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 | £140 (~$186) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £119 (~$159) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £91 (~$121) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £63 (~$84) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £35 (~$47) | 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
Size, and whether it will actually get into your home. After that, whether it is solid wood or veneered board, because only one of those survives a house move.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether a TV unit is worth what is being asked:
- Sagging particleboard shelves
- Chipped edges and lifting veneer
- Damaged glass shelves and doors
- Very large units suiting few rooms
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Solid wood and quality veneer
- Cable management ports already cut
- Working drawers and doors
- Sizes suited to common television widths
Common faults and fakes
Reproduction pieces sold as period or designer originals are the issue here rather than counterfeits — an unattributed ‘mid-century style’ piece is usually exactly that.
Ask for the height, width and depth, whether it dismantles, and whether the original fixings and instructions are present. Measure your doorway before you commit.
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 TV unit, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Give the usable top width in centimetres and let them check their own stand footprint. Screen size in inches is diagonal and tells nobody how wide the feet sit.
Photograph the rear. Buyers with a wall of equipment care about this more than about the finish, and it is almost never shown.
Look for an etched mark and report what you find. If there is no marking, say you cannot confirm it rather than assuming it is.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Sight along shelves for sag
- Measure the width and state the maximum TV size
- Check every door and drawer
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 whole unit straight on, empty, against a plain wall
- The top with a tape measure across it showing the usable width
- The back, showing cable holes and whether the rear is open or panelled
- Inside any cupboard or drawer, plus every scratch, chip or mark
Details to confirm before you commit
- Width, depth and height in centimetres, and the usable top width between any raised edges
- Maximum TV size or weight it is designed for, if the label or manual states it
- Storage layout — open shelves, drawers, cupboards — and whether shelves are adjustable
- Whether the back is open for cables, and whether it is a corner or straight unit
Live TV unit listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse furniture 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
Steady, with a lift around major sporting events and Christmas when televisions get replaced. Wide units in neutral finishes sell within a couple of weeks.
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 TV unit 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 TV unit for what to photograph and how to price, or what TV unit is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used TV unit?
Around £16 to £91 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 TV unit before buying?
Ask for the height, width and depth, whether it dismantles, and whether the original fixings and instructions are present. Measure your doorway before you commit.
Is buying a TV unit 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. Size, and whether it will actually get into your home. After that, whether it is solid wood or veneered board, because only one of those survives a house move.
See also: all buying guides · TV unit value guide · selling TV unit · Furniture · condition grades.