At a Glance:
Do Scratch and Dent Appliances Work?
How Much Should a Dented Appliance Be Discounted?
What Appliances Are Sold as Scratch and Dent?
How Can You Shop the Scratch and Dent Section?
Are Dents Covered Under Warranty?
Can Dents Be Removed From Appliances?
Where Can I Find Scratch and Dent Appliances Near Me?
When you visit Spencer’s TV & Appliance, you might notice a scratch and dent section in our store. This is a common section in any appliance or home improvement operation. Scratch and dent appliances allow customers to save money while enabling businesses to sell lightly damaged pieces. If you are looking to save money on your appliance replacements, consider checking out the scratch and dent section.
Here’s everything you need to know about scratch and dent appliances and how to find deals on your favorite brands.
What is Scratch and Dent?
The scratch and dent section refers to appliances that were lightly damaged during the transit process. For example, a forklift might bump into a refrigerator creating a dent in its exterior. An employee might accidentally scratch the front of a washing machine while cutting away its plastic wrapping.
When there are cosmetic damages to an appliance, the store cannot sell it at full price. A customer who is expecting a perfect unit might be shocked to see a dent in the exterior. Any items with light damage are sent to the appliance scratch and dent section and discounted.
Do Scratch and Dent Appliances Work?
Yes. Appliance sellers are not allowed to sell products that do not work. Scratch and dent units are only cosmetically damaged. For example, if you buy a scratched refrigerator, it will still keep your groceries cool and should have other functioning features (like an ice and water dispenser).
In some cases, you might not notice the damage unless you really look at the appliance. The issue might be so minor that it looks like you are getting a perfect appliance while saving money in the scratch and dent section.
The same can be said for clearance appliances. Any appliance you buy from a reputable vendor should be fully functioning. Otherwise, you might qualify for a replacement under your warranty.
How Much Should a Dented Appliance Be Discounted?
In most cases, scratch and dent appliances should be discounted by around 15% of the original purchase price. If you are interested in searching for scratch and dent units, check the average cost of the appliance before you buy it. This ensures you are actually getting a good deal on a cosmetically damaged product instead of paying full price for a sub-par unit.
Depending on the extent of the damage, the discount might be more or less than 15%. The damage might be so minor that it’s nearly unnoticeable and the scratch and dent discount is added for transparency. In other cases, the damage might be severe enough to need a steeper discount.
Is Scratch and Dent Worth It?
Many people believe that buying from the scratch and dent section is worth it in order to save money. The damage is usually minor and easy to overlook. There are also ways to hide any issues so you don’t notice any cosmetic problems with your appliances.
For example, scratch and dent refrigerators are popular because you can cover any issues with magnets, event invitations, and drawings from your children. A scratch and dent washer and dryer is no big deal because most guests never look at your laundry room. You can even cover a scratch and dent dishwasher if you feel like you can’t ignore the damage.
What Appliances Are Sold as Scratch and Dent?
Almost any appliance can be added to the scratch and dent section of the store if it has cosmetic damage. You can find refrigerators, washers, ranges, dishwashers, dryers, and other items that have minor problems.
There are some appliances and items that are less common in this section. TVs are rarely in the scratch and dent section because any damage to the screen isn’t considered cosmetic. A scratch can disrupt the viewing experience. Mattresses are also less common because a scratch can damage the fabric and support. Plus, no one wants to buy a new mattress with a stain on it.
How Can You Shop the Scratch and Dent Section?
The main drawback of scratch and dent appliances is that you can’t predict what items will be available. For example, you can’t pick out a Frigidaire refrigerator and expect to find a discounted model in the scratch and dent section. At times, finding any refrigerators or items you need can feel impossible when shopping with scratches and dents.
Here are a few ways to find a deal:
- Stop by Spencer’s TV & Appliance locations before your appliance breaks to check out the scratch and dent offerings. If you visit multiple times, you might find a quality appliance with minor damage.
- Visit multiple Spencer’s locations to check out the scratch and dent offerings. We have 10 locations in Phoenix and surrounding areas.
- Identify your appliance needs and check out the scratch and dent section for similar options. For example, instead of falling in love with a Samsung French-door refrigerator, see if there are any French-door models that meet your size needs in this section.
Our team cannot guarantee that you will find what you need in the scratch and dent section; however, it doesn’t hurt to check this area before you make a purchase to see if you can get a deal.
Are Dents Covered Under Warranty?
Scratches and dents are viewed as cosmetic problems that do not affect the performance of the appliance. As a result, they are not covered by your warranty. Whether you buy a scratch and dent appliance from the store or damage it yourself when you get home, you cannot use your warranty to repair the cosmetic issues.
When you buy an appliance at Spencer’s one of our team members can walk you through what your warranty covers and how to use it if needed.
Do Dents Need to Be Fixed?
Dents do not need to be fixed in order for an appliance to work. Think about a dent in your car. If someone in the parking lot opens their door and it dings your car, the dent doesn’t affect the performance. The same can be said for your appliance. A refrigerator can keep running even if there is a dent in the side or in the door.
If the dent is located in a sensitive place, the staff members at Spencer’s TV & Appliance will confirm the issue is only cosmetic before moving it to the sales floor. Our team will never sell an appliance that doesn’t work perfectly.
Can Dents Be Removed From Appliances?
In some cases, you might be able to remove the dent from the appliance or buff out the scratches to make them less noticeable. However, these cosmetic issues do not need to be replaced from the appliances.
Furthermore, if you aren’t sure what you are doing when trying to make the repairs, you could actually make the dents worse or more noticeable.
Most people won’t even notice the dents or scratches in your new appliance. They will be too excited about the features and performance to care about any cosmetic issues. Try to either ignore the damage or cover it up instead. If you don’t think you can do that, shopping from the scratch and dent section might not be right for you.
Where Can I Find Scratch and Dent Appliances Near Me?
Almost any company that sells appliances will have a scratch and dent section. However, you will have to look at these appliances in person. The scratch and dent offerings are too erratic to upload online. By the time a unit is posted on a company’s website, it’s possible that a customer bought the appliance.
Spencer’s offers scratch and dent appliances to customers. If you are shopping at another appliance company, call ahead to see if they have a scratch and dent section that you can peruse.
Why Trust Spencer’s TV & Appliance?
Since 1973, Spencer’s TV & Appliance has grown to 10 locations throughout the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. The secret to our longevity is simple: personal service. Customer satisfaction has always been the focus of our business, and throughout the years, we have been able to work hard with our suppliers to bring you the best prices. After all, getting customers the best price and personal attention is how we compete with big-box stores, day in and day out.
Not only do we offer top-rated appliances, name-brand electronics, and the best mattresses on the market but we also provide water treatment solutions and perform kitchen design services. Stop by your nearest Spencer’s and see what you’re missing!
Shop Scratch and Dent Appliances at Spencer’s
At Spencer’s TV & Appliance, we provide high-quality, name-brand products at great prices — check out our catalog to shop scratch and dent appliances online today. Your friends in the business are always happy to help you save with scratch and dent appliances. Call us, or better yet, stop by at one of our locations in the Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Glendale regions. Visit us today!
Learn More: Appliance Sales in Arizona: How to Save Money