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 | £22 (~$29) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £19 (~$25) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £14 (~$19) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £10 (~$13) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £6 (~$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, above everything. A garment that does not fit is the commonest reason a second-hand clothing purchase disappoints, and it is entirely avoidable by asking for flat measurements rather than trusting the label.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether gloves is worth what is being asked:
- Cracked or dried leather at the knuckles
- Split seams between the fingers
- Odd single gloves
- Thin synthetic gloves
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Leather and cashmere-lined gloves
- Recognised makers with a following
- Supple leather with no cracking
- Complete matched pairs
Common faults and fakes
Counterfeits concentrate in a handful of premium labels and are usually given away by the internal tags rather than the outside: font weight, stitch density on the label edge, and a care label that does not match the era of the design.
Ask for a photograph of the inner label and the garment laid flat with a tape measure across the chest and the length. Both are quick for an honest seller and awkward for anyone who does not have the item in front of them.
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 gloves, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Test them on your phone and say. It is a real deciding feature and hardly any listing mentions it.
Turn one inside out if you can and check. A shredded lining bunches up in wear and makes gloves unusable.
Photograph them. Fingertips and the seams between the fingers are where gloves fail and buyers know to look.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Flex the leather at the knuckles for cracking
- Check every seam between the fingers
- Measure the hand size or state the marked size
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- Both gloves laid flat together, palms down
- Both palms up, showing wear
- The fingertips and seams close up
- The label with size and composition, plus any hole, split seam or worn patch
Details to confirm before you commit
- Size, and hand width measured flat
- Outer material and lining material
- Whether they are touchscreen compatible
- Condition of fingertips, seams and lining
Live gloves listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse clothing 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
October to February is the market, with a Christmas gifting peak. Leather gloves hold value best; knitted gloves are best bundled.
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 gloves 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 gloves for what to photograph and how to price, or what gloves are worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for used gloves?
Around £3 to £14 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 gloves before buying?
Ask for a photograph of the inner label and the garment laid flat with a tape measure across the chest and the length. Both are quick for an honest seller and awkward for anyone who does not have the item in front of them.
Is buying gloves 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, above everything. A garment that does not fit is the commonest reason a second-hand clothing purchase disappoints, and it is entirely avoidable by asking for flat measurements rather than trusting the label.
See also: all buying guides · gloves value guide · selling gloves · Clothing · condition grades.