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 | £35 (~$47) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £30 (~$40) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £23 (~$30) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £16 (~$21) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £9 (~$12) | 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 sandals is worth what is being asked:
- Deeply moulded footbeds showing the previous wearer’s foot
- Cracked straps at the buckle holes
- Worn-through soles
- Cheap synthetic sandals
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Recognised comfort and designer brands
- Replaceable footbeds and resoleable construction
- Straps with no cracking at the buckle points
- Clean, unmoulded footbeds
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 sandals, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Photograph it from above in daylight. It always shows wear and buyers would far rather see it than be told it is fine.
On some brands yes, and it is worth saying, because it extends the life of an otherwise worn sandal considerably.
Give it if the brand marks it. On footbed sandals the fitting matters as much as the length.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Photograph the footbed straight on
- Check the straps at every buckle hole
- Inspect 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, standing
- The footbeds from directly above, in daylight
- Both soles
- The straps, buckles and size marking, plus any wear, crack or stain
Details to confirm before you commit
- Size as marked with equivalents, and footbed length
- Width fitting if the brand offers one
- Strap and footbed material
- Footbed condition, including any compression or visible impression
Live sandals 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 is essentially the whole market. Listed in winter they will not sell, so hold them until spring rather than discounting.
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 sandals 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 sandals for what to photograph and how to price, or what sandals are worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for used sandals?
Around £5 to £23 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 sandals 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 sandals 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 · sandals value guide · selling sandals · Shoes & Footwear · condition grades.