Second-hand desk

Price the condition before the paint.

A cosmetic scrape is usually harmless. Cracks, crushed graphite and a worn-through bumper are where a bargain becomes false economy.

Editorial method · updated 15 September 2026

Use sold comparisons, not a fixed percentage.

Start with several recent completed sales for the exact generation, head size and grip size. Separate single frames from pairs, damaged items and customised rackets. Asking prices show what a seller hopes to receive, not what buyers paid.

  1. Record the sale date, condition, delivery cost and included accessories.
  2. If a best-offer amount is hidden, do not treat the asking price as the accepted price.
  3. Allow for string, grip or bumper work, then compare the total with a currently verified new offer.
  4. If there are too few comparable sales, say the value is uncertain. Do not manufacture a range.

No used-market values or listings are verified here. Use a marketplace’s completed/sold filter and read each listing.

Correction history

15 September 2026: removed the earlier 45–65% of new-price rule. It was an editorial rule of thumb without a supporting sold-listing sample and should not be used as a market valuation.

Five-minute inspection

  1. Run a finger around the hoop and throat for cracks or soft spots.
  2. Inspect the bumper at 10 and 2 o’clock for exposed graphite.
  3. Confirm exact model, weight and grip from the printed specification.
  4. Ask about professional customisation or repairs.
  5. Add the cost of strings, grip and grommets before comparing prices.

Questions for the seller

  • How long have you owned it and how often was it played?
  • Has the frame ever cracked, been repaired or been matched?
  • When was it last restrung and with what string?
  • Can you provide close photos of the bumper, throat and both sides?
Identify the exact model in the catalogue →

This guide helps assess an advert; it cannot verify a seller’s condition claims or authenticate a racket remotely.