Can you sell a tracksuit 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 tracksuits
These are the flaws that move a tracksuit down the grades, and the ones a buyer will check first:
- Split sets sold as single pieces
- Perished elastic in waistbands and cuffs
- Cracked printed logos
- Bobbling on polyester fabrics
Grading it honestly
Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £7 to £27. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £4 to £15. 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 both pieces are present and match
- Stretch the waistband and cuffs to test the elastic
- Photograph any logo close up
Photographing the flaw
Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:
- Both pieces laid out together, front
- The brand logo and any embroidery close up
- Both size tags together
- Cuffs, zips and any pill, mark or repair
What to state in the listing
Alongside the flaw itself, buyers of damaged tracksuits want these confirmed:
- Brand and specific product line
- Size of the top and the bottoms, stated separately
- Fabric composition and whether it is a matching set
- Zip, elastic and cuff condition
Brand, line and both sizes: “Adidas Firebird Tracksuit, Navy, Top M Bottoms M”. Naming the specific line matters — sportswear tracksuit lines are searched individually. State both sizes, because they are frequently different.
What buyers will ask
Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:
Check the colour in daylight and the brand line. Sets faded to different shades are common and worth much less.
Give both. Buyers frequently need different sizes top and bottom and will not guess.
Photograph the logos, the neck tag and the wash label. WishThrift does not verify items, so clear label photographs are the evidence.
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:
- Complete matching sets, top and bottoms
- Recognised sportswear and heritage labels
- Intact cuffs, waistbands and drawcords
- Vintage pieces with period branding
If the work would cost more than the gap between £15 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is damaged and let the buyer decide.
When to list it
Steady with a lift from autumn. Recognised sportswear lines, especially retro ones, sell within days.
Getting it to the buyer
Two pieces so heavier than it looks — weigh before quoting postage.
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 tracksuit selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sell a damaged tracksuit?
Yes. A damaged tracksuit typically is worth £4 to £15 against £15 to £60 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Split sets sold as single pieces
Is it worth repairing first?
Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is complete matching sets, top and bottoms — 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 the colour in daylight and the brand line. Sets faded to different shades are common and worth much less. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.
See also: what tracksuit is worth by condition · how to sell tracksuit · condition grades explained · all broken & damaged guides · all selling guides.