Last updated: 2026-07-16 · Written by the usedappliancestores.com data team. Brand-availability counts come from our national dataset of 6,691 published store listings (methodology).
Scratch-and-dent discounts are not set by brand generosity. They are set by four measurable factors: where the damage sits, how visible the category makes it, whether the model year is current, and whether the manufacturer warranty survives. This page gives you the factor table to judge any quoted discount, plus our data on which brands actually show up at independent dealers. We do not publish invented "average discount" percentages; our observed-price index for this category is in development and will publish on this site with its methodology (the Used-Appliance Price Index).
The four factors that set the price
| Factor | Deepens the discount | Shrinks the discount |
|---|---|---|
| Damage location | Front panel, door face, visible top | Side/back panel that faces a wall or cabinet |
| Category visibility | Ranges and refrigerators (damage faces the room) | Washers, dryers, dishwashers (sides hidden in install) |
| Model year | Discontinued or superseded model | Current model, full accessory support |
| Warranty status | Coverage voided or unclear | Manufacturer coverage confirmed in writing |
The practical consequence: the best value in the category is a unit whose damage lands where its installation hides it. A dented left panel on a washer that sits against a wall is a discount for damage you will never see. That is also why quoted discounts on identical damage differ across categories, and why a single "scratch-and-dent saves X%" number would be meaningless even if someone measured it honestly.
Brand availability at independent dealers, from our data
These counts are stores in our directory whose own published websites name the brand. They measure availability at independent dealers, not market share.
| Brand | Published stores naming it | Distribution pattern |
|---|---|---|
| GE | 452 | Open retail; widest independent presence in our data |
| Whirlpool | 415 | Open retail |
| LG | 400 | Open retail |
| Samsung | 345 | Open retail |
| Frigidaire | 293 | Open retail |
| Maytag | 288 | Open retail (Whirlpool family) |
| KitchenAid | 236 | Open retail (Whirlpool family) |
| Bosch | 216 | Open retail, premium tier |
| Speed Queen | 173 | Selective: authorized-dealer network (authorized dealer vs. gray-market appliances) |
| Amana | 165 | Open retail, value tier |
| Wolf | 157 | Selective: showroom/authorized network |
| Sub-Zero | 137 | Selective: showroom/authorized network |
| Miele | 104 | Selective, premium tier |
Two readings matter. First, the open-retail brands (GE, Whirlpool, LG, Samsung, Frigidaire) dominate independent-dealer shelves, so scratch-and-dent hunting in those brands has the most supply. Second, the selective-distribution brands (Speed Queen, Sub-Zero, Wolf, Miele) still appear at 100+ independent dealers each in our data; for those brands, confirming the dealer's authorized status matters more than the discount, because warranty coverage can depend on it.
Category demand and what to check, per category
Search demand tells you where the competition for good units is (volumes: DataForSEO, Google Ads data, 2026-07-10):
| Category | US searches/mo ("scratch and dent" + category) | What to check before buying |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerators | 3,600 | Door seal integrity, compressor area undamaged, doors close flush |
| Washer + dryer | 1,900 | Drum spins true, no frame distortion, connections intact |
| Dishwashers | 880 | Door alignment and gasket, rack hardware present |
| Ranges | (clusters under the 40,500/mo head term) | Door glass and hinge alignment, burner/element function |
Refrigerators draw the most category-specific demand, and they are also the category where damage is most likely to matter functionally: a dent near the door gasket or the sealed system is not a cosmetic problem. Ranges sit at the other pole: highly visible damage, mechanically simple, so the deepest cosmetic discounts with the least mechanical risk.
How do you judge a quoted discount?
- Price the identical model new (model numbers are printed on the unit's rating plate; check two retailers).
- Apply the factor table above: hidden damage on a current model with confirmed warranty should carry a smaller discount than visible damage on a superseded model without coverage. If the price does not reflect the factors, negotiate on the factors.
- Get the warranty answer in writing. This single step separates a real scratch-and-dent bargain from a used-appliance risk profile at a scratch-and-dent price.
- Vet the store itself with the checklist in how to verify a used-appliance store.
Find scratch-and-dent dealers near you on the scratch and dent page, or browse outlets on appliance outlets. For whether the category beats buying used at all, see is buying used or scratch-and-dent worth it.
Sources
- usedappliancestores.com store dataset, 2026-07-15 build: brand counts from stores' own published websites (methodology).
- DataForSEO (Google Ads search volume data), pulled 2026-07-10 and 2026-07-14.