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 | £90 (~$120) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £76 (~$102) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £58 (~$78) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £40 (~$54) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £22 (~$30) | 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 microwave is worth what is being asked:
- Damaged or missing waveguide cover, which is a safety issue
- Rusted interior cavity
- Missing turntable plate, which is size-specific
- Sticky or failing door catches
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Combination models with grill or convection
- Clean interior with undamaged waveguide cover
- Working turntable, roller ring and plate
- Larger capacities and higher wattage
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 microwave, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Say so and photograph it in place. Replacement plates are model specific and surprisingly expensive relative to a used microwave.
Check the latch and seal and answer directly. A damaged door or seal is the one fault that makes a microwave genuinely unsafe rather than merely tired.
Read the rear plate rather than guessing. It is the number people search on and the one that decides whether their usual cooking times will work.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Heat a cup of water and time it to confirm output
- Check the waveguide cover on the cavity wall is intact
- Confirm the turntable plate and roller ring are present
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 unit front on, door closed, clean
- The interior with the door open, showing the roof and the turntable in place
- The door seal and latch close up
- The rating plate showing make, model and wattage, plus any dent, rust spot or scratched panel
Details to confirm before you commit
- Wattage, internal capacity in litres and external dimensions
- Type — solo, grill, convection or combination
- Whether the turntable, roller ring and any accessories are included
- That it has been tested, and the state of the door, seal and interior
Live microwave 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
Steady, with lifts in September when students move and around house moves. Clean, tested units sell within days because they are usually the cheapest working option a buyer can find.
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 microwave 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 microwave for what to photograph and how to price, or what microwave is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used microwave?
Around £13 to £58 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 microwave 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 microwave 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 · microwave value guide · selling microwave · Kitchen & Appliances · condition grades.