Can you sell a dog crate 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 dog crates
These are the flaws that move a dog crate down the grades, and the ones a buyer will check first:
- Bent bars from chewing or escape attempts
- Missing or cracked base trays
- Latches that no longer hold
- Rust on the bars and joints
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:
- Fold and unfold it to check the mechanism
- Confirm the base tray is present and uncracked
- Measure it and state the internal dimensions
Photographing the flaw
Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:
- The crate set up, whole, from a three-quarter angle
- A tape measure showing the internal length or height
- The door latches and hinges close up
- The tray removed, plus any bent bar, rust patch or chewed corner
What to state in the listing
Alongside the flaw itself, buyers of damaged dog crates want these confirmed:
- Internal length, width and height in centimetres
- Number of doors, and whether it folds flat
- Whether the plastic tray and any divider panel are included
- Condition of the bars, latches and coating
Size and type: “Large Folding Dog Crate, 91cm, 2 Doors with Tray”. Length in centimetres is the real search; the manufacturer’s size labels are inconsistent between brands. Say whether it folds flat, which decides transport and storage.
What buyers will ask
Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:
Give all three in centimetres. Brand size labels vary wildly and owners are matching a specific dog, so the measurement is the only answer that works.
Say it in the title. Replacement trays are surprisingly hard to source for older crates and buyers have learned to check.
Confirm and say how thin it packs down to. It decides whether the buyer can collect in a car and whether they can store it between uses.
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:
- Correct sizing for common breeds
- Intact plastic base tray
- Doors that latch securely
- Folding designs that transport easily
If the work would cost more than the gap between £22 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is damaged and let the buyer decide.
When to list it
Steady all year with a lift after Christmas and in summer, when puppies arrive. Common sizes in sound condition often sell the same day they are listed.
Getting it to the buyer
Folds flat, so collection is easy and postage is possible though heavy. Fold it and secure it with a strap before they arrive — an unsecured folding crate opens in a car boot.
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 dog crate selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sell a damaged dog crate?
Yes. A damaged dog crate typically is worth £5 to £22 against £20 to £90 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Bent bars from chewing or escape attempts
Is it worth repairing first?
Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is correct sizing for common breeds — 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. Give all three in centimetres. Brand size labels vary wildly and owners are matching a specific dog, so the measurement is the only answer that works. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.
See also: what dog crate is worth by condition · how to sell dog crate · condition grades explained · all broken & damaged guides · all selling guides.