How to sell used appliances in Colombia without giving away the price

A neighbor in the building put her refrigerator up for sale a month ago. Good brand, it still cooled well, and yet it wouldn't sell. When I saw the ad I understood the problem in two seconds: a single dark photo, no measurements, no brand, no model, and a price that seemed to come out of nowhere. The refrigerator was fine. The ad was the one that was broken.

Selling a used appliance in Colombia is not just about uploading a photo and waiting. A refrigerator, a washing machine, or a stove are heavy objects, expensive to transport, and difficult for the buyer to "test." That generates distrust, and distrust is paid for with haggling. When the listing lacks details, photos, and a clear way to prove that the appliance works, the buyer assumes the worst and offers you half.

The good news: almost all of that can be fixed before publishing. In this guide I show you how to check if it's worth selling, how to price it without giving it away, what photos reduce haggling, what the ad should say, and how to handle the test drive and delivery so no one backs out. It applies to refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, stoves, ovens, microwaves, and almost any household appliance.

Before publishing: is it really worth selling it?

Before taking photos, stand in front of the appliance and inspect it as if you were the buyer. Does it cool, wash, heat properly? Does it make strange noises? Does it have rust, broken seals, a missing tray? An appliance that works but needs minor repair still sells; one that turns on and off by itself is another story, and there you have to decide whether to sell it "for parts" and state it clearly.

Do a quick inventory of what you have: brand, capacity (liters in the fridge, kilos in the washing machine), years of use, repairs made, and whether you still have the receipt or warranty. Those details aren't just decoration — they're exactly what a serious buyer is going to ask, and having them ready saves you twenty back-and-forth messages. If you've already been through a move you know how tedious this is; in what to do with furniture and appliances before moving I cover the complete logistics when you sell multiple items at once.

One thing many people forget: transportation. A two-door refrigerator doesn't fit in just any car, and getting it down narrow stairs can cost more than your profit. Decide right now if the buyer picks it up, if you deliver it, or if the transportation cost is split. Having this clear in your head before posting avoids the typical "I thought you were bringing it" that kills sales at the last minute.

How to Price It Without Giving It Away

The most common mistake is pricing based on nostalgia: "it cost me two million, I'll sell it for a million and a half". The buyer doesn't care what it cost you new five years ago. What matters to them is how much a similar one costs today. So the price is researched, not invented.

Open a classified ads platform and search for the same appliance yourself by filtering for "used" and your city. On MercadoLibre, for example, there are pages of used appliances by city for Bogotá, Medellín and others, and there you can quickly see the real price range. Compare apples to apples: similar brand, similar capacity, similar condition and same city. An 18 kg washing machine is not comparable to an 8 kg one, and a price from Bogotá doesn't always apply in a smaller city.

A practical trick: set the price slightly above your minimum acceptable amount, but within the real market range. That leaves room for the buyer to "win" something in the negotiation and feel good about it, without you ending up giving it away. And avoid suspicious round prices: exactly one million seems made up; $980,000 seems well thought out.

Photos that reduce haggling

Photos do 80% of the work. A buyer who sees a complete, clean, and well-lit appliance asks fewer questions and negotiates less, because they feel they know what they're going to receive. One who sees just a single dark photo assumes you're hiding something — and acts accordingly with their offer.

Before shooting, clean the device and find good natural light. Then take, at minimum, these shots:

• The complete front, straight, with the entire device within the frame.
• The sides and the back (yes, the back: it shows there's no rust or damage).
• The plate or label with the brand and model, well focused and legible.
• The interior: the inside of the refrigerator, the washing machine drum, the stove burners.
• The controls turned on or running, to test that it turns on.
• Any visible defect, up close. Showing the scratch generates more trust than hiding it.

Include a photo with measurements (with a measuring tape or next to a known object) to avoid the classic problem of the buyer arriving, measuring, and discovering it doesn't fit in the space. That wasted visit is time lost for both of you. If you want to dive deeper into the visual side, in how to write an ad that actually generates messages I explain how photos and text work together to close the sale.

What should the ad say (checklist of mandatory information)

The title is the first thing people see in search results, so it has to be specific: product + brand + capacity + city. "LG No Frost Refrigerator 420 liters Medellín" beats "Refrigerator in good condition" every single time. The description is where you answer questions before they're even asked.

Before publishing, check that your ad has all of this:

• Exact brand and model.
• Capacity: liters (refrigerator), kilos (washer/dryer), number of place settings (stove).
• Measurements: height, width, and depth.
• Time of use and repairs made.
• Real condition and visible defects, unretouched.
• Reason for sale (moving, upgrading to a new one, etc. — builds trust).
• City and approximate neighborhood.
• If it can be tested working before removing it.
• Clear price and if it's negotiable.
• Who pays for transportation and how it is collected.

