What Questions To Ask Before Buying Used Kitchen Appliances.

Buying used kitchen appliances can save you money; sometimes it can save you a lot of money. But where, and how do you find a quality refrigerator in good working condition? Sometimes a great deal on a used appliance is not the best deal.

Used appliances are a gamble. You don't know exactly how well taken care of the appliance was and how it was used, so it makes things more difficult to find a quality used appliance. For example if a refrigerator has been sitting in a garage for many years the seals may be bad, or the compressor my be seized. This depends on how it was stored and the conditions in which it was stored.

Where can you find some good used kitchen appliances? I would first try your local paper's classifieds, the sellers are local and getting the appliance home will less of a hassle. You can also try the Yellow Pages or Craigslist. is also a good resource for finding used appliances. If you need, or want, some kind of warranty then I would search the Yellow Pages for refurbished appliance dealers in your area.

First thing to do before even considering buying a used kitchen appliance is to ask questions. This will be the first indication of how trustworthy the person selling the appliance is. If they are evasive to your questions or simply give yes and no answers than that should be a red flag.

Here are some questions you may want to ask the seller: (I will go into detail on each one below)

1. Are you the original buyer?
2. How long have you had the appliance?
3. What is the reason for selling it?
4. How long has it been sitting unused, or unplugged?
5. When was the last time it was serviced and by whom?
6. Do you have all of the original paperwork and manuals?
7. Where were the used kitchen appliances used mostly (in the home or a garage)?

These questions are important because it gives you a good starting point in making an informed decision. Not only an informed decision but may also give you some bargaining room. It's true that some people don't tell the whole truth, but it still gives you some idea about how the appliance was used.

Are you the original buyer?
This is an important question because if the person you're talking to is not the original purchaser, then how will you know how the appliance was treated prior to this person getting the appliance? Sure they can tell you that the original buyer kept it in tip-top shape, but how will you know for sure? I personally will not buy used kitchen appliances that are not from the original buyer. Unless it comes from a refurbished appliance dealer who will offer some kind of warranty.

How long have you had the appliance?
This is where some research comes into play. If during your research you find that the appliance was made in 2005 and the person says they bought it in 2002 that may be a red flag that they are not the original buyer, a good way to find out the truthfulness of the seller.

Also the older the appliance is the less efficient it will be. Buying a used appliance is not necessarily the most cost effective long term money saving option. If you plan to buy the appliance as a short term solution then it may be worth it, but of course this depends on your finances at the time.

What is the reason for selling it?
This may be simply because it's not needed or that the appliance was replaced by a newer one. On the other hand it may be an electricity hog, has a bad compressor, or it may not work properly. All of these things will determine the price of the appliance. This is where you want to plug in the appliance, if not already, and see if it works. This may be difficult for some appliances like electric, or gas ranges.

Me personally, I would not buy any used kitchen appliances I cannot see working. Some of the newer appliances have complex circuit boards that are expensive to replace. You may get an appliance for very little money but if it requires a $300 to $400 circuit board replacement then is it really worth it?

How long has it been sitting unused or unplugged?
Appliances like refrigerators need to be plugged in to keep the internal seals on the working parts lubricated. Ranges are not really effected by not being used unless they are stored in a humid garage or in a basement. As odd as it may seem some appliances last longer if they are used regularly. Again, plug the appliance in to see if it works properly and doesn't make any unusual noises.

When was the last time the appliance was serviced and by whom?
Servicing an appliance does not need to be done professionally unless it was needing to be repaired. If it was repaired, was it an ongoing problem or a first time problem? This is where some research comes in handy as well. Try to find an appliance review on that specific appliance model.

A good place for that is My3Cents.com. There you can find a lot of reviews and complaints about specific appliances. Please take all complaints with a grain of salt and use your best judgment when reading them. If there are tons of complaints then it's a widespread problem and does require some consideration.

Do you have all of the original paperwork and manuals?
Manuals can be very difficult to find. There are some websites that offer replacement manuals, some for a price and others are free, it depends on who it offering it and the rarity of that appliance.

When a manufacturer discontinues an appliance the manuals are often removed from their websites. When the seller is able to offer the manuals and paperwork that, in my opinion, shows that they are responsible and care about their things. This is not always the case though.

Where were the used kitchen appliances used mostly (in the home or a garage)?
An appliance used in the home is not exposed to the extremes of hot and cold that an unheated garage will be. For example, a refrigerator used in a garage will have to work harder in the summer months to keep the interior cold. This puts more wear and tear on the compressor and other moving parts.

If the garage is heated and conditioned in the extreme months of the year this obviously is not a problem and should be treated as it if where in the living space.

As you can see there are many things to consider before laying out your hard earned cash on used kitchen appliances. Any honest seller would be happy to answer any questions you have in regards to the appliance you are looking at. If they shy away from any questions you have to wonder why, and go further into depth on that question until you get an answer you're happy with.

Return From Used Kitchen Appliances to Major Kitchen Appliances

Go To Home Page