What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects it on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £120 (~$160) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £102 (~$136) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £78 (~$104) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £54 (~$72) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £30 (~$40) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
Structural wear at the corners and strap attachment points, and interior odour, which does not photograph and is very hard to remove.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether a suitcase is worth what is being asked:
- Flat-spotted or seized wheels
- Locks with the combination lost
- Torn linings and broken interior straps
- Oversized cases that exceed standard allowances
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Four-wheel spinner designs over two-wheel
- Cabin sizes matching common airline limits
- Working combination locks with the code known
- Expandable sections and interior straps intact
Common faults and fakes
The most-copied labels are also the most documented — serial placement, heat-stamp font and hardware weight are all checkable, and a seller who will not photograph the interior tab is telling you something.
Ask for the interior serial or brand tab, all four corners, the base, and the lining photographed under natural light. Ask directly whether it has any smell.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about a suitcase, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Test it loaded and say. This is what the buyer is really asking about, and a confident specific answer converts the enquiry.
Give the exact external dimensions including wheels and handle. Airline limits differ, so the measurement is the useful answer rather than a yes.
Weigh it. On a checked bag every kilogram of case is a kilogram less of luggage, and frequent flyers ask specifically.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Roll it fully loaded to test the wheels under weight
- Reset the lock and note the combination for the buyer
- Measure it and compare to standard cabin limits
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- The case upright, whole, from a front three-quarter angle
- The wheels close up, showing tread and mounting
- The handle fully extended
- The interior fully opened, plus any crack, scuff, split seam or worn wheel
Details to confirm before you commit
- External dimensions including wheels, and capacity in litres if known
- Hard or soft shell, and two-wheel or four-wheel spinner
- Weight empty, which matters against airline allowances
- Wheel, handle and zip condition, and whether it has a working lock
Live suitcase listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse bags & handbags for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.
When to buy
Strong from April to August and again before Christmas. A sound large case listed in early summer sells within days.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have a suitcase sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell suitcase for what to photograph and how to price, or what suitcase is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used suitcase?
Around £16 to £78 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check a suitcase before buying?
Ask for the interior serial or brand tab, all four corners, the base, and the lining photographed under natural light. Ask directly whether it has any smell.
Is buying a suitcase second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. Structural wear at the corners and strap attachment points, and interior odour, which does not photograph and is very hard to remove.
See also: all buying guides · suitcase value guide · selling suitcase · Bags & Handbags · condition grades.