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 | £60 (~$80) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £51 (~$68) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £39 (~$52) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £27 (~$36) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £15 (~$20) | 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 heels is worth what is being asked:
- Worn-through heel tips showing the metal pin
- Scuffed heel stems and toe caps
- Stretched or creased vamps
- Very high heels, which suit fewer buyers
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Recognised designer labels with a resale following
- Intact heel tips with no exposed metal
- Leather soles and uppers over synthetic
- Original box and dust bags
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 heels, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Measure from the floor to where the heel meets the shoe and give it in centimetres. It is the single most decisive fact and almost nobody includes it.
Answer with evidence rather than an adjective — photograph the sole and the insole and let the buyer read the wear themselves.
Give the insole measurement heel to toe. Court shoes especially vary between brands, and a measurement is the only answer that works for everyone.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Look at the heel tips and note whether they need replacing
- Photograph the soles and heel stems
- Measure the heel height and state it
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, so the heel shape and height read clearly
- The soles and heel tips together
- The insole and inside label showing brand and size
- The heel covering close up, plus any scuff, mark or lifting
Details to confirm before you commit
- Size as marked, with UK, EU and US equivalents
- Heel height in centimetres, and heel type — stiletto, block, kitten or wedge
- Material of the upper and whether the sole is leather or synthetic
- Condition of the tips, insole and heel covering, stated separately
Live heels 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 around party season from November to December and again through wedding season in late spring. Neutral colours in common sizes sell fastest; bold occasion colours take longer but face less 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 heels 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 heels for what to photograph and how to price, or what heels are worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for used heels?
Around £8 to £39 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 heels 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 heels 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 · heels value guide · selling heels · Shoes & Footwear · condition grades.