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 | £70 (~$93) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £60 (~$79) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £46 (~$61) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £32 (~$42) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £18 (~$23) | 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
Structural wear at the corners and strap attachment points, and interior odour, which does not photograph and is very hard to remove.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether a travel bag is worth what is being asked:
- Failed or separating zips from overpacking
- Worn base corners
- Missing shoulder straps
- Thin nylon holdalls
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Recognised luggage and heritage brands
- Leather and heavy canvas construction
- Full-length zips running smoothly
- Detachable padded shoulder straps
Common faults and fakes
The most-copied labels are also the most documented — serial placement, heat-stamp font and hardware weight are all checkable, and a seller who will not photograph the interior tab is telling you something.
Ask for the interior serial or brand tab, all four corners, the base, and the lining photographed under natural light. Ask directly whether it has any smell.
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 travel bag, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Measure including wheels and handles. Travellers check against airline limits and the manufacturer’s stated size often excludes both.
Weigh it. On checked baggage every kilogram of bag is a kilogram less of contents, and frequent flyers ask.
If it is wheeled, test it loaded. Wheels are the standard failure point on any wheeled luggage.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Run the main zip fully in both directions
- Check the base corners and handle attachments
- State the capacity and external dimensions
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 bag from the side, whole, packed to shape
- The main compartment open, showing internal organisation
- Wheels and handle if fitted, or the strap system
- The base and zips, plus any wear, fray or damage
Details to confirm before you commit
- Capacity in litres and external dimensions
- Whether wheeled, carried or worn, and the handle or strap type
- Material, and whether it expands
- Zip, wheel and base condition, and whether it has a built-in lock
Live travel bag listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse bags & handbags 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 from April to August and before Christmas. Wheeled bags and expandable models sell fastest in those windows.
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 travel bag 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 travel bag for what to photograph and how to price, or what travel bag is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used travel bag?
Around £10 to £46 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 travel bag before buying?
Ask for the interior serial or brand tab, all four corners, the base, and the lining photographed under natural light. Ask directly whether it has any smell.
Is buying a travel bag 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. Structural wear at the corners and strap attachment points, and interior odour, which does not photograph and is very hard to remove.
See also: all buying guides · travel bag value guide · selling travel bag · Bags & Handbags · condition grades.