Avoid the "almost new" without proof: that phrase alone convinces no one. Instead of vague adjectives, give concrete details. "Bought in 2023, used by one person only, with receipt" says much more than "impeccable". If you have several appliances to sell, first check where to sell used things in Colombia without paying commission to choose the right platform based on what you have.

Warranty and honesty: a cautious note

Many people think there are no rules between private parties, and it's worth clarifying that. Under the Consumer Statute (Law 1480 of 2011) and according to what the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce (SIC) explains, used products whose legal warranty has already expired can be sold without warranty, but only if that condition is clearly stated and the buyer accepts it. When nothing is clarified, the rule tends to presume a minimum warranty. Legal warranty covers quality, suitability, safety, and proper functioning.

In practice, for you as a seller this translates to a simple rule: tell the truth about the condition and put it in writing. Don't promise it's "perfect" if you can't prove it, and if you sell it "without warranty, seen and accepted by the buyer", state it in the chat. This is not legal advice and responsibilities vary depending on your case; if you sell regularly or as a business, confirm your obligations with an accountant or directly with the SIC.

Trust, testing, and delivery

The moment of delivery is where many sales fall through, so it's worth getting it locked down. Let the buyer test the appliance while it's running before they take it: plug it in, let the fridge cool for a while, let the washing machine start a cycle, let the stove turn on all the burners. A buyer who sees the appliance working pays without arguing; one you don't let test it suspects something and offers less.

For the delivery to go smoothly:

1. Agree beforehand who will disassemble, lower, and load the appliance — and at what time.
2. If possible, receive payment on delivery and, for large amounts, prefer a confirmed transfer before releasing the product.
3. Send a simple receipt via WhatsApp: product, price, date, and "sold in the condition seen by the buyer".
4. If you have to wait for someone, set a specific time and confirm the same day. Endless "I'll stop by tomorrow" are not sales.

Where to post your appliance

Not all platforms work the same, and being honest about that saves you time. Facebook Marketplace has a lot of traffic and direct contact via WhatsApp, but also many messages that lead nowhere and you have to filter carefully. MercadoLibre gives you reach and buyers used to buying, although for sellers there are limits and costs depending on the case — it's worth simulating costs before setting the price. WhatsApp groups in your neighborhood or building work surprisingly well for large appliances, because the buyer is nearby and transport is short.

Colombia Move is the free and bilingual option designed for Colombia: you post in classifieds (appliances fall into that category), without commission, with direct contact and space to put all the details, photos, and measurements we saw above. I don't promise you'll sell in a day — that depends on the price and condition — but your ad can be seen complete and serious. It's one more option alongside Facebook Marketplace, MercadoLibre, and local groups.

Mistakes that lower your price

Selling a used appliance well is not luck: it's a clear ad, a researched price, and a delivery without surprises. Do that work before posting and you'll get messages from people who really want to buy, not from those who haggle for sport.

Frequently asked questions

❓ How do I price a used appliance?

Compare real listings of the same product, brand, capacity, and city on platforms like MercadoLibre or Facebook Marketplace, filtering by "used". Adjust based on years of use, condition, whether you include transport, and how quickly you need to sell it. Forget what it cost you new: the buyer only looks at today's price.

❓ Do I have to give a warranty if I sell a used fridge or washing machine?

According to the Consumer Statute (Law 1480 of 2011) and the SIC, a used item whose legal warranty has already expired can be sold without warranty only if you clearly inform that condition and the buyer accepts it; if you don't clarify anything, a minimum warranty may be presumed. The prudent thing is to tell the truth about the condition and put it in writing. If you sell regularly or as a business, confirm your obligations with an accountant or with the SIC.

❓ What photos should I upload to sell faster?

At least six: the complete front, the sides and back, the plate with brand and model, the interior, the controls turned on, and any defects up close. Good natural light and clean appliance. Clear photos reduce haggling more than any description.

❓ Is it safe to sell appliances via Facebook or WhatsApp?

Yes, as long as you filter and take precautions. Agree on delivery at a specific place and time, let the appliance be tested while running, prefer payment on delivery or confirmed transfer for large amounts, and send a simple receipt via WhatsApp. No platform is foolproof, but with basic filters most sales go well.

❓ Where can I post my used appliance for free?

You can post for free on Colombia Move (in the classifieds category, without commission and with direct contact), as well as Facebook Marketplace, MercadoLibre, and local WhatsApp groups. The ideal is to use the same well-made ad — photos, details, and clear price — on more than one channel.