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 | £120 (~$160) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £102 (~$136) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £78 (~$104) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £54 (~$72) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £30 (~$40) | 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 cookware set is worth what is being asked:
- Worn or flaking non-stick coatings
- Warped bases that rock on a flat hob
- Missing lids, which are difficult to match
- Loose or wobbling handles
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Stainless steel, cast iron and copper over non-stick
- Recognised makers with lifetime guarantees
- Flat bases that sit true on an induction hob
- Complete sets with matching lids
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 cookware set, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Hold a magnet to each base and report the result. A magnet that grips means it will work, and that test is more reliable than anything printed on a decade-old pan.
Photograph the inside of each pan in daylight. Buyers assume the worst about used non-stick, so an honest clear photo of a good surface actively helps you.
Count them and say. A pan without its lid is worth much less, and missing lids are the most common gap in a used set.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Sit each pan on a flat surface and check for rocking
- Inspect non-stick surfaces for scratches and flaking
- Confirm every pan has its matching lid
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 set laid out together on a plain surface, everything visible
- The bases of all the pans together, showing material and any warping
- The inside of the pans, showing the coating condition honestly
- Any maker’s stamp, plus every scratch, flake or missing lid
Details to confirm before you commit
- Exactly which pieces are included, with diameters
- Base material — stainless steel, aluminium, hard anodised or non-stick coated
- Whether every piece is induction compatible, oven safe and dishwasher safe
- Coating condition per pan, and whether all lids are present
Live cookware set 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
Lifts before Christmas and in September when people set up new households. Stainless and cast sets sell steadily; well-used non-stick sets are slow at any 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 cookware set 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 cookware set for what to photograph and how to price, or what cookware set is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used cookware set?
Around £13 to £78 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 cookware set 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 cookware set 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 · cookware set value guide · selling cookware set · Kitchen & Appliances · condition grades.