Short answer: usually nothing that matters. A scratch & dent appliance is a new appliance with a cosmetic mark on it. The scratch is why it's 30–60% cheaper. The dent is not why it would break.
Here's how to think about it, what we check, and how to buy one without getting burned.
Where scratch & dent appliances come from.
A fridge travels a long way before it gets to a showroom. Factory, truck, warehouse, another truck, a stockroom, a floor. Somewhere along the way it gets bumped. Or a customer buys it, the delivery guy scuffs it going through a doorway, and they refuse it at the door.
The big retailer can't sell a fridge with a ding at full price. They also don't want to fix it, store it, or explain it. So it goes out on a truck as "scratch & dent" and lands on our floor.
Most of the time, that's the whole story. A brand-new appliance with a mark on it.
What "scratch & dent" usually means.
- A dent on the side. The side that's going to be against a wall or a cabinet.
- A scuff on the top or back. Places you'll never look at again.
- A scratch on the door. Sometimes noticeable, sometimes you have to hunt for it.
- Damaged packaging. The box got wrecked. The appliance inside didn't.
- Floor model. It sat in a showroom and got touched by a thousand people. Never plugged in for real use.
- Open box. Somebody bought it and returned it. Maybe it didn't fit. Maybe they changed their mind.
None of those things affect how the appliance runs. They affect how it looks in a photo.
What we do before it goes on the floor.
We check what we can. Doors open and close. Drawers slide. Cords and plugs are intact. Nothing's rattling around inside. If a unit has real damage — a cracked drum, a compressor problem, a bent frame — it doesn't go on the floor. We're not in the business of selling you a headache.
And if something does slip through? 30-day returns. Bring it back. We'd rather lose a sale than lose you.
How to buy a scratch & dent appliance like a pro.
- Measure first. Width, height, depth, and the doorway it has to fit through. Bring the numbers. We've seen too many people fall in love with a fridge that won't make the turn into the kitchen.
- Look at the damage in person. Decide if it's on a side you'll see. A dent on the left side of a fridge that goes against a wall is free money.
- Check the model number. Take a picture of the tag. Look up the retail price on your phone. Now you know exactly what you're saving.
- Ask us what we know. Where it came from, whether it's open-box or new, what we checked. We'll tell you straight.
- Plan the pickup. Large appliances are in-store pickup. We'll help you load it. Bring a truck, a trailer, or a friend with one.
What kind of savings are we talking about?
It depends on the unit and the damage, but 30–60% off retail is normal for us. A $1,200 fridge with a dented side might be $600. A $900 washer-dryer set with a scuffed lid might be $450. Some weeks we get pallets of the same model and price them to move fast.
Prices change every week because inventory changes every week. The best way to know what's here is to check the Facebook group or just come in on Thursday.
Quick answers.
Are scratch & dent appliances new?
Most are new with cosmetic damage. Some are open-box returns or floor models. We mark which is which.
Do they come with a warranty?
Every unit is covered by our 30-day return policy. Manufacturer warranties vary by brand and by how the unit was sold to us — ask about the specific unit and we'll tell you what we know.
Can you deliver?
Large appliances are in-store pickup at our Sheboygan or Wisconsin Rapids store. We'll help you load.
Which brands do you get?
It changes with every truck. We regularly see Frigidaire, Whirlpool, GE, Samsung, LG, Hisense, and Vissani. If you're hunting for something specific, ask — the team knows what's in the back.
What if I get it home and it doesn't work?
Bring it back within 30 days with your receipt. That's the whole policy.
Come look for yourself.
Walk the appliance aisle at either store. Find the dent. Then look at the price tag. Most people decide in about ten seconds.
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— Steve