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 | £350 (~$466) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £298 (~$396) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £228 (~$303) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £158 (~$210) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £88 (~$117) | 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 cooker is worth what is being asked:
- Failed elements or inaccurate thermostats
- Heavily burnt-on interiors
- Missing shelves and grill pans
- Non-standard widths that fit few kitchens
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Ovens holding accurate temperature
- All hob burners or zones working
- Complete with shelves, trays and grill pan
- Standard widths that fit common gaps
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 cooker, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Test each function and answer item by item. A dead grill or one failing ring is a small discount when disclosed and a returned buyer when not.
Say it in the title. Buyers with the wrong supply cannot use it at all, and this is the most common wasted enquiry on cooker listings.
For gas, a qualified engineer must, and that is not negotiable. For electric, a hardwired cooker needs an electrician or a competent person to isolate it properly.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Heat the oven and check with a thermometer
- Test every hob zone
- Measure the width and state it clearly
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 cooker front on, clean, in place
- The oven interior with the door open and the light on
- The hob surface from above, including all burners or rings
- The rating plate showing make, model and fuel type, plus any dent, chip or damaged seal
Details to confirm before you commit
- Fuel type, and whether an electric one needs a dedicated cooker circuit rather than a plug
- Width, height and depth in centimetres
- Make, model and approximate age from the rating plate
- What has been tested and what works, including grill, timer and every ring
Live cooker 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 when people move house in late spring and early autumn. Clean, recent, working cookers in standard 60cm widths sell within a week; range cookers take longer but hold price.
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 cooker 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 cooker for what to photograph and how to price, or what cooker is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used cooker?
Around £52 to £228 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 cooker 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 cooker 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 · cooker value guide · selling cooker · Kitchen & Appliances · condition grades.