was referred to the Norwegian Consumer Protection Agency and the police, she says.

– It is very sad. I thought they were going to help solve the case, but I wasn’t taken seriously. They have a responsibility to ensure that we customers feel safe and heard. I don’t feel like using Tise when this case ended like this, says Aarhus to TV 2.

Stenseth in Tise does not respond directly to Aarhus’ concerns about the recycling app. But she recommends everyone to use the app’s integrated payment solution.

– There, we have the option to cancel the purchase if there are deficiencies in the product. Then both the shipment and the payment are handled through us, and the money is kept safe until the buyer has received and approved the item, she says.

Recommends people to shop and sell used

After the Tise fiasco, Aarhus says she will think twice before doing the second-hand trade again.

– I am a fan of buying used. But there won’t be any second-hand purchases at first. I don’t like feeling cheated, she says.

Nevertheless, the Consumer Council recommends people to shop and sell used.

– It is smart for both the wallet and the environment. The 5,000 inquiries we have received are no reason to fear buying used, says Thomas Iversen.

According to the Norwegian Purchase Act, when you buy goods from a private person, you have a two-year complaint period if the goods are not in order.

– You must contact the seller as soon as possible after you discover the fault. It is to everyone’s advantage if the problem is resolved quickly. If you are in doubt about how it should be resolved, contact the Consumer Council who can provide guidance, he urges.