By Nate, Twin Cities Appliance Guys
The question I get most often about this is the simplest one: what does “scratch and dent” actually mean? People see the term thrown around, they know it’s cheaper than buying new, and they want to know what they’re really getting — and how it’s different from a used appliance like the ones I sell.
So here’s the straight version. I run a used appliance shop here in the Twin Cities. I don’t sell scratch and dent. That means I’ve got no reason to talk you into one or the other — I’m just going to tell you what each one is, and which one makes sense depending on what you’re after. If scratch and dent turns out to be the right call for you, I’ll point you to the folks in town who carry it.
What “Scratch and Dent” Means
A scratch-and-dent appliance is a brand-new appliance with cosmetic damage. It’s never been installed, never run a load of laundry, never had food in it. It just got dinged somewhere on the way to the showroom floor.
The damage usually happens one of three ways:
- In shipping from the manufacturer — a forklift ding, packaging that got crushed, a drop in transit.
- At the store — knocked into a doorframe, scraped on the warehouse floor, a display model that got handled.
- A return — somebody bought it new, returned it in the return window, and now the box is open so it can’t be sold as “new” anymore.
Mechanically it’s a new appliance. The flaw is cosmetic — sometimes a tiny scratch on a side panel nobody will ever see once it’s installed, sometimes a real dent on the front of a fridge door.
The big thing to understand: scratch-and-dent appliances usually keep the full manufacturer warranty. A cosmetic dent doesn’t void coverage on the parts inside — if the compressor quits two years later, the manufacturer covers it the same as if you’d paid full retail (Consumer Priority Service). One caveat worth saying out loud: that’s the norm, not a guarantee — some liquidation sales move units “as-is.” So always confirm the warranty in writing before you buy.
What “Used” Means
A used appliance has already lived a life. Somebody installed it, ran it for a while — could be one year, could be ten — and then it came back on the market because they upgraded, moved, or remodeled.
When a unit comes into my shop, I plug it in and run it to make sure it actually works before it ever goes up for sale. I’m not going to oversell that into some 20-point lab inspection — it’s a straightforward functional check: does it power on, does it run, does it do its job. What backs it up is the part that actually protects you: every appliance I sell comes with a 30-day functional warranty. If something isn’t working right in the first month, I make it right. (Here’s exactly how that works.)
That’s the real difference between buying from a shop and buying off Facebook Marketplace from a stranger. A private seller plugs nothing in and stands behind nothing. When the unit leaves my floor, I’m still on the hook for it.
Used appliances generally don’t carry a manufacturer warranty — it’s usually expired by the time a unit reaches a second owner anyway. What a used appliance should come with is the dealer’s own warranty. If a used seller won’t stand behind the unit at all, that tells you something.
The Difference at a Glance
| Scratch and Dent | Used | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | New appliance, cosmetic damage | Previously owned, already in service |
| How it runs | New — never been used | Working, tested before resale |
| Warranty | Manufacturer warranty (usually) | Dealer warranty (mine is 30-day functional) |
| Discount vs. new | Roughly 10–30% off | Roughly 40–70% off |
| Best if you | Want new at a discount and don’t mind a visible flaw | Want a working appliance at the biggest savings |
So Which One Do You Want?
Scratch and dent makes sense if: you want a new appliance with the manufacturer warranty, you’re okay with a cosmetic flaw (especially if it’ll be hidden once installed), and the discount on the unit you want is big enough to matter.
Used makes sense if: you need a working appliance now, the price difference matters more than paying for “new,” or you’re outfitting a rental and substantial savings beat a factory warranty. You get the most off retail this way — as long as you’re buying from someone who tested it and stands behind it.
Honestly, neither might be right if: you’re putting appliances in your forever home and you want 15–20 years out of them with full factory protection. That’s a buy-new situation.
Common Questions
Is scratch and dent really still “new”? Functionally, yes — it’s never been used. The damage is cosmetic. Just confirm the warranty is intact when you buy.
Are used appliances reliable? It depends entirely on who you buy from. A unit that a shop powered on, tested, and warrantied is a different thing than whatever a stranger is selling out of a garage. The tell is simple: ask whether they test their units and whether it comes with a warranty. If the answer is no and no, that’s your answer.
Why the big price gap? Because they’re different products. Scratch and dent is a new appliance — full life ahead of it, warranty attached. Used has some of its life already spent. Different value, different price.
Where do I find scratch and dent in the Twin Cities? A couple of local shops carry mixed new and scratch-and-dent inventory — Appliance Solutions MN (Ham Lake) and Appliance Depot (Inver Grove Heights) are the ones I’d point you to.
Where do I find tested used? That’s us — Twin Cities Appliance Guys. Every unit tested, every unit warrantied, delivery available across the metro.
Buying a used dryer? It may come with a cord that doesn’t match your outlet. Here’s how to change a dryer cord from 4-prong to 3-prong.
The Short Version
Scratch and dent = new with a cosmetic flaw, keeps the factory warranty, costs a bit less. Used = previously owned, biggest savings, only as good as the shop behind it.
I sell tested used appliances with a 30-day functional warranty, and I deliver across the Twin Cities. If you’ve got a brand or model in mind, see what’s in stock, check how buying works, or just call or text 651-556-2320 and I’ll tell you whether I’ve got it. And if scratch and dent is what you really need, go see the folks above — no hard feelings.
— Nate, Twin Cities Appliance Guys · Saint Paul, MN · 651-556-2320