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 | £55 (~$73) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £47 (~$62) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £36 (~$48) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £25 (~$33) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £14 (~$18) | 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 stiletto heels is worth what is being asked:
- Worn-through tips showing the metal pin
- Scuffed or chipped heel stems
- Stretched vamps
- Very high heels, which suit fewer buyers
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Intact heel tips with no exposed metal
- Designer labels with a resale following
- Undamaged heel stems
- 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 stiletto heels, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Measure from floor to where the heel meets the shoe. It is the deciding fact and it is missing from most listings.
Photograph them. Exposed metal is both a wear point and a hazard on hard floors, and replacing tips costs very little.
Hold the shoe and try to move the heel. Any play is a structural fault and must be disclosed rather than discovered mid-wear.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Look at both heel tips and note whether they need replacing
- Photograph the heel stems and soles
- Measure and state the heel height
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 height and shape read
- Both heel tips and soles
- The heel covering close up
- The insole and size label, plus any scuff, mark or lifting
Details to confirm before you commit
- Size as marked with UK, EU and US equivalents, and insole length
- Heel height in centimetres
- Upper material and toe shape
- Condition of the tips, heel covering and insole
Live stiletto 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 before party season in November and December and through wedding season in late spring. Occasion shoes worn once sell best of all.
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 stiletto 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 stiletto heels for what to photograph and how to price, or what stiletto heels are worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for used stiletto heels?
Around £8 to £36 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 stiletto 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 stiletto 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 · stiletto heels value guide · selling stiletto heels · Shoes & Footwear · condition grades.