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 | £100 (~$133) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £85 (~$113) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £65 (~$87) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £45 (~$60) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £25 (~$33) | 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 a puffer jacket is worth what is being asked:
- Tears and pinholes leaking down
- Synthetic fills sold as down
- Compressed fill that no longer lofts after washing
- Discoloured light-coloured shells
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Genuine down fill with a stated fill power
- Baffles intact with no leaking feathers
- Recognised outdoor and fashion labels
- Original stuff sack where supplied
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 a puffer jacket, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Read the label and answer exactly. Down commands a substantial premium and buyers check the label at handover anyway.
Squeeze the baffles and look. Small leaks are normal and fixable with a patch, but they must be disclosed.
Answer with the fill power or wadding weight rather than an opinion. Buyers comparing jackets want the number.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Shake it out and check whether the fill lofts evenly
- Look for feathers escaping at the seams
- Check the composition label for down percentage and fill power
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- Full front on a hanger, zipped, so the loft shows
- The inner composition label, legible
- The hood and cuffs, and the baffles from an angle to show loft
- Any tear, leak point or stain, close up
Details to confirm before you commit
- Fill type and, for down, the fill power and down/feather ratio
- Pit-to-pit and length, laid flat
- Whether the hood is detachable and whether it has a fur trim
- Any baffle tears, leaks or repairs
Live puffer jacket 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
A short autumn and winter season, strongest October to December. Selling in spring typically costs a third of the value, so storing until autumn is usually worth it.
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 puffer jacket 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 puffer jacket for what to photograph and how to price, or what puffer jacket is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used puffer jacket?
Around £13 to £65 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 puffer jacket 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 a puffer jacket 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 · puffer jacket value guide · selling puffer jacket · Clothing · condition grades.