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Buying a Used Stroller: What to Check

A fair price for a stroller in good condition is around £26 to £162 (approximately $35 to $216), against £40 to £250 across the full condition range. Strollers are used for a couple of years and then sit in a hallway, which keeps supply high and condition generally good.

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.

ConditionTypicalWhat it means
New with Tags£250 (~$333)Unused, tags or seals intact
Like New£212 (~$283)Barely used, no visible wear
Good£162 (~$216)Light signs of use, complete and working
Fair£112 (~$150)Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part
For Parts£62 (~$83)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

Safety history you cannot see. A car seat that has been in a collision, a cot with a replaced part, or an item subject to a recall all look completely normal.

Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether a stroller is worth what is being asked:

  • Seized or wobbling wheels
  • Stained or faded fabrics
  • A fold mechanism that sticks or will not lock
  • Discontinued models where spares have dried up

And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:

  • Recognised brands with strong resale followings
  • Clean, washed fabrics with no sun fading
  • Smooth-running wheels and a fold that locks properly
  • Raincover, basket and instructions included

Common faults and fakes

Counterfeit car seats and carriers exist and fail catastrophically in exactly the situation they were bought for. Buy safety-critical items new.

Ask for the manufacture date and model number, then check the recall lists yourself — they are free to search. Do not buy a used car seat, carrier or helmet at all.

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 stroller, and the answers tell you most of what you need:

“How small does it fold?”

Give the folded dimensions in centimetres. Buyers are measuring against a specific boot or overhead locker.

“How much does it weigh?”

Weigh it. Parents lifting a stroller onto a bus or up stairs treat this as a primary specification.

“Does it recline fully?”

Check the positions and say. Full recline matters for younger babies and limits who the stroller suits.

Also worth establishing before you commit:

  1. Fold and unfold it several times to check the mechanism
  2. Wash the fabrics and photograph them dry in daylight
  3. Spin each wheel and check for play in the axle

Photographs to ask for

If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:

  1. The stroller open, side on
  2. Folded, next to something for scale
  3. The seat fabric and harness, clean
  4. The wheels, brake and any included raincover or accessories

Details to confirm before you commit

  • Brand, model, and weight in kilograms
  • Folded dimensions, and whether it is cabin-approved
  • Whether it folds one-handed, and the recline positions available
  • Which accessories are included: raincover, footmuff, cup holder, adapters

Live stroller listings

There is 1 live on WishThrift right now:

When to buy

Steady demand all year. Compact and cabin-approved models from recognised brands sell within days; bulky older strollers move slowly.

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 stroller 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 stroller for what to photograph and how to price, or what stroller is worth at each condition grade.

Frequently asked questions

What should I pay for a used stroller?

Around £26 to £162 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 stroller before buying?

Ask for the manufacture date and model number, then check the recall lists yourself — they are free to search. Do not buy a used car seat, carrier or helmet at all.

Is buying a stroller 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. Safety history you cannot see. A car seat that has been in a collision, a cot with a replaced part, or an item subject to a recall all look completely normal.

See also: all buying guides · stroller value guide · selling stroller · Baby & Kids · condition grades.