Can you sell a camping stove 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 camping stoves
These are the faults that move a camping stove down the grades, and the first things a buyer will ask about:
- Blocked jets producing a yellow, uneven flame
- Perished seals, a genuine safety concern
- Discontinued proprietary fuel canisters
- Corroded fuel lines
Grading it honestly
Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £7 to £36. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £4 to £20. 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 for an even blue flame
- Inspect the seals and O-rings for perishing
- Confirm the fuel type is still widely sold
Photographing the fault
Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:
- The stove set up, whole
- The burner lit, showing an even flame
- The connection fitting close up
- Any case, windshield or accessories, plus the hose and any damage
What to state in the listing
Alongside the fault itself, buyers of broken camping stoves want these confirmed:
- Number of burners and output
- Fuel type and exact connection fitting
- Whether a hose, regulator, windshield or case are included
- Packed size and weight, and that it has been tested lit
Type, burners and fuel fitting: “2 Burner Camping Stove, Screw Thread Gas, with Case”. The connection type is the compatibility fact that matters. Say whether a regulator and hose are included, since those are model specific.
What buyers will ask
Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:
Name it precisely. Screw-thread, pierceable and clip-on canisters are different systems and the wrong one simply will not attach.
Say no, and explain that canisters cannot be posted. Buyers understand and it saves an exchange.
Flex it and check the ends. A perished gas hose is a genuine hazard and replacements are inexpensive.
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:
- Multi-fuel and widely available fuel types
- Clean jets producing an even blue flame
- Intact seals and O-rings
- Recognised outdoor brands with spares
If the work would cost more than the gap between £20 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is broken and let the buyer decide.
When to list it
April to August is the window, peaking before summer holidays. Compact backpacking stoves sell steadily to walkers.
Getting it to the buyer
Never include a gas canister in a parcel — compressed gas is a dangerous good that carriers refuse. Sell the stove alone and say so plainly in the listing.
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 camping stove selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.
Frequently asked questions
Is a broken camping stove worth anything?
Yes — typically £4 to £20 at For Parts against £15 to £80 working. Repairers and people harvesting one component buy deliberately at this end. Blocked jets producing a yellow, uneven flame
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 multi-fuel and widely available fuel types and a repair rarely restores those.
What do buyers ask about a faulty camping stove?
The fault itself, in detail. Name it precisely. Screw-thread, pierceable and clip-on canisters are different systems and the wrong one simply will not attach. The listing that answers it before being asked is the one that sells.
See also: what camping stove is worth by condition · how to sell camping stove · condition grades explained · all broken & damaged guides · all selling guides.