Fridge saga DAY 2: Should I buy a used fridge ?

[Baylor3217]

I can get one refurbished from a store that does that and been around $$450-$500?

It's likely 10 yrs old with little knowledge of whether or not anything was done to it.

Other option is $1,000 or so for new.

[James]

With only that limited information, go with the refurbished.

[meadow lark]

Look for more options.  Are you in US?  (Just asking so I know if our numbers are similar.). I have bought 2 used fridges.  One was $80.  I spent HOURS cleaning that thing, and put it in a rental where The tenant pays the electric bill.  The other one was $400, 1 year old, French doors, energy star, immaculate.  That's mine.  A 10 yo fridge is not going to be energy efficient.  Found both of mine off Craigslist.

[totoro]

Yes.  Go on craigslist.  Around me there are plenty of fridges for $200- or so that are much newer.  We have had no problem with ours.

[Spork]

Newer fridges are cheaper to run and really really older fridges are cheaper to run.  It's the ones in the middle that are expensive.  If you are going for older to get it on the cheap, look for one with manual defrost.  It's the defrost cycle that kills you.

[Rachelocity]

I'd get a scratch-and-dent model at a Sears liquidation centre.  It's an unused floor model, with a couple of dings and a deep discount.  The Energy Guide will be posted so you can compare how much electricity it will use. 

[totoro]

People are upgrading all over the place to stainless.  There are plenty of almost new energy efficient white fridges out there used.
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rds/app/3785175788.html
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rds/app/3785049162.html
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/van/app/3773029809.html