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How to Find Great Used Appliance Deals on Craigslist

Used appliances are one of those categories where Craigslist absolutely shines. A refrigerator or washer can't go in a flat-rate box. That means no national competition, just local buyers, local sellers, and prices that reflect the inconvenience of moving a 200-pound machine. For buyers who are willing to show up with a truck and a dolly, the deals are genuinely excellent.

Why Appliances Are Such a Good Craigslist Category

A few things stack in your favor here:

• Shipping is basically impossible. A washer or fridge can't go through eBay's standard shipping. The only buyers are local. That keeps competition low and prices reasonable.
• Sellers are highly motivated. Most appliance listings come from people who are moving, remodeling, or upgrading. They often have a hard deadline and genuinely need the item gone. That urgency shows up in the price.
• Retail markup is enormous. A basic washing machine retails for $700 to $1,000 new. A three-year-old model in good shape might list for $150. The functional difference is often zero.
• Appliances last a long time. A well-maintained refrigerator from 2015 has years of life left. Unlike electronics, older doesn't mean obsolete.

What to Search For

On Craigslist, try these searches:

• "washer dryer set", "washer dryer pair", "stackable washer dryer"
• "refrigerator", "side by side fridge", "french door refrigerator"
• "dishwasher", "stainless dishwasher"
• "appliance lot", "moving appliances", "kitchen appliances"

Sets and pairs are often especially underpriced. Someone listing a matching washer and dryer together usually just wants both gone in one transaction. They'd rather sell the pair for $200 than deal with two separate buyers, and that works out well for you.

The same principle applies to kitchen appliance lots. Someone remodeling and swapping out all stainless appliances at once may list them together cheap just to clear the house before contractors arrive. Keep an eye out for bundle listings.

Brands Worth Knowing

Not all brands are equal, and knowing the difference helps you move fast on a good listing:

• LG and Samsung (front-load washers, French door fridges). These are mid-to-high-tier and sell well used. LG front-loaders in particular have a strong reputation for longevity.
• Whirlpool, Maytag, and Amana. Workhorses. Repair parts are cheap and widely available. If something breaks, it's usually fixable without a service call.
• Bosch and Miele (dishwashers). Premium European brands. A used Bosch 500 series dishwasher at $150 is a steal compared to $900 new, and they're quiet and well-built.
• Speed Queen. Beloved by people who know laundry. Commercial-grade machines in residential form. If you see one at a reasonable price, it's worth acting on quickly.

Brands to be more cautious about: anything where the listing says "works great" but shows no brand, and older top-load washers from brands that have been discontinued. Parts availability matters for long-term ownership.

Questions to Ask Before You Go

A short message before making the drive can save you a wasted trip. These are worth asking:

1. Why are you selling it? "Moving" is great. "It stopped spinning" is not what you want to hear.
2. How old is it? Even approximate age helps you assess remaining lifespan.
3. Are there any known issues? Most honest sellers will tell you if there's a quirk. The ones who dodge this question are a yellow flag.
4. Is this the original owner? One-owner appliances from a house (as opposed to a rental property) are usually in significantly better shape.
5. Does it come with hoses and power cords? Missing parts are not a dealbreaker but factor it in.

What to Check When You Get There

If at all possible, test before you load. For a washer, ask to run it through a cycle. Watch for error codes, unusual noise, and whether it actually agitates and spins. For a fridge, make sure it's cold inside and the seals are tight (run your hand around the door edge with it closed to feel for air leaks). For a dishwasher, a quick visual of the interior tells you a lot, look for rust on the racks and check that the spray arms spin freely.

You don't need to be an appliance technician. You just need it to run without obvious problems. If it does, you've probably got a good deal.

Moving the Thing

This is where most people hesitate, and understandably so. A few things that help:

• An appliance dolly (or a heavy-duty furniture dolly) is almost essential. You can rent one from Home Depot or U-Haul for around $20.
• Bring a friend. Two people can manage most appliances safely. One person trying to solo a fridge is how backs get hurt.
• Ask if the seller will help load. Many will, especially if it gets the thing out of their house faster.
• Pickup trucks work fine for most washers and dryers. Fridges often need a van or enclosed trailer if you want to transport them upright (they should stay upright or on their side for only a short time).

Act Fast or Miss Out

Well-priced appliance listings are gone quickly. A $100 LG washer or a $200 French door refrigerator in good shape will have multiple inquiries within hours. Checking Craigslist manually once a day means you're almost always too late on the best finds.

The practical fix is setting up search alerts. That way, the moment a new listing matches your search (whether that's "washer dryer set" in your metro or "Bosch dishwasher" within 20 miles), you find out immediately instead of discovering it already sold. The same speed principles that apply to all Craigslist hunting matter here, maybe more than in most categories, because the items are large and sellers want quick resolution.

LurkMor lets you set those alerts for free. Set your search terms and location, and you'll get an email the moment a matching listing appears on Craigslist or eBay. It's built for exactly this kind of deal hunting, where being first matters and checking manually just doesn't cut it.