Is It Worth Buying a Used Refrigerator?
Often, yes, if you get what a new one comes with: delivery, installation, an inspection, a way to pay that is not cash to a stranger, and a warranty. Ari Kimmelfeld on Shape the System.
Watch the episode: Ari Kimmelfeld - Commonplace, Shape the System with Vincent Turner, aired October 16, 2026. Listen on Shape the System.
Short answer: Often, yes, for a good refrigerator with plenty of life left. What makes it worth it is getting what a new one comes with: delivery and installation, an inspection by someone who knows refrigerators, a way to pay that is not cash to a stranger, financing if you want it, and a warranty.
On Shape the System, host Vincent Turner offered a real example: a fridge in his workshop that he was about to give away because he was moving. He had not turned it on in a while and was not sure it still worked. Ari explained what it would take for a buyer to choose it over a new one.
What Ari said
There needs to be an inspection, because like you said, you don't know if it works. The person buying it isn't a refrigerator expert, and you're not a retailer. There's no real trust that this refrigerator actually works... The same way, if I go to an appliance store, they're going to install it for me. They're going to give me a warranty. It's brand new.
Ari Kimmelfeld on Shape the System, at 19:44
If I want to finance it, that would be great. And then a warranty after I purchase it. So if something goes wrong, I want to have that assurance.
Ari Kimmelfeld on Shape the System, at 20:21
I get free delivery within 100 miles. I get the free warranty. I get it installed. I get it inspected. They don't have to pick it up if it doesn't work... And then I can really make a decision of, you know, it's apples to apples. Why not save? I get the same product at the end of the day.
Ari Kimmelfeld on Shape the System, at 20:43
Why a used fridge is usually hard to buy
Without those layers, the work lands on the buyer:
They'll have to find you on some secondhand marketplace. They'll have to schedule a pickup with you. They'll have to get movers to come and pick it up. They'll have to make sure it's working. There's no warranty that comes with it because you're not a retailer. They can't put it on a credit card. They'll have to show up with cash.
Ari Kimmelfeld on Shape the System, at 16:54
What Commonplace adds
- An inspection before pickup. A 30 to 50 point inspection, with a report you approve before anything moves.
- Crews who know appliances. Ari said appliance drivers know how to uninstall, inspect, and reinstall a fridge, and each category has its own training course and quiz.
- Delivery and setup. White-glove delivery, free within 100 miles, stairs included. Commonplace also ships nationwide.
- A safer way to pay. A $1 hold reserves it. On orders under $8,000 you pay the rest on delivery. Eligible orders can be financed.
- A warranty. A free two-month parts warranty, with optional longer coverage.
If they're doing an appliance pickup and delivery, they know how to uninstall, inspect, do a full 30 to 50 point inspection report, which we provide, and they fill out. That gets sent over to the buyer.
Ari Kimmelfeld on Shape the System, at 22:15
Shopping a specific style? Read what to check on a used side-by-side refrigerator, or browse used refrigerators. Selling one instead? Read how to sell a used refrigerator. For the full conversation, read Why Marketplace Fails: Ari Kimmelfeld on Shape the System.
Commonplace is the Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and OfferUp alternative for big items. Listing is free, and Commonplace handles pickup, inspection, delivery, secure payments, and a free two-month parts warranty. Delivery is free within 100 miles, and Commonplace ships nationwide. See how it works.
Related questions
Who installs a used refrigerator bought on Commonplace?
The delivery crew. Delivery is white-glove and free within 100 miles, stairs included. Ari said drivers who handle appliances know how to uninstall a fridge at the seller's home, inspect it, and reinstall it for the buyer.
What if the refrigerator does not work?
It gets a 30 to 50 point inspection before pickup, with a report you approve. If it does not pass, it is not picked up and you are not charged. After delivery, a free two-month parts warranty covers problems the inspection missed.
Can I finance a used refrigerator?
Eligible orders on Commonplace can be financed, with terms up to 48 months. See financing options.
Thank you to Vincent Turner for having Ari on Shape the System. Quotes are from the episode, lightly edited for reading. Listen to the full conversation on Shape the System.
More from Ari's podcast interviews: questions Ari answered on podcasts and every show he has been on.