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 | £35 (~$47) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £30 (~$40) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £23 (~$30) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £16 (~$21) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £9 (~$12) | 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 again, made worse because it varies between a brand’s own lines. Beyond that it is the midsole: polyurethane crumbles with age even on shoes that were never worn.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether flats is worth what is being asked:
- Wear-through at the ball of the foot
- Stretched or collapsed backs
- Cracked leather at the flex point
- Cheap synthetic flats
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Leather soles and uppers
- Recognised makers with a following
- Intact soles with no wear-through
- Unstretched backs that still grip
Common faults and fakes
Fakes usually show in the stitching regularity, the finish on the branded hardware, and a box label whose style code does not match the shoe inside.
Ask for the insole length in centimetres rather than the size, plus photographs of the sole, the heel counter and the inside of the shoe.
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 flats, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Photograph them from above. Insole wear shows exactly how much a shoe has been used and is the honest answer to how worn are they.
Check inside and say. Leather linings wear far better and are worth more, and buyers with sensitive feet ask specifically.
Measure heel to toe in centimetres. Flats have little give, so a wrong size is unwearable rather than merely tight.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Photograph the soles, especially the ball of the foot
- Check the back holds its shape
- Flex the sole and look for cracking
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 pair side on, standing, shaped with tissue
- The insoles from above, showing wear
- Both soles, showing thinning at the ball
- The size label and any scuff, split seam or worn heel lining
Details to confirm before you commit
- Size as marked with equivalents, and insole length in centimetres
- Upper and lining material
- Whether they have any arch support or a padded insole
- Insole, heel lining and sole condition
Live flats listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse shoes & footwear 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 in spring and September. Comfortable branded flats sell year round; fashion flats are seasonal.
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 flats 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 flats for what to photograph and how to price, or what flats are worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for used flats?
Around £5 to £23 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 flats before buying?
Ask for the insole length in centimetres rather than the size, plus photographs of the sole, the heel counter and the inside of the shoe.
Is buying flats 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 again, made worse because it varies between a brand’s own lines. Beyond that it is the midsole: polyurethane crumbles with age even on shoes that were never worn.
See also: all buying guides · flats value guide · selling flats · Shoes & Footwear · condition grades.