I've bought several appliances at the Appliance Smart here in town. They specialize in scratch and dent appliances. Most damaged areas are not visible after install as the dent is on the side etc.

A few years back when I was doing my kitchen remodel I took in a list of more upscale appliances I wanted and a printout from AJ Madison with their Internet pricing and they ordered the appliances and matched their pricing. So while they don't stock new undamaged appliances they will order for you and were really accommodating.

I'll have to go to Minnesota. Not exactly a quick trip to town. Maybe I would do what you did. I have time to think, not an emergency. I hope. Thanks for the info.

Pretty much every appliance I've purchased in the last 10 years (for three houses) has come from Appliance$mart.

In my experience, it's rare to find high-end appliances there (though KA and Jenn-Air are decently represented if you consider them high-end). And you are somewhat at the mercy of what they have at the moment (though if you're willing to visit more than one of their showrooms or visit over several weeks, you certainly will have more options). But for brands like Frigidaire and Whirlpool and GE stuff, prices I've paid for scratch-n-dent appliances have been maybe 55-65% of new-on-the-pallet. At that price, I will overlook a scratch or crack here or there.

We bought our ovens, dw, and fridge there. We have no idea what the scratch or dent is on the ovens and our dw was a Siemens on closeout from when Bosch decided to discontinue the brand in the US so only the fridge had a cosmetic flaw. Before we could have the part replaced the handle got scratched during the remodel so it turned out to be a non-issue. We got great discounts on all of them but we did end up shopping at several of their locations. You might also consider Home Appliance Center in Cedar Rapids. He's the biggest KA dealer in the state and his prices typically are very competitive with what you see online.

I've heard of Home Appliance Center in Cedar Rapids. It slipped my mind. That's still a road trip but not impossible. When my rich uncle dies I can have a big chill! Oh, wait, I don't have ANY uncles left.....Hmmm. What to do! What to do!

It's great if you aren't set on a particluar make/model. They have what they have, and it changes daily. My In-laws live in Burnsville and my FIL (retired appliance salesman) knows many of the guys working at the Apple Valley store.

For us its just over 300 miles - not too far with the truck and stock trailer, if we decided to go that route. Then there is the deal with potential warranty work. That was also a big concern for us.

We've checked them out when visiting. They had some awesome deals - but I wanted some rather specific features that were not easy to come by, and I wanted White.

But a good thing about going there - you can head to Penzey's and stock up on good spices! Or make a weekend of it and go to Ikea (then you want to bring a BIG trailer with).

In-laws have been bugging us again, so we're due for another road trip.

Apple Valley would be the closest. Google says 2 hrs. 28 minutes. But if I have to make more than a trip or two it won't pay me to do it. Gas @ $3 now! Overnight is out of the question! My critter sitters would take all the money I might save even if I did find something. White is a color! I have white now, always have had, probably will again so that part is OK. Shopping trip.....spices...I NEED!! Bought some little tiny bottles at the grocery store yesterday. Would rather have had Watkin's..... my old brain never remembers stuff when it should. If I was there already, I'd stop at IKEA. My kitchen is done but of course there are things I'd do differently next time.

I hear you about the critters! We've got things set up so we can be gone about 36 hours at a time. Any longer and we need someone to stop in. Nearest neighbor is a mile away, so it's not that easy to get him (he's retired and not around all that much anyway).

When we went to Appliance Smart, they had lots and lots of stainless, but very little in white. They told us they about never get any Electrolux, and that was what I was leaning towards. They also said most of the really good deals go in a day or two, so you had to be checking back often so you didn't miss out.

Heading to Twin Cities?
There is also an ApplianceSmart store in Maplewood, Minn outside the East Side of St. Paul in strip mall near Maplewood Mall. (Very near is Re-Use Center.) Phone them--the stock is never predictable. I recall lots of white appliances.

If you're bargain hunting for appliances, you might also want to check Stellian's scratch & dent. There's one in Falcon Hts. near Fairgrounds but there are others also. Phone them.

Just learned about a contractor's remainder outlet in Eagan near Mendota Hts but haven't been there. Has windows, sinks, more. See link below.

There might still be tile odd lots at Rubble Tile in the lower corner of Minnetonka by 169 and hwy 62. 952-938-2599

Don't forget to hit the Russell Stover outlet at Medford on the way home--buy a box of Bloopers for me.

Here is a link that might be useful: Building Materials Outlet

I've been to the Russell Stover store! By the time we sampled all the ice cream I didn't need the double dip I bought! I did manage to choke it all down though! Otherwise everything is too far for me.

What I'd like to do is go back to the West End Salvage in Des Moines. Don't know what I need but I could find something. That reminds me; when I was there before I saw my kitchen lights for sale. I nearly passed out at the price. Mine were $10 on eBay and my carpenter wired them. I was at the restore a couple of weeks ago. Nothing there I wanted. Maybe next time.

oh - more fun places to go on a trip to the Cities! Though usually by the time DH and I are done, we remember WHY we moved away! I use to work about a mile from where that BMO place is located.

When we lived in the area, Warner Stellian was one of our favorite places to buy appliances from. Might seem strange that we didn't buy them from FIL - did at first, but we learned that he was dumping "returns" on us, or he'd decide we didn't really need the higher end stuff we selected and find something and then actually order and pay for it and then tell us what a great deal he was giving us (he did expect to be paid back).

I do miss the assorted places to go shop - if we end up making a trip soon, I want to stop off at a few of the tile outlets and see if I can find something that will work for the backsplash - it may not be "perfect" but it will be good enough and affordable - and I'll be done looking!

- it may not be "perfect" but it will be good enough and affordable - and I'll be done looking! -

It does get to that point, doesn't it? I quit when I had it painted and even though I did eventually find tile I could have lived with, by that time my color scheme had changed and the tile would have locked me into browns forever. I like to change things too much to be locked into a certain thing. Right now I'm using old color advertisements for my backsplash. The old tablecloths kind of tie it together. I did keep my brown curtains with little horse heads on them. I bought some cutter tablecloths to make curtains with but I can't bring myself to cut them up!