Can you sell kids clothes 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 kids clothes
These are the flaws that move kids clothes down the grades, and the ones a buyer will check first:
- Stains, particularly around collars and knees
- Bobbling and thinning on cheaper fabrics
- Single items, which rarely justify postage
- Faded prints and cracked transfers
Grading it honestly
Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £2 to £11. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £1 to £6. 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:
- Sort by age band and photograph the bundle laid out
- Check every item in daylight for stains
- Count the items and state the sizes clearly
Photographing the flaw
Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:
- The full bundle laid out so every item is visible
- A close view of two or three of the best pieces
- The size labels grouped together
- Any stain, hole or worn knee, photographed honestly
What to state in the listing
Alongside the flaw itself, buyers of damaged kids clothes want these confirmed:
- Age band and gender, and the exact number of items
- A list of what the bundle contains by type
- Any recognisable brands included
- Condition of each item, and any stains or damage listed openly
Age band, gender, count and season: “Boys 3-4 Years Clothes Bundle, 12 Items, Autumn/Winter”. Age band and item count are the two things parents filter on. Naming recognisable brands in the title lifts the price noticeably if the bundle contains any.
What buyers will ask
Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:
List it by item type and count. Parents are working out whether it covers a season and a vague description invites low offers.
Check knees, cuffs and fronts under good light and disclose everything. Parents expect some wear and resent finding undisclosed marks.
Answer if asked, and volunteer it if true. Parents buying children’s clothes ask this more than any other category.
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:
- Bundles grouped by age and season
- Recognised brands with durable construction
- Unstained, unbobbled items with no lost buttons
- School-ready and outerwear items in demand
If the work would cost more than the gap between £6 and what sound ones fetch, sell them as they are damaged and let the buyer decide.
When to list it
Seasonal by nature — sell summer bundles in spring and winter bundles in early autumn. Bundles priced sensibly sell within days; individual items rarely sell at all.
Getting it to the buyer
Light and cheap to post in a large mailing bag. Vacuum bags reduce the parcel considerably on bigger bundles.
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 kids clothes selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sell damaged kids clothes?
Yes. Damaged kids clothes typically are worth £1 to £6 against £5 to £25 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Stains, particularly around collars and knees
Is it worth repairing first?
Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is bundles grouped by age and season — 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. List it by item type and count. Parents are working out whether it covers a season and a vague description invites low offers. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.
See also: what kids clothes are worth by condition · how to sell kids clothes · condition grades explained · all broken & damaged guides · all selling guides.