How to Cut Kitchen Appliance Costs by Buying Refurbished or Used

These days, many home appliances seem built to last only a few years before becoming outdated or wearing out to the point that repairs no longer make sense. One of the most effective ways to save on expensive kitchen appliances is to buy in bundles, but that approach is out of reach for many shoppers.

A simpler budget-friendly option is to shop for refurbished or pre-owned appliances. Well-known brands can carry steep prices when purchased new, but the cost can drop sharply when they are sold refurbished. If you know which brands tend to hold up well, you may be able to find high-quality appliances designed to last for years.

Choosing used kitchen appliances can also be better for the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency reported that the United States produced about 2.2 million tons of small appliance waste in 2018, and 75.9% of it ended up in landfills. Frequently replacing low-cost appliances is hard on both your budget and the planet. Making and shipping new appliances also puts a heavy burden on the environment, and many people are unfamiliar with the proper way to recycle old kitchen equipment. By knowing which brands to trust and how to spot quality, refurbished and used appliances can help lower your environmental impact.

Where to find the best refurbished kitchen appliances

When shopping for refurbished kitchen appliances online, start by checking whether the seller is reliable. Trustpilot can help you see whether a company has strong reviews, especially if it is unfamiliar. Some premium kitchen brands, including KitchenAid and Breville, offer certified refurbished sections on their own websites, where you can buy carefully restored small appliances that are close to new condition. Buying directly from the manufacturer often gives you a better chance of getting a product that performs well and comes with some kind of warranty. Big retailers such as Walmart and Best Buy also offer open-box kitchen appliances at marked-down prices.

Another option is Amazon's refurbished kitchen appliances storefront, which includes certified refurbished items from brands such as Ninja, KitchenAid, and Cuisinart. Customer reviews can help you decide whether a product fits your needs and budget. You can also look at local used appliance shops, yard sales, estate sales, and listings on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and eBay. Whenever possible, test the appliance before buying it, or confirm its condition through photos and videos, and only deal with sellers who have a strong reputation or good ratings.

Kitchen appliance brands to look for to get the most for your money

Before you buy a refurbished appliance, take time to research the brand's reputation and read reviews for the specific product. A second-hand appliance can be a good deal, but if the item is poor quality even when new, that weakness may be even more noticeable when bought used. Look at customer feedback on the brand's website or on Amazon, and read reviews from different years to see whether quality or performance has changed over time. It also helps to find reviews that mention how long the customer used the product before posting.

If you're unsure, stick with brands that have a long record of quality and value. A quick online search can reveal a lot about a kitchen brand. For example, Haier has a reputation for breaking down unexpectedly, while KitchenAid remains one of the most popular kitchen appliance brands in the United States because its products are known to last for decades. It is also worth checking independent review sources such as Consumer Reports and the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).