How to Sell Damaged Shorts

Damaged shorts are still worth selling — typically £2 to £6 at For Parts, against £6 to £25 undamaged.

Can you sell shorts 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 shorts

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

Fading and thinning at the seat
Broken zips and missing buttons
Pilling on cheaper fabrics
Listing in autumn, when demand disappears

Grading it honestly

Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £3 to £11. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £2 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:

Check the seat and pockets in daylight
Work the zip and every fastening
Measure the waist and inseam

Photographing the flaw

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

The shorts or the bundle laid flat, all visible
The waistband with a tape across it
The inside leg or overall length measured
Labels showing sizes, plus any stain, fray or missing drawcord

What to state in the listing

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

Waist measured flat, and inside leg or total length
Style — chino, denim, athletic, swim or cargo
How many pairs if bundled, itemised by size
Fabric, and whether there is a liner on athletic or swim shorts

Type, size and quantity: “3 Pairs Chino Shorts, W32, Bundle” or “Nike Running Shorts, Size M, 5in Inseam”. Inseam length is a real search on athletic shorts. For everyday shorts, quantity and a single waist size is what makes a bundle attractive.

What buyers will ask

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

“What is the inseam?”

Measure it. On athletic and casual shorts the length is the whole style decision and it is rarely stated.

“Will you split the bundle?”

Decide beforehand. Splitting a low-value bundle usually costs more in postage and effort than it returns.

“Is there a liner?”

For swim and running shorts, say whether the mesh liner is present and intact. Buyers ask and many prefer them removed.

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 brands with a following
Natural fabrics with good weight
Intact pockets and working fastenings
Listing in late spring

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

Almost entirely April to August. Shorts listed in October will barely be seen, so hold a bundle until spring rather than discounting it.

Getting it to the buyer

Very cheap to post, and bundles post nearly as cheaply as singles — which is exactly why bundling works so well in this category.

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 shorts selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.

Frequently asked questions

Can you sell damaged shorts?

Yes. Damaged shorts typically are worth £2 to £6 against £6 to £25 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Fading and thinning at the seat

Is it worth repairing first?

Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is recognised brands with a 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 it. On athletic and casual shorts the length is the whole style decision and it is rarely stated. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.