What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects them on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £38 (~$51) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £32 (~$43) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £25 (~$33) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £17 (~$23) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £10 (~$13) | 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
Sizing, above everything. A garment that does not fit is the commonest reason a second-hand clothing purchase disappoints, and it is entirely avoidable by asking for flat measurements rather than trusting the label.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether chinos is worth what is being asked:
- Permanent knee bagging that will not press out
- Shine on the seat from wear
- Fraying at the hem from dragging
- Thin fast-fashion twill
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Heavyweight cotton twill with real substance
- Recognised heritage and workwear labels
- Clean, uncreased knees
- Unaltered hems with the original length
Common faults and fakes
Counterfeits concentrate in a handful of premium labels and are usually given away by the internal tags rather than the outside: font weight, stitch density on the label edge, and a care label that does not match the era of the design.
Ask for a photograph of the inner label and the garment laid flat with a tape measure across the chest and the length. Both are quick for an honest seller and awkward for anyone who does not have the item in front of them.
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 chinos, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Measure and give both waist and inside leg. Labelled sizes drift between brands and after washing, so the measurement is the answer that works.
Check the hem for an alteration line and say. A shortened inside leg makes them useless to a taller buyer and it is not always obvious in a photograph.
Hold them to the light and look. Thinning fabric shows up immediately that way and is worth disclosing before it becomes a complaint.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Hold them up and check whether the knees have set
- Look at the seat in daylight for shine
- Measure the waist and inseam flat
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 chinos flat, front, whole
- The waistband with a tape measure across it
- The inside leg measured from crotch to hem
- The label with size and composition, plus the seat, hems and any mark or thinning
Details to confirm before you commit
- Waist and inside leg measured on the garment
- Label size, and fit name if the brand uses one
- Fabric composition, and whether they have any stretch
- Whether the hems are original or have been altered
Live chinos listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse clothing 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 year round with a lift in spring and September. Recognised brands sell within a fortnight; unbranded chinos do better bundled by size.
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 chinos 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 chinos for what to photograph and how to price, or what chinos are worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for used chinos?
Around £6 to £25 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 chinos before buying?
Ask for a photograph of the inner label and the garment laid flat with a tape measure across the chest and the length. Both are quick for an honest seller and awkward for anyone who does not have the item in front of them.
Is buying chinos 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. Sizing, above everything. A garment that does not fit is the commonest reason a second-hand clothing purchase disappoints, and it is entirely avoidable by asking for flat measurements rather than trusting the label.
See also: all buying guides · chinos value guide · selling chinos · Clothing · condition grades.