Scratch and dent appliances
Same appliance. A dent on the side. A much smaller price.
Scratch and dent appliances are new refrigerators, washers, ranges and dishwashers with cosmetic damage from shipping or handling. Inside they are the same machines, and the discount is often 20 to 50 percent. This guide explains what to look for so the dent is the only thing you compromise on.
Appliance guides
- Refrigerators A refrigerator is the appliance where a scratch costs you the least.
- Washers Washers live in a laundry room or a basement, usually side by side with a dryer.
- Dryers A dryer is a simple machine: a drum, a motor, a heat source and a vent.
- Ranges A freestanding range slides between cabinets, so its side panels disappear the moment it is installed.
- Wall Ovens A built-in wall oven is set into a cabinet cutout, and only the front face stays visible.
- Microwaves Over-the-range microwaves are mounted under a cabinet, so their top and sides are hidden.
- Cooktops Most of a cooktop sits below the countertop.
- Dishwashers A built-in dishwasher is the most hidden appliance in the kitchen.
- Snowthrowers Snowthrowers are seasonal: prices drop late in the winter and in the off-season, when stores clear floor models and units with scuffed housings or bent chutes.
What “scratch and dent” actually means
Appliances travel from the factory to a distribution center, to a store, and to your home. Somewhere along the way a forklift touches a side panel, a carton gets crushed, or a floor model picks up scratches. The appliance still works, but it can no longer be sold as perfect.
Retailers mark these units down instead of sending them back. In many cases the manufacturer warranty still applies, because the damage is cosmetic and the unit is new. Always confirm warranty terms before buying.
Where a dent costs you nothing
- Side panels of a refrigerator, range or dishwasher installed between cabinets.
- The back and top of almost any appliance.
- The outer box of built-in wall ovens and cooktops, hidden by cabinetry.
- Washer and dryer sides that face each other or a wall.
Five checks before you buy
- Find all the damage. Walk around the unit and ask where every mark is. Make sure none of it will face the room once it is installed.
- See it running. A refrigerator should get cold, a range should heat, a washer should fill and spin. Ask to see it plugged in.
- Check functional parts. Door seals, glass, hinges, coils and connections are not cosmetic. Damage there is a reason to walk away.
- Get the warranty in writing. Ask whether the full manufacturer warranty applies and keep the receipt that says so.
- Check what is included. Shelves, racks, brackets, hoses and manuals can be missing from floor models.
Example savings
Historical listings from this site’s earlier outlet pages, shown to illustrate the size of a typical discount.
- RefrigeratorsGE GSHS5KGXSS25 cu. ft. side-by-side, stainless steel, ice and water
$1,499$899 - RefrigeratorsGE Profile PFIC1NFWW20.8 cu. ft. counter-depth French door, ice maker, panel-ready
$2,449$1,169 - DryersGE Profile DPVH890EJWW7.5 cu. ft. electric with SteamRefresh and sensor dry
$1,299$799 - MicrowavesGE Profile SCA1000BAdvantium speed cook oven: sensor cooking, bake, brown and combination modes, halogen lighting
$789$369 - Wall OvensGE JTP28CFCC30" double wall oven, TrueTemp even heat, large clear window, 52 7/8" x 29 3/4" x 23 1/2"
$1,349$899 - DishwashersGE GLD4456CSSteam pre-wash, five-stage filtration, deep upper rack, 57 dBA, CleanSteel
$549$399
Brands you will see at outlet prices
GE, GE Profile, GE Monogram, Hotpoint, Frigidaire, Samsung, LG, Ariens, Toro. Major-brand appliances from GE and its Profile and Monogram lines, Hotpoint and Frigidaire make up much of the scratch and dent market, along with Samsung and LG. Outdoor power equipment from Ariens and Toro follows a seasonal cycle.