Can you sell a skateboard 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 skateboards
These are the flaws that move a skateboard down the grades, and the ones a buyer will check first:
- Delaminated plies, especially at the tail
- Razor tail from heavy braking
- Seized or gritty bearings
- Cracked decks through the truck mounts
Grading it honestly
Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £9 to £54. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £5 to £30. 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 nose and tail for lifting plies
- Spin each wheel and listen to the bearings
- Photograph the deck top and underside
Photographing the flaw
Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:
- The deck from above, showing graphic and griptape
- The underside, showing trucks, wheels and any deck damage
- The trucks close up with the brand visible
- The tail and nose, showing wear, plus any delamination
What to state in the listing
Alongside the flaw itself, buyers of damaged skateboards want these confirmed:
- Deck brand and width in inches
- Truck brand and size, wheel size and durometer
- Bearing brand and ABEC rating
- Deck condition including razor tail, chips and delamination
Deck size and components: “Element 8.0in Complete Skateboard, Independent Trucks, Bones Bearings”. Deck width in inches is the primary filter. Naming the trucks and bearings raises the price because those are the expensive parts.
What buyers will ask
Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:
Say whether it is ready to ride or missing parts. Completes and parts are different listings with different buyers.
Photograph it. Razor tail is the standard wear point and buyers judge remaining deck life from it.
Read the width in inches off the deck or the maker’s listing. It is how every skater chooses.
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:
- Complete setups with trucks, wheels and bearings
- Decks with no delamination at the nose or tail
- Recognised deck and truck brands
- Bearings that spin freely
If the work would cost more than the gap between £30 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is damaged and let the buyer decide.
When to list it
April through September, peaking in summer. Recognised component brands sell year round.
Getting it to the buyer
Awkward shape but postable in a long box. Remove or protect the trucks so they do not punch through the packaging.
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 skateboard selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sell a damaged skateboard?
Yes. A damaged skateboard typically is worth £5 to £30 against £20 to £120 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Delaminated plies, especially at the tail
Is it worth repairing first?
Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is complete setups with trucks, wheels and bearings — 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 whether it is ready to ride or missing parts. Completes and parts are different listings with different buyers. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.
See also: what skateboard is worth by condition · how to sell skateboard · condition grades explained · all broken & damaged guides · all selling guides.