that term sound familiar? If you've ever hunted for big-ticket home bargains, it will be. Scratch and dent refer to brand new, large appliances sold at heavy discounts by third party retailers. Ideally, these appliances are perfectly fine. They're fresh off the assembly line, unused, and function as they were designed.
The only difference is that their external packaging was damaged at some point. In theory, the only issue with these appliances is slight and merely cosmetic. Often, any scratches or dents are minor and out of sight.
By purchasing a scratch and dent appliance, you can get a fridge, stove, or washer & Dryer in mint condition for a used appliance price. If you're lucky, you might snatch up something for 30 to 60 percent off its retail cost.
Tips for Shopping Scratch-and-Dent Factories
Have a plan in mind.
If you're sliding a stove into a counter, side dents don't matter. If you're covering a fridge in wood paneling, a front dent is no big deal. Personally, I like to zoom in on appliances where the dents are in convenient places—i.e. can be covered up with a tea towel or is in the upper corner where you might keep a magnet notepad with your grocery list.
Bring a tape measure.
Know what space you have to work with and then be prepared to measure appliances when you shop in store; some appliances have dimensions listed, others don’t and you’ll want to make sure the fridge, oven, dishwasher or washer and dryer units will fit your space before you bring them home.
Have your cell phone handy.
The appliances have model details on them, so with my phone in hand, I was able to walk the aisles searching for them online to see how much they sold for, see the reviews, and read the ratings.
Pay attention to the warranty.
Most times, appliances will still be covered by the manufacturer's warranty, giving you protection in case of defects, but the scratch-and-dent retailer may also offer an additional warranty you can purchase to cover repairs.
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