How to Buy a Refurbished Washer
It happens to us all: We hear the death knell of our washing machine, with its squeaking, overloud motor, and strange rumblings. Or perhaps it just dies quietly one day. Either way, if the repair bill is more than the machine is worth, then it's time to look for a new one. If your budget is tight, skip the local box stores and consider buying a refurbished washer, which will cost you a fraction of the price and work just as well as a new one. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Consult your local phone directory for an appliance repair shop, either independent or affiliated with a larger service company such as Sears. These stores usually sell refurbished equipment that comes with a 30, 60 or 90-day warranty and has been fully serviced. These are usually items that a customer refused to pick up or were traded in for newer models.
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Visit the store and select models. Ask the technician about the refurbished washer. (At a small repair shop, you're usually talking to the owner, who was the repairman.) Usually, he will be able to give you the history of the washer and what the issues were in repairing it, so you'll know exactly what you're buying. He can also recommend a brand that perhaps hasn't as many issues as the model that you're looking at or one that has lower labor costs in the future.
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Ask if the repair shop offers delivery and what sort of warranty it offers on its appliances. Usually the shop offers appliance warranties that are 90 days for new models (scratched and dented but good mechanically), 60 days for used but recent models and 30 days for older appliances that were traded in for newer equipment.
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Ask the appliance repairman if he will take your old washer for parts and what the repairman will give you for it. More often than not, the shop will offer you a discount in exchange for the working parts on your appliance and remove the old washer from your house upon delivery of the new one. If the old washer isn't worth anything, the shop can tell you where to sell it for scrap. Scrap prices on appliances are low, so don't be disappointed if the repairman tells you that it's best left out by the curb for collection.
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Tips & Warnings
Be wary of buying a refurbished washer from an individual who is not a professional. Often, an appliance service technician is offered old equipment by a customer who has decided to purchase new equipment, and you can get a good deal. But be wary of the shade-tree mechanic who has repaired an old washer himself. It comes with no guarantees, and you are much better off buying from a professional or a shop where you can obtain a warranty.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit waschmaschine image by Stefan Häuselmann from Fotolia.com
