How to Buy Used Appliances: Where to Look and What to Check

If you want to buy used appliances in Czechia, it pays to follow three steps: find an offer from a private seller or a second-hand shop, verify the seller and the machine on site, and only then deal with price and payment. The biggest risk is usually not the quality of the washing machine itself, but a rushed deposit sent to an unknown person.

The market for used appliances in Czechia is broad and cheap. A washing machine that costs over ten thousand crowns in a shop appears in a listing for two to four thousand. A dishwasher for fifteen hundred. A fridge for a thousand if you transport it yourself. Prices are kept down by moving, kitchen replacements after renovations, and households switching to built-in appliances. But it's precisely the low price that attracts fraudsters who want a deposit upfront and disappear after payment. This guide will walk you through where to look, how to read a listing, what to check during an inspection, and how to agree on a price without getting scammed.

Where to buy used appliances and how to filter offers

Used appliances are sold in four types of places in Czechia, and each has its own logic. Listing portals offer the widest selection and lowest prices, but you have to watch quality yourself. Second-hand shops and appliance buy-back centres will check the machine and give a warranty, but the price is higher. Social networks and city-based groups work for quick sales between neighbours. Auctions from dissolved households or after moves are handy when you need a complete kitchen at once.

On the EX & GO listing marketplace you'll find a furniture and appliances category, where you can filter by city and district. If you're looking in Prague, set Prague and a radius of a few kilometres so you don't get offers from Ostrava. Use the same filter in Brno, Plzeň or Ostrava. The category combines with location, so you just go through offers in your area and arrange personal pickup without transport across half the country.

Also look at how the portal handles listing rules and what it requires from sellers. At /cs/rules you'll find the publishing terms, which help keep fraudulent profiles out of the listings. A verified phone number and seller history are just as important when buying a used appliance as the machine's condition.

How to recognise a fraudulent listing

You'll most often recognise a fraudulent listing by pressure for speed and by payment upfront. The seller wants a deposit to an account, promises a courier they arrange themselves, or claims they're abroad and will send the machine via a carrier. These patterns repeat with washing machines, dishwashers and fridges, because they're heavy and buyers would rather pay for transport than go get the machine themselves.

Signals that should stop you

A price far below the usual level. Photos downloaded from the manufacturer's catalogue instead of the actual condition. A profile created a few days ago without a single rating. A seller who refuses a personal inspection and wants to send the machine via a shipping service. Answers that ignore your specific questions about the year of manufacture, type plate or defects.

At /cs/support you'll find the procedure for reporting a suspicious listing. If the seller refuses to show the machine running or avoids the question of a serial number, there's nothing to discuss. Walk away.

Before you go to the inspection, ask the seller for a photo of the type plate. From it you can verify the exact model, year of manufacture and energy class. If the seller doesn't send it or sends a blurry one, you'll save yourself the trip.

What to check during an inspection: a checklist for the meeting

The inspection is the only moment when you have the machine in your hands and can turn it on. Come with a charged phone so you can take your own photos and video. Bring a tape measure, a cloth and a short extension cable. You can go through the checklist right on the spot, point by point.

Before turning it on

Check the type plate and compare the model with the listing. Inspect the casing, door and drum. On a washing machine, turn the drum by hand. It shouldn't rub, make a metallic sound or have play. The door seal must not be hardened, cracked or mouldy. Check hoses and the power cable for cracks and kinks. On a dishwasher, check the filter screen and the smell inside. On a fridge, check the door seals and whether the freezer cools evenly.

After turning it on

Let the machine run for at least ten minutes. On a washing machine, start a short programme with water and listen for excessive vibration during the spin cycle. Vibration and loud humming often mean worn bearings. On a dishwasher, check whether it fills and drains water. On a fridge, measure the temperature inside after turning it on, ideally below five degrees Celsius. Ask why the seller is selling the machine and how long they've had it.

How to agree on a price and close the deal

The price of used appliances isn't fixed. From a private seller you can knock off ten to twenty percent, especially if you take the machine away yourself and right away. Find out in advance how much a comparable model costs on the market and offer a specific amount. Don't start the negotiation by insulting the product. Instead, point to a specific thing you saw and offer the price you're willing to pay on the spot.

Closing the deal is simple. You pay in cash or by transfer on the spot after the inspection. Take a receipt with the date, amount, model and seller's name. For more expensive machines, a simple purchase contract is also useful. When transporting a washing machine, secure it with transport bolts, otherwise you'll damage the drum. Let a dishwasher and fridge stand for at least a few hours before plugging them in so the cooling circuits settle.

When you buy used appliances from a private individual, you're protected under the Civil Code, but not the same as in a shop. A private seller isn't liable for hidden defects the way a business is. However, if the seller concealed a defect they knew about, you have the right to a discount or to withdraw. You can find information about your rights at the Czech Trade Inspection Authority Czech Trade Inspection Authority, which handles consumer disputes. When buying from a business, statutory liability for defects applies; from a private individual it's weaker.

