How to Sell Damaged Heels

Damaged heels are still worth selling — typically £3 to £15 at For Parts, against £12 to £60 undamaged.

Can you sell heels 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 heels

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

Worn-through heel tips showing the metal pin
Scuffed heel stems and toe caps
Stretched or creased vamps
Very high heels, which suit fewer buyers

Grading it honestly

Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £5 to £27. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £3 to £15. 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 heel tips and note whether they need replacing
Photograph the soles and heel stems
Measure the heel height and state it

Photographing the flaw

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

The pair side on, standing, so the heel shape and height read clearly
The soles and heel tips together
The insole and inside label showing brand and size
The heel covering close up, plus any scuff, mark or lifting

What to state in the listing

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

Size as marked, with UK, EU and US equivalents
Heel height in centimetres, and heel type — stiletto, block, kitten or wedge
Material of the upper and whether the sole is leather or synthetic
Condition of the tips, insole and heel covering, stated separately

Brand, style and height: “Kurt Geiger Court Heels, Size 5, Black Patent” or “Block Heel Sandals, Nude, EU 38, 7cm”. Heel height in centimetres belongs in the description at least, because a buyer who cannot walk in 10cm will not buy them at any price.

What buyers will ask

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

“How high is the heel?”

Measure from the floor to where the heel meets the shoe and give it in centimetres. It is the single most decisive fact and almost nobody includes it.

“Have they been worn much?”

Answer with evidence rather than an adjective — photograph the sole and the insole and let the buyer read the wear themselves.

“Do they fit true to size?”

Give the insole measurement heel to toe. Court shoes especially vary between brands, and a measurement is the only answer that works for everyone.

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:

Recognised designer labels with a resale following
Intact heel tips with no exposed metal
Leather soles and uppers over synthetic
Original box and dust bags

If the work would cost more than the gap between £15 and what sound ones fetch, sell them as they are damaged and let the buyer decide.

When to list it

Lifts around party season from November to December and again through wedding season in late spring. Neutral colours in common sizes sell fastest; bold occasion colours take longer but face less competition.

Getting it to the buyer

Post boxed, with each shoe wrapped and the heels protected. Thin heels snap in transit when they are loose in a padded bag, so a rigid box is worth the small extra postage.

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 heels selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.

Frequently asked questions

Can you sell damaged heels?

Yes. Damaged heels typically are worth £3 to £15 against £12 to £60 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Worn-through heel tips showing the metal pin

Is it worth repairing first?

Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is recognised designer labels with a resale following — 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 from the floor to where the heel meets the shoe and give it in centimetres. It is the single most decisive fact and almost nobody includes it. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.