How to Sell a Damaged Trench Coat

A damaged trench coat is still worth selling — typically £6 to £28 at For Parts, against £25 to £110 undamaged.

Can you sell a trench coat that is damaged?

Yes. Damaged stock has its own buyers: people who repair and restore, people who want the material rather than the object, and people who want a cheaper one and do not mind a flaw. Nobody should be surprised when it arrives.

The damage buyers look for on trench coats

These are the flaws that move a trench coat down the grades, and the ones a buyer will check first:

Missing belts, which are difficult to replace
Water rings and cleaning damage to gabardine
Discoloured collars and cuffs
Broken storm flap buttons

Grading it honestly

Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £11 to £50. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £6 to £28. Grades are seller-declared and nobody inspects them for you, so grading up does not raise what you get — it produces a buyer who arrives expecting something else. All five grades explained.

Working out what you actually have

Establish the flaw properly rather than guessing at it:

Confirm the belt and all buckles are present
Check the collar and cuffs in daylight
Look at the composition label for gabardine content

Photographing the flaw

Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:

Full length on a hanger, belted, front
The belt and buckle laid out separately
The inner label with composition and care instructions
The collar, cuffs and hem, plus any stain or fray

What to state in the listing

Alongside the flaw itself, buyers of damaged trench coats want these confirmed:

Fabric composition and whether the lining is removable
Whether the belt, loops and buckle are all present
Pit-to-pit and full length from shoulder to hem
Single or double breasted, and whether it is showerproof

Fabric, colour and size: “Cotton Gabardine Trench Coat, Stone, Size 12, Belt Included”. Say “belt included” explicitly — buyers have learned to ask and it separates your listing immediately. Name the colour properly; stone, camel and honey are searched by name.

What buyers will ask

Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:

“Is the belt included?”

Check and confirm. It is the single most asked question on a trench coat and the answer changes the price.

“Is it real gabardine?”

Read the composition label. Cotton gabardine trenches are worth considerably more than polyester ones and buyers can tell on handling.

“How long is it on?”

Give the shoulder-to-hem measurement and your own height. Trench length changes the whole look and is the usual cause of disappointment.

Is it worth repairing first?

Only where it is cheap and visibly well done — a clumsy repair costs more than the flaw it hides. What lifts the price:

Recognised heritage makers with a following
Cotton gabardine with intact water resistance
Complete with belt, buckle and epaulettes
Original linings and removable warmers

If the work would cost more than the gap between £28 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is damaged and let the buyer decide.

When to list it

Peaks in early autumn and again in spring, since a trench is a between-seasons coat. Midwinter listings sell slowly.

Getting it to the buyer

Long and bulky when folded but light. Fold with tissue in the creases and say you have, since gabardine creases sharply.

WishThrift does not process payments, arrange delivery or hold funds. Confirm the money has cleared before the item leaves your hands, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed.

Ready to list it? Free to list, no commission, and neither side pays a buyer-protection fee — create a free account, or read the full trench coat selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.

Frequently asked questions

Can you sell a damaged trench coat?

Yes. A damaged trench coat typically is worth £6 to £28 against £25 to £110 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Missing belts, which are difficult to replace

Is it worth repairing first?

Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is recognised heritage makers with a following — a repair that draws attention to the flaw can leave you worse off.

How should I describe the damage?

Precisely, with a photograph of the flaw itself. Check and confirm. It is the single most asked question on a trench coat and the answer changes the price. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.