Can you sell a smart speaker 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 smart speakers
These are the faults that move a smart speaker down the grades, and the first things a buyer will ask about:
- Discontinued models with withdrawn support
- Missing proprietary power supplies
- Stained or damaged fabric covers
- Accounts left linked to the device
Grading it honestly
Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £9 to £40. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £5 to £22. 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:
- Confirm the model still receives platform support
- Factory reset it and unlink your account
- Check you have the correct power supply
Photographing the fault
Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:
- The speaker from the front
- The base, showing model and generation markings
- The power connector and any buttons
- Any scuff, fabric mark or damage
What to state in the listing
Alongside the fault itself, buyers of broken smart speakers want these confirmed:
- Brand, model and generation
- Whether the original power adapter is included
- Whether it has a screen, and any built-in hub functionality
- Speaker and microphone condition, and whether it has been deregistered
Brand, model and generation: “Amazon Echo Dot 4th Generation, Charcoal”. Generation is what distinguishes near-identical models. Say whether the original power adapter is included — many are proprietary wattages and a generic one will not run the device.
What buyers will ask
Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:
Factory reset and remove it from your account before listing, then say so. A registered speaker is tied to your account and your voice history.
Check the wattage. Many smart speakers need a specific adapter and will not run properly on a generic one.
Read the base. Generations look similar and are priced differently, and buyers matching an existing set-up care.
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:
- Models still supported by their platform
- Better-sounding larger units
- Original power supply, usually proprietary
- Clean fabric grilles
If the work would cost more than the gap between £22 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is broken and let the buyer decide.
When to list it
Strong Christmas lift, otherwise steady. These sell quickly at low prices because they are cheap new.
Getting it to the buyer
Light and cheap to post. Include the correct adapter and photograph what goes in the parcel.
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 smart speaker selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.
Frequently asked questions
Is a broken smart speaker worth anything?
Yes — typically £5 to £22 at For Parts against £20 to £90 working. Repairers and people harvesting one component buy deliberately at this end. Discontinued models with withdrawn support
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 models still supported by their platform and a repair rarely restores those.
What do buyers ask about a faulty smart speaker?
The fault itself, in detail. Factory reset and remove it from your account before listing, then say so. A registered speaker is tied to your account and your voice history. The listing that answers it before being asked is the one that sells.
See also: what smart speaker is worth by condition · how to sell smart speaker · condition grades explained · all broken & damaged guides · all selling guides.