Moving into a new home? Not keen to spend a bomb on new appliances? It makes a lot of sense. White goods and other essential household appliances are not cheap when buying first-hand. There is a raft of options to obtain second-hand household goods, whether it is Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace. Before you make the decision to buy second hand, read our advice
Pros
- The upfront cost of these older whiteware goods is less than if you were to purchase them brand new.
- Plus, buying second hand means you are saving the item from being thrown into landfill, so this has a big environmental impact to consider.
- Another thought to take note of is that all second-hand appliances sold in a store or online in Australia must still be approved as safe for use Down Under.
- However, it is worth checking that each appliance has the appropriate approval badge, regulatory compliance mark of unique approval number displayed on the appliance.
Cons
- New appliances may be covered by warranty, so if something were to go wrong with a second-hand item you might need to wear this out-of-pocket cost. Retailers like Harvey Norman have extensive warranty options for washing machines and other appliances. Find them here.
- It is unlikely that you will be able to acquire the latest model second hand. As technology continues to advance, you might not be able to get your hands on the most efficient machine on the market.
- Older machines typically do use more energy to run and have a bigger effect on greenhouse gases than newer models.
Use appliances efficiently
Best thing to do with brand new appliances, is to ensure their efficiency is up to scratch. A 2020 model of a particular washing machine could in the end cost you more than you want to be paying in electricity if used in some form of inefficient way. Follow our tops to help you reduce your power bills.
- Make sure you choose the model that best suits your needs. There is no point purchasing a huge 11 kg washing machine if you have a small household as you will have to pay for the electricity used to run a bigger model.
- When choosing your machines, consider what it will cost you to run it and how you will dispose of it at the end of its life.
- Check the energy rating label on the product if you can and see if you can select the model with the highest number of stars.
- However, bear in mind that newer appliances with the same energy rating as older appliances will be more efficient as the standards for the star rating system have risen as energy efficiency has improved.
Buying second hand has major benefits on immediate cost price, but you may suffer in the long run if the appliances bought are not energy efficient. For first-hand appliance options, visit Harvey Norman.