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 | £20 (~$27) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £17 (~$23) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £13 (~$17) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £9 (~$12) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £5 (~$7) | 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 flip flops is worth what is being asked:
- Toe posts pulling through the sole
- Deeply moulded footbeds
- Worn-flat soles
- Cheap unbranded pairs
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Recognised comfort and surf brands
- Intact toe posts with no pulling through
- Footbeds with no deep moulding
- Sole tread still present
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 flip flops, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Pull it gently and check. It is the single failure point on a flip flop and it goes without warning.
Press it and compare to the edge. Compressed foam means the cushioning has gone, which is what a buyer is paying for.
Photograph the branding and sole markings and describe where you got them. Popular brands are widely copied and buyers check.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Pull gently on the toe post to check it holds
- Photograph the footbed straight on
- Check the sole tread
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 or flat, together
- The footbeds from above
- The toe post anchor points underneath
- The size marking and any split, compression or wear
Details to confirm before you commit
- Size as marked, and footbed length
- Brand and material
- Footbed condition and whether the foam has compressed
- Toe post condition
Live flip flops 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
April to August only, with a small winter-holiday window. Outside that they are very hard to sell 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 flip flops 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 flip flops for what to photograph and how to price, or what flip flops are worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for used flip flops?
Around £3 to £13 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 flip flops 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 flip flops 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 · flip flops value guide · selling flip flops · Shoes & Footwear · condition grades.