New LG Fridge Dented

[gathermewool]

Our old LG fridge circa 2009 suddenly stopped working after three years in our care.

Based on online and CR reviews we decided to go with another LG LRDCS03S for $1700 OTD, including an extended 4-year warranty and 18 months of 0% interest financing.

Anyway, the fridge was delivered today and there are a few blemishes. There are some scratch marks on the top front that you can’t see well in a picture and one big dent, like it was hit hard with a ball-peen hammer, on the bottom freezer. There’s also a long scrape on the left side, but that faces the wall, so I don’t care about it.

The rep offered my wife $300 off, but insisted she just take a new fridge, which will be shipped and replaced some time in the future - we can keep this fridge until the new one arrives. She told me this and my first thought was, “$300 is a good chunk of change for a couple of superficial blemishes…and maybe we can get more out of them”. We’re expecting a call from an LG rep within 24 hrs according to the supervisor today. We‘ll see.

What would you guys do?

Also, I told my wife to not let them plug the fridge in. I have no idea how it was transported or stored before being transported, so I’d rather let the oil settle overnight. I‘m sure some of you will think this is excessive, but it’s what I do with all compressor driven units.

 

[oggb]

That dent on a white or maybe even a black unit wouldn't bother me too much as long as the paint was intact but it would drive me crazy on a stainless appliance.

Put a magnet over it and (maybe) forget about it?

 

[gathermewool]

That dent on a white or maybe even a black unit wouldn't bother me too much as long as the paint was intact but it would drive me crazy on a stainless appliance.

I can always buy a magnetic bandaid to cover it with. My kids would like that

 

[spackard]

We bought a 'fridge and it was dented. Heard about it before delivery, manager offered something like that. It didn't even feel like an "I'm sorry", more of a quick business decision so she didn't have money tied up. I declined. Got another unit.

It's just that if I wanted a scratch-n-dent I would have gone shopping for one in the first place.

We've had it for 23 years now.

Our in-laws seem to go through appliances quickly. I think they've been through 3 'friges.

Maybe depends on how much it'll go through in your kitchen. Nobody comes to a house and first thing they see is the 'frige. But, if you have a showroom kitchen, you probably want to keep it that way.

 

[KGMtech]

You will not be happy to live with it as is, if you got $600 off, then I would tape one of the $100 bills to the front and smile each time you see it.

 

[Nick1994]

I'd demand 50% off and nothing less. Otherwise, new fridge.

Also make sure it's magnetic. A lot of stainless steel fridges these days aren't.

 

[CKN]

I'd demand 50% off and nothing less. Otherwise, new fridge.

Also make sure it's magnetic. A lot of stainless steel fridges these days aren't.

You are not getting 50% off on a "scratch and dent" appliance.

 

[Nick1994]

You are not getting 50% off on a "scratch and dent" appliance.

Then they can return it and deliver a new one and sell the old one as a damaged open box item for cheap at the store.

Would be cheaper for them to just refund 50%.

 

[gathermewool]

Our kitchen has all older WHITE appliances, so it’s far from show-room condition and goes to show how much we don‘t mind imperfections. We also have two small children with tons of “art” to cover the blemishes, so there’s that.

The pre-tax price of the fridge was $1500. Based on your advice I’ll start off at 50% and will likely settle for something between there and the $300 they already offered. I’d be happy with 1/3 off ($500). Honestly, though, I think I need to be realistic and base my expectations on the fact that the dent doesn’t bother us THAT much. 50% might be a bit of a pipe dream.

Besides, based on the other thread, this thing won’t last very long anyway, so I won’t have to look at the thing for TOO long! Lol

I checked - it’s magnetic.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Up here, they gather up the returns and have a “scratch and dent sale”. Some people seek out such sales. Others prefer their purchases to be perfect. Do what makes you feel happiest.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I would have no problem whatsoever owning the dented applicant but like Nick said, half price or no way. If I pay full price for it, I want it to be impeccable.

 

[dishdude]

Only you can put a value on that dent. No right/wrong answer here.

 

[CKN]

Up here, they gather up the returns and have a “scratch and dent sale”. Some people seek out such sales. Others prefer their purchases to be perfect. Do what makes you feel happiest.

True-and the discounts are never 50%. It's usually closer to 20% to 30% off the normal "sale price".

 

[Chris142]

All of our stuff is scratch and dent. I shop for them to get a deal.

 

[Skippy722]

True-and the discounts are never 50%. It's usually closer to 20% to 30% off the normal "sale price".

Best discount I got was 54.5% on a dishwasher but that was a floor model at menards in kind of an oddball color (whirlpool’s “sunset bronze” stainless steel). Otherwise yes, the more popular colors have been in that 20-30% range.

 

[Wolf359]

True-and the discounts are never 50%. It's usually closer to 20% to 30% off the normal "sale price".

Lowes has a scratch and dent store not too far from me. Mostly just 25% off but I think maybe a few were 50% off but those might have been severely damaged, not just a small dent on the door or sides.

 

[Tomioka]

Once I get over the honeymoon phase of any new appliance I really don't care about dings and scratches. We have a Kenmore (rebadged LG) SS french door and in less than 5 years it's banged up already.

 

[demarpaint]

Smart move letting it sit overnight before plugging it in. You have no clue how it was loaded onto the truck and transported. You want to be sure the oil is in the compressor before firing it up, and letting it sit overnight guarantees that.

Regarding a discount for the damage, I'd shoot for 50% off and settle for $500, otherwise let them replace it. Odds are there can very well be blems they'll have to discount for on the replacement, and they'll really be losing then.

 

[skyactiv]

There are scratch and dent appliance stores. I'm anal about my home and can't stand clutter or something dented like that.
I don't screw up stuff I own.

There are stores that sell scratch and dent appliances. Plug in the model number for what yours goes for new and see what one goes for damaged.

Example of a GE fridge: https://www.americanfreight.com/br/pdp/ge-21-cu-ft-stainless-steel-bottom-freezer/356606

 

[alarmguy]

All depends what a dent is worth to you. For me, if I am expecting a new appliance dent free no amount of money will make it right.
When I buy stuff it has to be perfect or it gets returned.