How to Sell a Damaged Kids Coat

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

Can you sell a kids coat 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 kids coats

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

Broken zips, the most common fault
Cuff fraying and stained sleeves
Delaminated waterproof coatings
Listing winter coats in spring

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:

Run the zip fully several times
Check the cuffs and collar in daylight
State the age and chest measurement

Photographing the flaw

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

The coat flat or on a hanger, front, whole
The back and the hood
The zip fully closed and the cuffs
The label showing brand and size, plus any stain, tear or worn patch

What to state in the listing

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

Brand, age or size label, plus chest and length measured flat
Whether it is waterproof, showerproof or neither, and whether it is lined
Zip, popper and hood condition
Any stain, tear or repair, stated plainly

Brand, type, size and season: “Regatta Waterproof Kids Coat, Age 5-6, Fleece Lined”. Brand matters more than people expect on outdoor kit, and words like waterproof, padded and fleece lined are all real searches for parents shopping by weather rather than by style.

What buyers will ask

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

“Is it actually waterproof?”

Say what you have observed. Coatings wear off and a coat that no longer beads should be described as showerproof at best, or as needing reproofing.

“What are the measurements?”

Give chest and length flat. Age labels differ so much between brands that the measurement is what parents actually use.

“Are there any stains?”

Photograph any mark in daylight. Children’s coats collect marks and buyers expect some; they just want to see them.

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 outdoor and kidswear brands
Working zips and intact cuffs
Waterproof coats with functioning coatings
Bundles by size and season

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

Strongly seasonal. Winter coats sell from September to December and waterproofs in spring and autumn. A padded winter coat listed in May will sit, so hold it until autumn.

Getting it to the buyer

Light and compressible, so postage is cheap. Vacuum bags reduce the parcel size on padded coats and cut the volumetric cost significantly.

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 kids coat selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.

Frequently asked questions

Can you sell a damaged kids coat?

Yes. A damaged kids coat typically is worth £2 to £9 against £8 to £35 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Broken zips, the most common fault

Is it worth repairing first?

Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is recognised outdoor and kidswear brands — 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 what you have observed. Coatings wear off and a coat that no longer beads should be described as showerproof at best, or as needing reproofing. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.