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 | £250 (~$333) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £212 (~$283) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £162 (~$216) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £112 (~$150) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £62 (~$83) | 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 freezer is worth what is being asked:
- Heavy ice build-up on frost-free models, indicating a fault
- Perished seals
- Missing baskets and drawer fronts
- Compressors that run without reaching temperature
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Frost-free operation working correctly
- Chest freezers, which are efficient and in demand
- Intact seals and working lid or door catch
- All baskets and drawers present
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 freezer, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Run it with a thermometer inside for a day and give the reading. It is the only claim that matters on a freezer and the only one worth making from evidence.
Say so in the title if it is. Frost free machines command a real premium and buyers filter for them specifically.
Read the serial plate, which usually encodes the year, and give an honest figure. Buyers price a freezer’s remaining life, not just its capacity.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Run it and confirm it reaches and holds temperature
- Check the seal and lid catch
- Defrost fully and photograph the clean interior
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 freezer front on, door closed
- The interior with the door open, defrosted and dry, drawers visible
- The rating plate showing make, model, capacity and energy rating
- The door seal all the way round, plus any dent, rust patch or cracked drawer
Details to confirm before you commit
- External width, height and depth in centimetres, and internal capacity in litres
- Type — chest, upright, under counter or integrated — and whether frost free
- Star rating and energy rating, and make, model and approximate age
- That it has been run and holds temperature, plus the state of the seal and drawers
Live freezer 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 all year with a lift in summer and around house moves. Under counter models in standard widths sell fastest; large chest freezers are slower but face little competition.
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 freezer 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 freezer for what to photograph and how to price, or what freezer is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used freezer?
Around £39 to £162 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 freezer 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 freezer 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 · freezer value guide · selling freezer · Kitchen & Appliances · condition grades.