The quick answer
If you can find the right scratch and dent unit, it is almost always the better buy. You get a functionally new appliance, the full manufacturer warranty, and a discount of 30–75% off retail — often for damage you'll never see once the unit is installed. Used appliances only make sense when you need something dirt-cheap for a rental, a garage, or a short-term stopgap, and you're comfortable with the risk that it may fail without warranty coverage.
Side-by-side comparison
| What matters | Scratch & Dent | Used |
|---|---|---|
| Condition | Retail stock with minor cosmetic damage | Pre-owned, often years of daily use |
| Manufacturer warranty | Yes — full coverage, same as retail | No — expired long ago |
| Store warranty | Backed by manufacturer + store | 30 days or "as-is," varies wildly |
| Expected lifespan | Full manufacturer-rated lifespan | Unknown — depends on prior use |
| Typical savings | 30–75% off MSRP | 50–80% off, but higher risk |
| Best for | Primary home appliances | Rentals, garages, temporary needs |
Why the warranty changes everything
A modern refrigerator or washer is a computer with a motor attached. Compressors, inverter boards, and control panels are the parts that fail — and they are also the most expensive to replace. On a scratch and dent unit, those repairs are covered by the manufacturer for the full warranty period, same as a new appliance from a big-box store.
On a used appliance, you are the warranty. If the compressor goes at month four, the repair bill can easily exceed what you paid for the unit itself. That's the trade you're making — a slightly deeper discount today in exchange for full risk on repairs tomorrow.
Every appliance we sell — new, open-box, and scratch & dent — ships with the full manufacturer warranty. We do not sell used appliances.
When scratch and dent is the right call
- You want your appliance to last 10+ years, not 2–3
- You're outfitting a kitchen or laundry room you actually live with
- You want brand-name reliability (Samsung, LG, GE, Bosch, Whirlpool) at a mid-range price
- You care about warranty coverage on compressors, motors, and control boards
- You'd rather have a small dent on a side panel than a mystery service history
When used might make sense
- A short-term rental where the unit only needs to work for a year or two
- A garage or basement backup fridge that doesn't need to be reliable
- A tight, one-time budget where any working appliance beats none
Even in these cases, run the math: a $300 used washer that dies in 18 months costs more per year than an $700 scratch and dent unit that lasts a decade.
Total cost of ownership
The sticker price is only part of the story. Factor in expected lifespan and the odds of a major repair, and scratch and dent almost always wins on cost per year of use. That's why we built our business around it — you get the reliability of a new appliance, at a price that used-appliance stores can't beat once the first repair bill lands.
New, open-box, overstock, cancelled orders, customer returns & scratch & dent
Our appliances come out of the retail supply chain, not out of homes — factory-new stock, open-box and display units, overstock, cancelled orders, customer returns, and scratch & dent. We're not a used-appliance dealer: nothing is bought secondhand out of households, and nothing is reconditioned or rebuilt. Condition varies unit to unit, is disclosed before purchase, and every appliance carries its full manufacturer warranty.
- Factory newSealed retail stock — full manufacturer warranty.
- Open boxOpened, floor-displayed or returned to the retailer; packaging may be incomplete.
- OverstockSurplus current-model inventory from distribution.
- Cancelled ordersOrders cancelled before or at delivery and sent back to the channel.
- Customer returnsReturned inside the retailer's return window — some untouched, some briefly hooked up. Inspected on arrival and disclosed to you.
- Scratch & dentRetail stock with cosmetic blemishes only — dings, scuffs, or panel dents.
See scratch & dent appliances in person
Call or text (573) 353-8511, request a specific appliance, or visit either showroom — 615 Delaware St in Jefferson City or 191 N Rangeline Rd in Columbia.
Related reading: Are Scratch and Dent Appliances Worth It?