Comparison: private seller, second-hand shop and marketplace with history

Where to buy	Price	Warranty	Risk	Suitable for
Private seller	Lowest	None, only goodwill	Higher, you verify yourself	Experienced buyers who inspect the machine
Second-hand shop or buy-back centre	Medium to higher	Often several months	Lower, machine has been checked	Those who want peace of mind and quick complaint handling
Marketplace with seller history	Low to medium	Depends on agreement with seller	Medium, you see ratings and city	Everyday purchases with the option to filter by location

We see that washing machines, dishwashers and fridges from households that are moving or switching to built-in appliances appear most often in listings, and that buyers ask most about the year of manufacture, warranty and the option to test the machine running. Prepare these three questions in advance so you don't waste time at the inspection.

Take a look at used appliances and compare offers in your area. If you find the same model in several cities, you'll see how prices differ between Prague and Ostrava. The difference can be several hundred crowns for the same type of washing machine.

How much to pay for used appliances

Indicative prices in Czechia fall into ranges depending on the type of machine and age. A washing machine five to eight years old usually sells for two to four thousand crowns. A dishwasher for fifteen hundred to three thousand. A fridge for a thousand to two and a half thousand. A dryer is more expensive, often four to seven thousand, because it's harder to find. Take these amounts as a guide, not a fixed price list.

The price depends on age, brand, energy class and whether the machine is functional. Newer models with lower consumption hold their price higher. Appliances with a defect, such as a leaking door, sell significantly cheaper, but the repair can cost more than the price difference. With older machines, expect that spare parts may be more expensive or unavailable.

Before you buy used appliances, calculate the total cost. Transport, transport bolts, extension cable, possible repair. If the sum approaches the price of a new machine on sale, it's worth buying new. With cheap used appliances, the main advantage is the low entry price, not a long lifespan. used appliances in Prague will help you find offers in your city and compare them by price.

Frequently asked questions

What documents should I get when buying a used appliance?

For a private sale, a receipt with the date, amount, model and seller's name is enough. For more expensive machines, a simple purchase contract listing accessories and condition is useful. From a second-hand shop, you'll get a sales receipt and warranty card. Without a document, it's harder to prove when and from whom you bought the machine if you need to make a claim.

Should I send a deposit upfront if the seller promises delivery?

No. A deposit before a personal inspection is the most common scam pattern. The seller promises a courier, you send money and the machine never arrives. Insist on personal pickup or payment on delivery. If the seller insists on a deposit and refuses an inspection, look elsewhere. A verified phone number and seller history on the marketplace give you better security than chat promises.

How do I check a washing machine if I can't turn it on?

Without turning it on, check the drum, door seal, hoses and cable. Turn the drum by hand-it shouldn't rub or have play. Inspect the seal; it shouldn't be hardened or moldy. Look at the type plate and compare the model with the listing. Ask why the seller is selling. If you can't turn it on, lower your offer and factor in the risk of repair.

Does a warranty apply to used appliances from a private seller?

From a private seller, the statutory warranty you get in a shop doesn't apply. However, the seller is liable for defects they knew about and concealed. If the seller knew about a defect and didn't tell you, you have the right to a discount or to withdraw from the contract. When buying from a business, statutory liability for defects applies. Disputes are handled by the Czech Trade Inspection Authority Czech Trade Inspection Authority.

Where can I find cheap used appliances in my city?

Set a filter by city and district on the listing marketplace. In Prague, Brno, Ostrava and Plzeň you'll find offers from private sellers and second-hand shops. Filter by the furniture and appliances category so you don't see other items. Check new listings regularly. Good deals at low prices disappear within hours, so it pays to have your questions and transport ready.

How do I transport a washing machine without damaging it?

Before moving, secure the drum with transport bolts. If you don't have them, pad the drum with a towel and secure the door. Transport the washing machine upright, not on its side. Let a dishwasher and fridge stand for several hours after moving before plugging them in. This lets the fridge's cooling circuit settle. When moving on a trolley, protect the casing with a blanket to avoid scratching the paint.

Buying used appliances in Czechia is a sensible way to save money if you watch out for three things. Verify the seller and their history, inspect the machine running, and never send a deposit upfront. A filter by city and district will save you travel, whether you're looking in Prague, Brno, Ostrava or Plzeň. Take the price as a guide, not a rule, and always calculate transport and possible repair.

Before you set off for the inspection, go through the checklist and prepare questions about the year of manufacture, warranty and reason for selling. Take a receipt. If something doesn't add up, walk away. Patience in searching will get you a better machine at a better price than a hasty purchase.