How to Sell Damaged Trainers

Damaged trainers are still worth selling — typically £4 to £25 at For Parts, against £18 to £100 undamaged.

Can you sell trainers that are 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 trainers

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

Creased toe boxes and collapsed heel counters
Midsole yellowing, which is hard to reverse
Sole separation on older stored pairs
Generic own-brand trainers, worth very little

Grading it honestly

Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £8 to £45. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £4 to £25. 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:

Find the style code on the label inside the tongue
Photograph the soles, toe box and heel in daylight
Search sold listings for that style code in your size

Photographing the flaw

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

Both trainers side on, laces tied, plain background
The soles side by side, showing tread and heel wear
The size tag inside the tongue, legible
Any crease, scuff, yellowing or sole separation

What to state in the listing

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

Brand, exact model and official colourway name
Size with the sizing system stated
Sole and midsole condition, including yellowing and creasing
Whether the original box, spare laces or receipt are included

Brand, model, colourway and size: “Adidas Samba OG, Core Black, UK 8”. Colourway names are searched directly by name, so use the official one if you know it. Always state the sizing system — UK, US and EU confusion is the commonest cause of a returned pair.

What buyers will ask

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

“What size are they in UK sizing?”

Convert and state both if you can, and mention if the model runs large or small. This single answer prevents most trainer disputes.

“How worn are the soles?”

Photograph both soles flat. Buyers judge remaining life from the tread, and a clear picture answers it better than any description.

“Do you have the box?”

Say either way. Original boxes add value on collectable models and make postage safer on all of them.

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:

Sought-after models and colourways with a following
Clean, unyellowed midsoles
Original box, spare laces and inserts
Common sizes that fit the widest pool of buyers

If the work would cost more than the gap between £25 and what sound ones fetch, sell them as they are damaged and let the buyer decide.

When to list it

Steady year round with a Christmas lift. Popular models in common sizes sell within days; unusual sizes take longer but attract determined buyers.

Getting it to the buyer

Cheap and easy to post. Use the original box inside a mailing bag, and stuff the toes so they keep their shape.

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

Frequently asked questions

Can you sell damaged trainers?

Yes. Damaged trainers typically are worth £4 to £25 against £18 to £100 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Creased toe boxes and collapsed heel counters

Is it worth repairing first?

Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is sought-after models and colourways 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. Convert and state both if you can, and mention if the model runs large or small. This single answer prevents most trainer disputes. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.