Can you sell a BBQ grill that does not work?
Yes. Repairers, people replacing one component and buyers who want a project all shop deliberately at this end. None of them will accept a fault they discover after paying.
What actually goes wrong with BBQ grills
These are the faults that move a BBQ grill down the grades, and the first things a buyer will ask about:
- Rusted-through burners and fireboxes
- Warped or heavily pitted grates
- Missing regulator and hose on gas models
- Listing in autumn, when demand collapses
Grading it honestly
Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £18 to £112. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £10 to £62. Grades are seller-declared and nobody inspects them for you, so grading up does not raise what you get — it produces a buyer who arrives expecting something else. All five grades explained.
Working out what you actually have
Establish the fault properly rather than guessing at it:
- Light it and check every burner lights evenly
- Lift the grates and inspect the burners for rust holes
- Confirm the regulator and hose are present
Photographing the fault
Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:
- The whole barbecue with the lid closed, clean, outdoors
- The lid open showing grates, burners and the inside of the hood
- The burner tubes and the underside, where rust appears first
- The regulator, hose and any control knob, plus every rust patch or dent
What to state in the listing
Alongside the fault itself, buyers of broken BBQ grills want these confirmed:
- Fuel type, and burner count or cooking diameter
- Overall dimensions, and whether it is on wheels
- Whether a cover, thermometer, tools or side burner are included
- The state of the grates, burners and hose, described honestly
Fuel, size and brand: “Weber Spirit 3 Burner Gas BBQ, with Cover” or “Charcoal Kettle BBQ, 57cm”. Burner count is the search on gas models and diameter on kettles. Say whether a cover, tools or cylinder are included, because buyers assume they are and are disappointed otherwise.
What buyers will ask
Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:
Say plainly in the listing. Cylinders are usually the supplier’s property on an exchange scheme, and a buyer expecting a full bottle who gets none has a real grievance.
Look along each tube and photograph them. Burners are a replaceable part on known brands, so a buyer will price the repair rather than walk away — if they know.
Check the trolley fixings. Most gas barbecues will not fit in a car assembled, and this decides whether they bring a van.
Is it worth repairing first?
Usually not, unless it is cheap and you can evidence it. What lifts the price is condition and completeness, which a repair rarely restores:
- Stainless steel and cast iron construction
- Burners with no rust-through and even flame
- Cast iron or heavy grates in good order
- Cover, tools and gas regulator included
If the work would cost more than the gap between £62 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is broken and let the buyer decide.
When to list it
Almost the whole market runs from April to July, with a short second window in late August. A clean barbecue listed in May sells within days; the same one in October may not sell at all.
Getting it to the buyer
Collection. Never transport a barbecue with a connected gas cylinder — disconnect it first, and if the buyer is taking a bottle, it travels upright and secured, in a ventilated space, never a sealed boot.
WishThrift does not process payments, arrange delivery or hold funds. Confirm the money has cleared before the item leaves your hands, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed.
Ready to list it? Free to list, no commission, and neither side pays a buyer-protection fee — create a free account, or read the full BBQ grill selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.
Frequently asked questions
Is a broken BBQ grill worth anything?
Yes — typically £10 to £62 at For Parts against £40 to £250 working. Repairers and people harvesting one component buy deliberately at this end. Rusted-through burners and fireboxes
Should I repair it before selling?
Usually not, unless the repair is cheap and you can evidence it. The things that genuinely lift the price are stainless steel and cast iron construction and a repair rarely restores those.
What do buyers ask about a faulty BBQ grill?
The fault itself, in detail. Say plainly in the listing. Cylinders are usually the supplier’s property on an exchange scheme, and a buyer expecting a full bottle who gets none has a real grievance. The listing that answers it before being asked is the one that sells.
See also: what BBQ grill is worth by condition · how to sell BBQ grill · condition grades explained · all broken & damaged guides · all selling guides.