We love Craiglist: The free online classifieds network is so great for selling used furniture, and finding local treasures. But it's good for a lot more than just Danish armchairs and side tables. Did you know that it is very, very easy to find perfectly good used dishwashers on Craigslist?
If you live in a kitchen that needs a dishwasher, or if perhaps you rent and have a 20-year-old, inefficient, and nearly worthless dishwasher (I raise my hand, being in this camp) then one very inexpensive way to pick one up is via Craigslist.
See, dishwashers are one thing that people like to get rid of. When I scan Craigslist for dishwashers, I find many, many lightly-used machines being sold for a song, just because the homeowners decide to upgrade their kitchen to newer appliances. If you are willing to use a white or black dishwasher, which the owners are throwing out in favor of stainless, then it's your lucky day.
Dishwashers are heavy and cumbersome, so as homeowners upgrade their appliances, they are often looking for someone just to haul away the old stuff. I frequently see dishwashers for $50 or $100 on Craigslist, but I see just as many free dishwashers.
It rather boggles my mind that people so frequently ditch perfectly good appliances just to upgrade to stainless steel, but hey! It's a bonus for any of us who might be looking for our own version of an upgrade. If you have the ability to haul a dishwasher home, you could find yourself with a great deal.
If you are looking for a dishwasher on Craigslist, here are a few questions to ask:
• Does it work?
• What year and model is it?
• Where was it initially purchased?
• When was the last time it was used?
• Have there been any problems with it?
• Has it ever been serviced?
• Why are you replacing it?
Have you ever bought a dishwasher (or another major appliance) off Craigslist? How did it go? Did it work out well for you?
Related: Rusty Dishwasher? Try Dishwasher Rack Caps
(Image: Craigslist)
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We renovated several kitchens in a multi-unit building last year and found excellent appliances on Craiglist that were only a few years old.
I don't think you mentioned asking about the dimensions. This is critical, particularly for dishwashers, as you'll need to make sure the new appliance fits the existing space, unless you're doing a complete renovation.
Don't assume that there is a "standard" size for anything. Measure the space three times, ask the seller for very specific dimensions (including how much an open refrigerator/oven/dishwasher door extends into the room), and then measure the appliance again yourself before sealing the deal.
Another thing we found helpful was checking Consumer Reports for general brand reliability. CR will tell you whether Whirlpool refrigerators, for example, tend to require fewer repairs than Amana refrigerators. That helped us narrow down the choices on Craigslist.
Finally, as a landlord, I recommend that you bring your landlord into the decisionmaking and installation process. I wouldn't want a tenant to attempt to install a dishwasher, and then have a major leak, for example.
I've had outstanding luck with Craigslist and large appliances. I found a 3-year old Asko dishwasher for $40 dollars, an Asko washer and dryer for $200 for both and a stainless steel LG refrigerator for $500. All have worked perfectly for over 3 years now and when I need to replace them, I'll be on Craigslist again. If you're not hung up on color, you can do very well. The owner of the dishwasher was switching to stainless steel and I was happy to take his white one.
I bought a Danby countertop dishwasher for my RV. They're worth about $300 in Canada. This one was a year old and priced at $70 because the guy just wanted to get rid of it, then he realised that there was a $5 part missing so he let me have it for $60!
The Danby has been working much better than I would have expected for something in its price point--it gets even crusty dishes squeaky clean. It was definitely one of those once-in-a-lifetime Craiglist scores.
We just bought a small ("apartment-sized") rolling dishwasher on CL for $100. It was about a year old. Works great, and has changed our lives in the kitchen!
We've purchased many things for our flat through Craigslist -- it's really a matter of common sense and deal-savvy. It's hard to imagine young coupledom without it, just as it's hard to imagine life without Ikea. The best thing about CL, I think, is the personal connection. The random people you meet through these one-on-one sales of used stuff. A great cure for the anonymity of urban life.
Yes Craigslist is great source to get cheap things.