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 | £400 (~$533) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £340 (~$453) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £260 (~$346) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £180 (~$240) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £100 (~$133) | 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
An account lock is the single biggest one — a device still signed in to an iCloud, Google or Microsoft account cannot be reset and is effectively unusable. After that, battery health and undisclosed third-party repairs.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether a TV is worth what is being asked:
- Burn-in on OLED panels from static logos
- Dead backlight zones showing as dark patches
- Missing or replaced remote, often proprietary
- Older smart platforms where apps no longer install
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- OLED and higher-end panels, which hold value best
- A screen with no burn-in, dead pixels or backlight banding
- Original stand, remote and power lead
- A smart platform still receiving app updates
Common faults and fakes
Outright counterfeits are rare outside accessories, where fake chargers and cables are a genuine fire risk. The commoner problem is a device described as working that has a fault the seller knows about.
Ask the seller to factory reset and remove their account BEFORE you pay, and to send a photograph of the settings screen showing it signed out. Ask for the exact model identifier and, on anything with a battery, the battery health figure.
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 TV, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Photograph the screen displaying white and black images. That is the only proof a buyer trusts, and offering it unprompted sets your listing apart.
Check you have the feet and the correct screws. Say plainly if it is wall-mount only, because that changes what the buyer needs to arrange.
Test the ones people actually use. Older smart televisions often lose app support, and it is far better disclosed than discovered.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Display a plain white and a plain grey full-screen image to reveal panel faults
- Confirm the remote, stand and power lead are all present
- Note the exact model number from the rear panel
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- Screen on, displaying a normal image, photographed straight on with the room lights off
- The rear sticker showing the model number
- The full television including stand or feet as it will be handed over
- The remote and any cables included, plus any scratch or mark on the bezel or screen
Details to confirm before you commit
- Screen size in inches and resolution, and the exact model number
- Whether it is a smart TV, and whether the apps still receive updates
- Whether the stand, feet, screws and remote are all included
- Any dead pixels, backlight bleed, screen scratches or bezel damage
Live TV listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse electronics 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
Sells year round with a clear peak before Christmas and around major sporting tournaments. Large screens move faster than small ones because the saving against new is bigger.
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 TV 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 TV for what to photograph and how to price, or what TV is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used TV?
Around £39 to £260 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 TV before buying?
Ask the seller to factory reset and remove their account BEFORE you pay, and to send a photograph of the settings screen showing it signed out. Ask for the exact model identifier and, on anything with a battery, the battery health figure.
Is buying a TV 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. An account lock is the single biggest one — a device still signed in to an iCloud, Google or Microsoft account cannot be reset and is effectively unusable. After that, battery health and undisclosed third-party repairs.
See also: all buying guides · TV value guide · selling TV · Electronics · condition grades.