Can you sell a fridge freezer 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 fridge freezers
These are the faults that move a fridge freezer down the grades, and the first things a buyer will ask about:
- Failing door seals, which let in warm air
- Compressors that run constantly or cycle noisily
- Missing shelves and drawers, which are model-specific
- Ice build-up on a frost-free model, indicating a fault
Grading it honestly
Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £40 to £158. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £22 to £88. 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:
- Run it for a day and check both compartments reach temperature
- Close the door on a sheet of paper and check the seal grips it
- Count the shelves, drawers and door bins against the manual
Photographing the fault
Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:
- The appliance closed, front, in place
- Both compartments open, clean and empty
- The model and rating label inside the fridge door
- The door seals and any dent, rust or shelf damage
What to state in the listing
Alongside the fault itself, buyers of broken fridge freezers want these confirmed:
- Total and split capacity in litres, and the fridge to freezer ratio
- External height, width and depth in centimetres
- Whether it is frost free, and the energy rating
- Freestanding or integrated, and whether all shelves and drawers are present
Configuration, capacity and features: “Samsung 70/30 Frost Free Fridge Freezer, 300L, A+”. The fridge to freezer split is a genuine search term. Frost free is worth stating because it saves the buyer real effort and commands a premium.
What buyers will ask
Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:
Run it for a day with a thermometer and report actual temperatures. Vague reassurance is worth nothing on a refrigeration appliance.
Check the label and say. It is a meaningful feature and a real price difference.
Count them. Replacement shelves are model-specific, expensive and often discontinued, so missing ones matter more than they look.
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:
- Recent models with better energy ratings
- Clean seals with no perishing or mould
- Frost-free operation working correctly
- All shelves, salad drawers and door bins present
If the work would cost more than the gap between £88 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is broken and let the buyer decide.
When to list it
Steady all year, with a lift in summer and around moving season. Working appliances are often distress purchases and sell quickly.
Getting it to the buyer
Collection only. Defrost and dry it fully beforehand, and tell the buyer it must stand upright for several hours before being switched on — that advice prevents a ruined compressor and a complaint.
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 fridge freezer selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.
Frequently asked questions
Is a broken fridge freezer worth anything?
Yes — typically £22 to £88 at For Parts against £90 to £350 working. Repairers and people harvesting one component buy deliberately at this end. Failing door seals, which let in warm air
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 recent models with better energy ratings and a repair rarely restores those.
What do buyers ask about a faulty fridge freezer?
The fault itself, in detail. Run it for a day with a thermometer and report actual temperatures. Vague reassurance is worth nothing on a refrigeration appliance. The listing that answers it before being asked is the one that sells.
See also: what fridge freezer is worth by condition · how to sell fridge freezer · condition grades explained · all broken & damaged guides · all selling guides.