Last updated: 2026-07-16 · Written by the usedappliancestores.com data team. Store counts come from our own national dataset of 6,691 published store listings (methodology).
The four terms describe four different things. A used appliance has lived in someone's home. A scratch-and-dent appliance is new but cosmetically damaged, usually in shipping. A refurbished appliance was repaired and tested after a defect or return. An open-box appliance was purchased, unboxed, and returned, often without ever running a cycle. Price, risk, and warranty coverage differ across all four, and stores that sell one do not always sell the others.
The comparison table
| Used | Scratch-and-dent | Refurbished | Open-box | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Has it been owned and operated? | Yes, in a prior home | No | Sometimes (defect returns) | Briefly or not at all |
| Condition of the mechanics | Worn in proportion to age | New | Repaired and tested | New |
| Condition of the exterior | Varies with prior use | Visibly scratched or dented | Varies | Near-new |
| Typical seller | Independent used-appliance store | Outlet, freight liquidator, or independent dealer | Manufacturer program or repair-capable dealer | Big-box returns channel or outlet |
| Manufacturer warranty | Almost never remains | Often intact or partially intact; confirm in writing | Seller or program warranty, not the original | Sometimes intact; confirm the purchase date rule |
| Main risk | Unknown remaining lifespan | Damage that is more than cosmetic | Quality of the repair | Missing parts or accessories |
| Main advantage | Lowest entry price | New mechanics below new price | Tested and repaired by a technician | Near-new at a discount |
What "used" means
A used appliance was installed and operated in a prior household. Its remaining value depends on age against the appliance's expected lifespan: the National Association of Home Builders' Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components (2007) puts a washer at about 10 years, a refrigerator and dryer at about 13, and a dishwasher at about 9. A five-year-old washer has roughly half its expected life left; a ten-year-old one may have little. Ask the seller for the model number and manufacture date, then do that math before you look at the price. Our guide to appliance lifespan and repair vs. replace carries the full lifespan table.
Among the 6,691 store listings in our directory, 968 stores state on their own websites that they sell used appliances, the largest of the four segments we track. Browse them by state on the used appliances page.
What "scratch-and-dent" means
Scratch-and-dent units are new appliances with cosmetic damage, most often from freight handling. The mechanics have never run. The discount exists because retailers cannot sell a dented unit as new, so the inventory flows to outlets and independent dealers. The two questions that matter: where is the damage, and does the manufacturer warranty survive? A dent on a side panel that faces a cabinet costs you nothing. A damaged door seal or a bent frame is not cosmetic. Get the warranty status in writing; coverage practices vary by brand and by how the unit left the original channel.
In our dataset, 375 stores state that they sell scratch-and-dent inventory. The search demand is real: "scratch and dent appliances" draws about 40,500 US searches a month (DataForSEO, Google Ads data, 2026-07-10). Browse dealers on the scratch and dent page.
What "refurbished" means
A refurbished appliance failed, was returned, or came off lease, and was then repaired and tested before resale. The value of the label depends entirely on who did the work. A manufacturer program or a dealer with an in-house technician can document what was replaced and back it with a written guarantee. A seller who wiped the unit down and relabeled it "refurbished" cannot. Ask three things: what was repaired, who repaired it, and what written coverage comes with it. 184 stores in our dataset state that they sell refurbished units.
What "open-box" means
Open-box units were sold, unboxed, and returned, usually for reasons unrelated to function: wrong size, wrong color, a canceled renovation. Most have never run a full cycle. The risks are missing accessories (racks, hoses, brackets) and a manufacturer warranty clock that may have started on the first sale. 213 stores in our dataset state that they carry open-box inventory, and the category also flows through big-box returns channels and outlets (appliance outlets).
Which one should you buy?
| Your situation | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest possible price, short-term need (rental, temporary housing) | Used | Entry prices are lowest; a short horizon limits lifespan risk |
| New appliance performance on a tight budget | Scratch-and-dent | New mechanics; you pay less for a scratch you may never see |
| You want the unit inspected and repaired by a technician first | Refurbished (documented) | The repair record and test are the product |
| You want near-new condition and the accessories matter | Open-box | Minimal wear, but verify the box contents |
| You need a warranty above all | Scratch-and-dent or open-box with confirmed coverage | These are the two categories where manufacturer coverage can survive |
Whatever the category, vet the store before the appliance. Our how to verify a used-appliance store is the checklist we apply to every listing in the directory, and each store page shows the result (methodology).
Sources
- usedappliancestores.com store dataset, 2026-07-15 build: 6,691 published listings; segment counts from stores' own published websites (methodology).
- National Association of Home Builders / Bank of America, Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components, 2007.
- DataForSEO (Google Ads search volume data), pulled 2026-07-10 and 2026-07-14.