Kitchen
Scratch and dent refrigerators
A refrigerator is the appliance where a scratch costs you the least. Most of the cabinet ends up hidden between cabinets and a wall, and a dent on a side panel does nothing to how cold it keeps your food.
Where the damage usually is
Outlet refrigerators are mostly freight-damaged: a forklift scuff on a side panel, a crease on the back, a dented door bottom or a cracked kick plate. Those parts are either invisible once installed or cheap to replace.
The side that faces your kitchen is the door. If the doors are clean, a damaged side panel next to a wall or a tall cabinet is pure savings.
What to check before you buy
- Open both doors and look at the gaskets. A torn or kinked gasket leaks cold air and is the one cosmetic-looking defect that costs energy every day.
- Look behind the unit: the condenser coils, the compressor and the tubing should be straight and undamaged. A dent there is not cosmetic.
- Ask to see it plugged in. A healthy unit starts to feel cool inside within 30 to 60 minutes and the compressor runs without rattling.
- For ice and water models, check that the dispenser paddle, the ice chute flap and the water line connection are intact.
- Measure the opening, the door swing and the doorways on the delivery path. Counter-depth French door units are wide and doors often need to come off.
Which types make the best outlet buys
- Side-by-side models with ice and water through the door show up often and carry the biggest dollar discount relative to their size.
- Counter-depth French door models are expensive new, so even a modest outlet discount is several hundred dollars.
- Beverage centers and wine coolers are frequently marked down for a scuffed door frame or a missing shelf.
Example refrigerator models and prices
These listings come from this site’s earlier outlet pages and show the typical gap between retail and scratch and dent prices. They are historical references, not current offers. Models change every year; use the specs to compare with what you find today.
| Brand and model | Description | Retail | Outlet | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GE GSS20IETWW | 20 cu. ft. side-by-side, ice and water through the door, about 67" x 33" x 32" | $699 | 36% | |
| GE GSH22JFXWW | 22 cu. ft. side-by-side, ENERGY STAR, ice and water through the door | $699 | 44% | |
| GE GSHF5KGXWW | 25 cu. ft. side-by-side, ice and water, 68 3/4" x 35 3/4" x 32" | $749 | 42% | |
| GE GSHS5KGXSS | 25 cu. ft. side-by-side, stainless steel, ice and water | $899 | 40% | |
| GE Profile PSF23MGWW | 23 cu. ft. side-by-side with ClimateKeeper, ice and water | $969 | 50% | |
| GE Profile PFIC1NFWW | 20.8 cu. ft. counter-depth French door, ice maker, panel-ready | $1,169 | 52% | |
| GE Profile PSHS6RGXSS | 25.6 cu. ft. stainless side-by-side, ClimateKeeper | $1,299 | 35% | |
| GE Profile PSF26NGWW | 25.5 cu. ft. side-by-side, white, ice and water | $1,299 | 49% | |
| GE Profile PFCS1NJXSS | 20.8 cu. ft. counter-depth French door, external dispenser | $1,399 | 50% | |
| GE Profile PFCF1PJXBB | 20.9 cu. ft. counter-depth French door, black, LED lighting | $1,399 | 46% | |
| GE Profile PCR06WATSS | 5.5 cu. ft. beverage center, 150 cans, built-in or freestanding | $649 | 50% | |
| GE Profile PWR04FANBS | 29-bottle wine center, 45 to 65 degree control | $249 | 55% |