That old French door refrigerator is staring you down. It works, mostly, but the ice maker has a mind of its own and you’ve already picked out a sleek new model with a tablet on the door. Now comes the annoying part. You have to figure out where to offload the old one. Most people just assume they should haul it to the curb or let the delivery guys take it for a "recycling fee," which is basically paying someone to take your money. Honestly, that's a waste.
Knowing where can i sell appliances depends entirely on how much effort you’re willing to put in versus how fast you need that space back in your kitchen. If you want top dollar, you’re going to have to deal with the chaos of the public. If you want it gone by Tuesday, you’ll take a haircut on the price.
The Wild West of Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist
Facebook Marketplace has basically eaten the world of local classifieds. It’s where most people go first. Why? Because you can see a profile. It feels slightly less like a scene from a thriller movie than Craigslist used to. But let's be real—it’s a headache. You will get fifty messages asking "Is this available?" only for those people to vanish into the ether the moment you say yes.
I've found that the trick to actually moving a dryer or a stove on Marketplace is the "First 48" rule. If it doesn't sell in two days, your listing is buried under a mountain of used baby clothes and IKEA dressers. You have to price it aggressively. Check what others are listing for and go 10% lower. People are looking for a steal, not a fair market price.
Craigslist still has a niche, specifically for "appliance flippers." These are guys with trucks who spend their Saturdays driving around picking up broken or dated machines, fixing them in a garage, and reselling them. If your dishwasher is leaking or the oven won't hit 400 degrees, Craigslist is actually better. You just list it as "For Parts/Repair" and someone will usually show up with a dolly within three hours. They don't care about the dent in the side; they just want the motor or the control board.
Don't sleep on Nextdoor
Nextdoor is weird. It’s half "did anyone else hear that loud bang?" and half "I'm selling my toaster." But for big appliances, it’s a goldmine. The trust factor is higher because these are your actual neighbors. You aren't meeting a stranger in a parking lot; you’re selling to the lady three streets over. Because there's a sense of community, you can often get a slightly higher price. Plus, the "porch pickup" culture is strong there.
Used Appliance Stores and Local Refurbishers
If you hate people, go to a pro. Every mid-sized city has at least three or four mom-and-pop shops that sell refurbished units. Look for places with names like "Joe's Affordable Appliances" or "The Washer & Dryer Warehouse." They are always looking for inventory.
Here is the catch: they have to make a profit. If your fridge is worth $400 on the open market, Joe is going to offer you $150. He has to pay for the gas to pick it up, the labor to clean it, and the overhead of his shop. It's the "Pawn Stars" logic. You're paying for the convenience of not having strangers in your house.
Some of these shops won't even pay cash. They might offer a "haul-away" service for free in exchange for the unit. Normally, a junk removal service like 1-800-GOT-JUNK will charge you $100+ to take an appliance. So, getting it taken for free is technically a $100 win. Think about it.
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The Scrap Metal Option
If the thing is truly dead—I’m talking a compressor failure on a 20-year-old Kenmore—don't bother trying to sell it as a functioning machine. You're looking for a scrap yard. Copper and aluminum prices fluctuate, but a heavy appliance can sometimes net you $15 to $30 at a scrap heap. It’s not a lot. But it's better than zero.
Wait. You have to be careful here. Refrigerators and AC units contain freon. Federal law (and common sense) says you can't just cut the lines. Most scrap yards won't touch a fridge unless it has a tag from a certified technician proving the refrigerant was recovered. If you don't have that, you're better off calling the utility company.
Utility Rebate Programs: The Secret Payday
This is the one most people miss. Companies like ComEd, PG&E, or Duke Energy often have "Appliance Recycling Programs." They literally want your old, energy-hogging fridge off the grid. Why? Because it helps them meet state energy-reduction mandates.
Often, they will:
- Come to your house.
- Go down into your basement.
- Haul the fridge out for you.
- Mail you a check for $50 or $75.
No negotiating. No "Is this available?" messages. No lifting. It has to be a working unit, though. They usually won't take a dead one. It’s a brilliant way to handle the where can i sell appliances dilemma if you have an old "beer fridge" in the garage that's costing you $150 a year in electricity anyway.
Selling High-End Luxury Brands
If you are trying to sell a Sub-Zero, Viking, or La Cornue, do not put it on Facebook Marketplace. You will get insulted by lowball offers. For high-end stuff, you want to look at sites like Mercari (for smaller stuff) or specialized luxury resellers.
There are also architectural salvage yards. If you’re doing a total kitchen tear-out and your appliances are top-tier, these yards will sometimes buy the whole set. They sell to people restoring historic homes who want that professional look without the $15,000 price tag of a new Wolf range.
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How to actually get the sale done
Look, I’ve sold a lot of stuff. The difference between a listing that sits for a month and one that sells in an hour is the photos. Clean the damn thing. If I see a picture of a microwave with spaghetti splatters inside, I’m clicking away. Use a damp cloth, get the grease off the stovetop, and take photos in bright, natural light.
Mention the model number. People will want to look up the dimensions to see if it fits in their SUV or their kitchen cutout. If you have the manual, put it on top of the unit in the photo. It screams "I take care of my things."
Safety first, seriously. If you are selling through a public app, try to move the appliance to the garage. Don't let strangers wander through your house if you can avoid it. Most "serious" buyers for appliances will have a truck and a friend. If they show up alone to buy a 300-pound fridge, they aren't prepared, and you're going to end up helping them load it and hurting your back. Don't do that.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- The "Scam" Text: If someone offers to send you a certified check for more than the amount and asks you to pay their "mover" with the excess, it's a scam. Every time.
- The No-Show: People are flaky. Always tell buyers "First one with cash gets it. I won't hold it."
- The Warranty Trap: Never promise a warranty. Sell it "as-is." Even if it works perfectly today, a bumpy ride in the back of a pickup truck can loosen a connection. You don't want them calling you three days later demanding their money back because a heating element went out.
Actionable Steps for Today
Check your local utility company's website first to see if they offer a bounty for old appliances; it's the least amount of work for guaranteed money. If they don't, take five high-quality photos of your cleaned appliance including the manufacturer's label with the model number and manufacture date. Cross-post the listing on Facebook Marketplace and Nextdoor simultaneously, pricing it roughly 15% higher than your "walk-away" price to leave room for the inevitable haggling. Finally, ensure the unit is plugged in and running when the buyer arrives so they can see it functions, which eliminates 90% of the friction in the closing process.