How to Sell Damaged Boots

Damaged boots are still worth selling — typically £5 to £22 at For Parts, against £20 to £90 undamaged.

Can you sell boots that are 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 boots

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

Cemented soles that cannot be replaced
Cracked leather across the flex point
Worn heel blocks and thin soles
Salt staining from winter wear

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 flaw properly rather than guessing at it:

Look at the sole edge for a welt stitch line
Flex the vamp and check for cracking
Check the heel block and sole thickness

Photographing the flaw

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

Both boots side on, upright, on a plain surface
The soles, showing tread, heel wear and whether there is a stitched welt
The size stamp, legible
The leather uppers close up, plus any scuff, crack or separation

What to state in the listing

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

Brand, model and size with the sizing system stated
Leather or synthetic, and whether the sole is welted or cemented
Sole and heel wear, and whether they have been resoled before
Whether they are waterproof or steel toe capped, if relevant

Brand, style and size: “Dr. Martens 1460 Boots, UK 8, Black Leather”. If they are Goodyear welted, put that in the title — buyers who know footwear search for it and pay more. State the sizing system, and say whether they are leather or synthetic.

What buyers will ask

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

“Can they be resoled?”

Look for stitching around the welt and answer. Resoleable boots are worth substantially more because the buyer is purchasing decades of use, not a season.

“How worn is the tread?”

Photograph the soles flat and honestly. Tread wear is easy to judge from a picture and impossible to argue about afterwards.

“Are they real leather?”

Check the inner label and the cut edge of the material. Say plainly if they are synthetic — it is not a problem stated up front and is a real one discovered later.

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:

Goodyear-welted or stitched construction that can be resoled
Recognised makers with resoling services available
Uppers with no cracking across the vamp
Original laces, box and any dust bags

If the work would cost more than the gap between £22 and what sound ones fetch, sell them as they are damaged and let the buyer decide.

When to list it

Autumn and winter are strongest, with a clear peak from September to December. Quality welted boots hold value all year; fashion boots follow the season closely.

Getting it to the buyer

Heavier than shoes so postage costs a little more, but still straightforward. Wrap each boot separately and check the parcel weight before quoting the buyer a postage price.

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 them? Free to list, no commission, and neither side pays a buyer-protection fee — create a free account, or read the full boots selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.

Frequently asked questions

Can you sell damaged boots?

Yes. Damaged boots typically are worth £5 to £22 against £20 to £90 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Cemented soles that cannot be replaced

Is it worth repairing first?

Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is goodyear-welted or stitched construction that can be resoled — 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. Look for stitching around the welt and answer. Resoleable boots are worth substantially more because the buyer is purchasing decades of use, not a season. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.