How to sell used appliances in Colombia without giving them away

A neighbor in the building put her fridge 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 pulled out of thin air. The fridge was fine. The ad was what was broken.

Selling a used appliance in Colombia isn't just about uploading a photo and waiting. A fridge, a washing machine, or a stove are heavy objects, expensive to transport, and difficult for the buyer to "test." That creates distrust, and distrust is paid for with haggling. When an ad lacks data, photos, and a clear way to prove the appliance works, the buyer assumes the worst and offers you half.

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

Before posting: is it really worth selling?

Before taking photos, stand in front of the appliance and check it as if you were the buyer. Does it cool, wash, or heat well? Does it make weird noises? Does it have rust, broken seals, or a missing tray? An appliance that works but needs a minor repair can still be sold; one that turns on and off by itself is another story, and that's when you have to decide if you're selling it "for parts" and state that clearly.

Make a quick list of what you have: brand, capacity (liters for the fridge, kilos for the washing machine), years of use, repairs made, and whether you still have the receipt or warranty. That data isn't just decoration—it's exactly what a serious buyer will ask for, and having it ready saves you twenty back-and-forth messages. If you've already gone through a move, you know how heavy this is; in what to do with furniture and appliances before you move I cover the complete logistics when you are selling several things at once.

One thing many people forget: transport. A double-door fridge doesn't fit in just any car, and carrying it down narrow stairs can cost more than the profit. Decide right now if the buyer picks it up, if you deliver it, or if the transport cost is split. Being clear about this 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 let it go for a million and a half." The buyer doesn't care what it cost you new five years ago. They care how much a similar one costs today. So, the price is researched, not invented.

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

A practical trick: set the price a little above your minimum acceptable, but within the real market range. That leaves room for the buyer to "win" something in the negotiation and feel good, without you ending up giving it away. And avoid suspicious round prices: a flat million looks made up; $980,000 looks 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 haggles less because they feel they know what they are going to get. Someone who sees a single dark photo assumes you are hiding something—and acts accordingly with their offer.

Before shooting, clean the appliance and look for good natural light. Then take, at a minimum, these shots:

• The full front, straight on, with the entire appliance inside the frame.
• The sides and the back (yes, the back: show that there is no rust or damage).
• The plate or label with the brand and model, well-focused and legible.
• The interior: the fridge inside, the washing machine drum, the stove burners.
• The controls turned on or working, to prove it turns on.
• Any visible defect, up close. Showing the scratch generates more trust than hiding it.

Including a photo with the measurements (with a tape measure or next to a known object) avoids the classic problem of the buyer arriving, measuring, and discovering it doesn't fit in the space. That wasted visit is time for both of you. If you want to delve 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 the ad should say (mandatory data checklist)

The title is the first thing seen in the search, so it has to be specific: product + brand + capacity + city. "LG No Frost Fridge 420 liters Medellín" beats "Fridge in good condition" every day. The description is where you answer questions before they are asked.

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

• Exact brand and model.
• Capacity: liters (fridge), kilos (washing machine/dryer), number of burners (stove).
• Measurements: height, width, and depth.
• Time of use and repairs made.
• Actual condition and visible faults, without makeup.
• Reason for sale (moving, upgrading to a new one, etc. — generates trust).
• City and approximate neighborhood.
• If it can be tested while running before being picked up.
• Clear price and whether it is negotiable.
• Who pays for transport and how it is picked up.

Avoid "like new" without proof: that phrase alone convinces no one. Instead of vague adjectives, provide concrete data. "Bought in 2023, used by only one person, with receipt" says much more than "flawless." If you have several appliances to sell, first look at where to sell used items in Colombia without paying a commission to choose the right platform based on what you have.

Warranty and honesty: a word of caution

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

In practice, for you as a seller, this translates into a simple rule: tell the truth about the condition and put it in writing. Do not promise it is "perfect" if you cannot 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 change 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 is worth having it locked down. Let the buyer test the appliance to see it working before taking it: plug it in, let the fridge cool for a while, let the washing machine run a cycle, let the stove light all the burners. A buyer who sees the appliance running pays without arguing; one who is not allowed to test it becomes suspicious and offers less.

To ensure delivery goes smoothly:

1. Agree beforehand on who will dismantle, move, and load the appliance — and at what time.
2. If possible, receive payment upon delivery and, for high amounts, prefer a confirmed transfer before handing over 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 on the same day. The eternal "I'll stop by tomorrow" messages 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 must be filtered carefully. MercadoLibre gives you reach and buyers accustomed to purchasing, although for sellers there are limits and costs depending on the case — it is advisable to simulate costs before setting the price. Neighborhood or building WhatsApp groups 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 include all the details, photos, and measurements we saw above. I won't promise you'll sell in a day — that depends on the price and condition — but I do promise that your ad can be seen as complete and serious. It is one more option alongside Facebook Marketplace, MercadoLibre, and local groups.

Mistakes that lower your price

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

Frequently asked questions

❓ How do I price a used appliance?

Compare real ads for 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 provide 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 a warranty only if you clearly inform that condition and the buyer accepts it; if you clarify nothing, 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 the SIC.

❓ What photos should I upload to sell faster?

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

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

Yes, provided you filter and take precautions. Agree on the delivery at a specific place and time, let them test the appliance working, prefer payment upon delivery or confirmed transfer for high amounts, and send a simple receipt via WhatsApp. No platform is infallible, 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, data, and clear price — on more than one channel.