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 | £300 (~$400) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £255 (~$340) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £195 (~$260) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £135 (~$180) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £75 (~$100) | 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
Large appliances that need collection and a van, and small ones that have simply been descaled badly or not at all. On cookware, the state of the coating.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether a washing machine is worth what is being asked:
- Bearing noise, which effectively ends the machine’s life
- Door seal mould, which buyers see immediately
- Error codes on any cycle
- Ground-floor-only access, which limits who can collect
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- A drum with no bearing rumble on the spin cycle
- Recent purchase with proof of age
- Higher spin speeds and larger drum capacities
- Original hoses and any remaining warranty
Common faults and fakes
Counterfeit premium cookware exists and is usually detectable on weight and base markings, which genuine pieces cast in rather than print.
Ask for the model number and the age, and for large appliances ask whether it can be wheeled out and whether there are stairs. Ask for a photograph of the interior.
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 washing machine, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Run a full cycle on a dry floor and check. Answer with what you observed rather than a general reassurance — this is the buyer’s real fear.
Give a year if you know it or an honest estimate if not. Machines over about eight years old are priced as a gamble and buyers want to make that judgement themselves.
Say yes and mean it. Offering a demonstration at collection is the strongest thing you can do for a used appliance listing.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Run a full spin cycle and listen for rumbling or grinding
- Note the model number from the door frame or rear panel
- Check the door seal and drum for mould and limescale
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 machine, front, in place
- The drum interior and the door seal, clean and clearly lit
- The model and rating label
- The mid-cycle display running, which proves it works better than any description
Details to confirm before you commit
- Brand, model number, drum capacity in kg and spin speed in rpm
- Freestanding or integrated
- Approximate age, and any repairs or replaced parts
- Whether transit bolts are included, which matter for safe moving
Live washing machine listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse kitchen & appliances 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
Sells quickly year round because it is a distress purchase — people buy when theirs has died. A working machine with a demonstration offer often 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 washing machine 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 washing machine for what to photograph and how to price, or what washing machine is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used washing machine?
Around £52 to £195 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 washing machine before buying?
Ask for the model number and the age, and for large appliances ask whether it can be wheeled out and whether there are stairs. Ask for a photograph of the interior.
Is buying a washing machine 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. Large appliances that need collection and a van, and small ones that have simply been descaled badly or not at all. On cookware, the state of the coating.
See also: all buying guides · washing machine value guide · selling washing machine · Kitchen & Appliances · condition grades.