Buying Used Household Appliances: How To Get A Bargain

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High quality household appliances don't have to be expensive.

With a little luck, buyers will find bargains on the Internet.

There are numerous platforms on which private individuals and dealers sell used washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators and other useful household items.

Many people are familiar with, for example, Ebay, Ebay classifieds or the neighborhood platform next door.de.

Local sales pages in social networks are just as widespread, as are advertisements from private individuals in daily and weekly newspapers.

Anyone using such platforms should pay attention to who is selling the goods and with whom the buyer is concluding a contract - with a commercial dealer or a private person.

That makes a big difference, different consumer rights apply in each case.

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"When buying online from a commercial dealer, there is a 14-day right of withdrawal," explains Iwona Husemann from the North Rhine-Westphalia consumer center.

During this period, customers can return the goods without giving any reason.

“But if you buy from a private seller, this right does not exist.

Private sellers can completely exclude consumer rights such as cancellation and warranty rights, ”warns Husemann.

Then you cannot return the goods if they have defects.

While both dealers and private individuals offer goods on Ebay.

Is it more like advertisements on Ebay classified ads that come mainly from different regions - like a virtual flea market where mostly private sellers and buyers operate.

Used household appliances can be worthwhile

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It can definitely be worthwhile to buy a used home appliance on the Internet.

"Here you can possibly get a super economical model in the best energy efficiency class and top equipment for little money," explains Claudia Oberascher, project manager of the Hausgeräte + initiative.

Anyone who buys goods privately within a city or region via platforms has a great advantage: the buyer can pick up the things in person - and take a closer look at them.

This is particularly important with used equipment, explains Husemann.

Before someone finally accepts products, he or she should check that they are in working order.

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From the outside, buyers often do not see the condition of the devices.

“But there are some indications that suggest how intensively they were used and how they were cared for,” explains Oberascher.

A black soiled drawer for the detergent indicates a lack of hygiene.

An unpleasant odor can be a sign that someone has operated the machine incorrectly over a long period of time or has not cared for it enough.

Oberascher recommends asking the seller directly how the devices have been used so far.

Was the washing machine or dishwasher with one person and running once a week or did an extended family use the device several times a day?

Age, equipment, energy label

As in the shop, the model year, energy label and equipment are decisive when buying home appliances on the Internet.

"To get additional information, you can check the manufacturers' websites to see whether the model is still in the range and download the operating instructions," advises Oberascher.

For example, the equipment can be compared with current devices.

Buyers should be suspicious when sellers withhold important information, warns Michael Littger, managing director of the Germany Safe Online Association.

"This can be an indication of an attempt at fraud."

There are certain standards for the sales advertisements that the providers usually adhere to.

This includes age information and information on the condition of the product.

Seller must indicate damage and defects.

Good, meaningful photos are also common practice.

"If the information in an advertisement is not or only insufficiently to be found, something can be fishy," warns Littger.

“Caution is also required when the seller exerts pressure.” According to the motto: Better hit it now, tomorrow the product will cost twice as much.

Compare details and prices of home appliances

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Even if bargains are possible when buying a used online, buyers should not buy it blindly.

“It is best to enter the product into a price comparison calculator beforehand.

This is how you can find out whether the price called is appropriate, ”says Husemann.

Very low prices in particular can indicate dubious providers.

Another important point is the handover of the goods.

While reputable sellers usually have no problem with this, scammers try to avoid face-to-face contact.

“No wonder: you don't have anything to hand over, you just want the money,” explains Littger.

To protect buyers from attempted fraud, it makes sense to purchase on account.

Some retailer platforms also offer the "secure payment" function.

The amount paid no longer goes directly from the buyer to the seller, but is instead kept in trust for up to two weeks.

Only after the buyer confirms receipt of his goods does the seller receive his money.

If the goods are not dispatched, the buyer gets the purchase price back via the escrow service.

"This is a good service, especially for higher-priced items," explains Littger.

"It not only gives buyers security, but also gives them time to calmly check the functionality of the product."