By Bryan Wall
Product Test Journalist | Kaipūrongo Whakamātautau Hautaonga
If you can’t afford to buy a new appliance, you could consider a secondhand model. Look for one that performed well in our testing and got good ratings for repair, reliability and satisfaction in our assessment and surveys.
This expands your options to brands you couldn’t afford at the full retail price, and you’ll probably end up with a better product.
There are a few things to look out for when buying secondhand, but what’s actually out there and is any of it worth considering?
We tracked secondhand front loading washing machines on Trade Me for a month. That involved collecting information on around 100 machines to see if any were worth your hard-earned cash. We focused on the best models, not every single model available.
Here’s what we found.
Most common secondhand washing machine brands
Prices of secondhand washing machines
Bargain washing machines we found
Search checklist for secondhand washing machines
When collating our data, we only looked at machines with ‘buy now’ prices. However, you can bid on machines with lower reserves to possibly get them cheaper.
While searching, follow these tips.
Filter your search to your local area – that way you can view before you bid.
Check the model codes to make sure the washing machine has the capacity and functions you need.
Look for washing machines that are less than 5 years old – a decent machine should give you over 10 years of service. This means you want at least half the machine’s life left, depending on the price.
Take a close look at any photos of the washing machine to spot signs of wear, for example, mould on the door seal.
Check out our current and discontinued model results to see if we’ve tested the model you’re looking at.
Look for washing machine brands with high reliability and repairability ratings – check our reliability and satisfaction survey results to find out who rates highly.
Do your research and find out the original retail price of the machine – either from our test results, by asking the seller or through a Google search.
Consider how much the machine is really worth and set your maximum, walk-away price. For example, a washing machine cost $1,000 when new, but it’s now 4 years old. Maybe, it’s worth a maximum of $600 with 6 years of life left?
Pre-purchase checklist
Make sure you view the washing machine before you buy it!
Is it clean inside and out, and are there any signs of rust?
Does it smell funny inside? Odd smells can sometimes indicate a build-up of mould.
Are the inlet and outlet hoses intact and free of cracks?
Is the door seal torn or mouldy?
Does the door close properly?
Is the detergent drawer caked in old detergent crud?
Turn on the washing machine to check if any error codes pop up.
Questions to ask the seller about the washing machine
Are you the first owner?
Why are you selling?
How long have you had this washing machine?
Have you had any problems with the machine or replaced any of its parts?
Does the machine vibrate or is it noisy during its spin cycle?
Have you regularly cleaned and maintained this washing machine?
How often have you used this machine? Some are used daily, others only weekly. Wear and tear may be significantly less on a washer that hasn’t been run often.
Refurbished washing machines
Around 10% of the washing machines we found were refurbished. Often, they were warranty returns. The warranty return models are usually nearly new – sometimes just returned due to a cosmetic blemish. So, if you’re willing to put up with a minor dent or scratch, you can save some money on a nearly new machine. We saw savings of $200–$350 on some models and a whopping $1,000 off the retail price of one machine sold by Appliance Outlet!
The top performers
We’ve tested the dirt removal, gentleness and efficiency of a wide range of washing machines. Use our database to find the model and price that’s right for you.
