How to Sell a Damaged Dressing Gown

A damaged dressing gown is still worth selling — typically £2 to £9 at For Parts, against £8 to £35 undamaged.

Can you sell a dressing gown 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 dressing gowns

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

Missing belts, which are rarely replaceable
Flattened towelling that has lost absorbency
Bobbling on fleece gowns
Thin lightweight polyester

Grading it honestly

Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £4 to £16. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £2 to £9. 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:

Confirm the belt is present
Check the belt loops are intact
Feel the fabric weight and note the composition

Photographing the flaw

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

The gown on a hanger, front, whole
The belt, laid alongside
The fabric close up, showing pile or weave condition
The label with size and composition, plus any mark, thinning or pilling

What to state in the listing

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

Size, with chest measured flat and full length
Fabric composition and weight
Whether the belt, hood and pockets are present
Any pilling, thinning or mark

Fabric, size and length: “Towelling Dressing Gown, Size L, Full Length, with Belt”. Fabric is the primary search and stating that the belt is included prevents the most common disappointment. Say if it is hooded.

What buyers will ask

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

“Is the belt included?”

Say so in the title as well. Gowns arrive beltless surprisingly often and it is the complaint that comes up most in this category.

“How heavy is it?”

Describe the weight and fabric. A lightweight cotton gown and a heavy towelling one suit different buyers and seasons entirely.

“Has it pilled?”

Photograph the fabric close up. Fleece pills readily and buyers accept it when shown, but not when discovered.

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:

Heavyweight cotton, towelling or silk
Original belt present
Recognised heritage and hotel-style brands
Intact pockets and loops

If the work would cost more than the gap between £9 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is damaged and let the buyer decide.

When to list it

Lifts strongly from October to December as a Christmas gift, and again in January. Summer demand is modest and limited to lightweight fabrics.

Getting it to the buyer

Bulky but light, so measure the packed parcel — volumetric weight often decides the cost. Vacuum bags help considerably on towelling and fleece.

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 dressing gown selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.

Frequently asked questions

Can you sell a damaged dressing gown?

Yes. A damaged dressing gown typically is worth £2 to £9 against £8 to £35 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Missing belts, which are rarely replaceable

Is it worth repairing first?

Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is heavyweight cotton, towelling or silk — 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. Say so in the title as well. Gowns arrive beltless surprisingly often and it is the complaint that comes up most in this category. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.