How to Sell a Damaged Blazer

A damaged blazer is still worth selling — typically £4 to £18 at For Parts, against £15 to £70 undamaged.

Can you sell a blazer that is damaged?

Yes. Damaged stock has its own buyers: people who repair and restore, people who want the material rather than the object, and people who want a cheaper one and do not mind a flaw. Nobody should be surprised when it arrives.

The damage buyers look for on blazers

These are the flaws that move a blazer down the grades, and the ones a buyer will check first:

Fused construction that has bubbled
Shine on the elbows and seat of the sleeve
Moth damage in wool
Very dated lapel widths and shoulder shapes

Grading it honestly

Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £7 to £32. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £4 to £18. 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 flaw properly rather than guessing at it:

Pinch the lapel to feel for a floating canvas layer
Hold it to the light checking for moth holes
Measure the shoulder width and chest

Photographing the flaw

Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:

Front on a hanger, buttoned, shoulders sitting properly
Flat with a tape across the shoulders
The inner label with composition, and the lining
Cuffs, elbows and any pull, shine or stain

What to state in the listing

Alongside the flaw itself, buyers of damaged blazers want these confirmed:

Shoulder-to-shoulder, chest, sleeve and back length
Fabric composition and whether it is fully or half lined
Single or double breasted, and the number of buttons
Whether it is part of a suit, and any wear at elbows or cuffs

Fabric, cut and size: “Wool Blend Single Breasted Blazer, Navy, Size 40R”. Include the shoulder measurement in the description — it is the one dimension a tailor cannot fix, so it decides whether the blazer is usable at all.

What buyers will ask

Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:

“What is the shoulder measurement?”

Measure straight across the back from seam to seam. Shoulders cannot be altered affordably, so this is the decisive number.

“Is it part of a suit?”

Say so, and whether the trousers are available. An orphaned suit jacket is worth less than a blazer designed as one.

“Is the fabric wool?”

Read the label. Wool and wool blends sell for meaningfully more than polyester and buyers can feel the difference.

Is it worth repairing first?

Only where it is cheap and visibly well done — a clumsy repair costs more than the flaw it hides. What lifts the price:

Canvassed or half-canvassed construction
Natural fibre cloth with a good handle
Clean shoulders with no divots or pressing marks
Working buttonholes on higher-end tailoring

If the work would cost more than the gap between £18 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is damaged and let the buyer decide.

When to list it

Lifts in autumn and around interview and wedding season in spring. Classic navy and grey sell steadily; bold patterns move slowly.

Getting it to the buyer

Fold along the existing seams with the shoulders turned in, or post on a hanger in a garment bag if you can. A crumpled blazer arrives looking worthless.

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 blazer selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.

Frequently asked questions

Can you sell a damaged blazer?

Yes. A damaged blazer typically is worth £4 to £18 against £15 to £70 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Fused construction that has bubbled

Is it worth repairing first?

Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is canvassed or half-canvassed construction — a repair that draws attention to the flaw can leave you worse off.

How should I describe the damage?

Precisely, with a photograph of the flaw itself. Measure straight across the back from seam to seam. Shoulders cannot be altered affordably, so this is the decisive number. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.