Start by choosing an appliance that suits your home and how you’ll use it, then compare the total cost, the documented condition of the specific item and the protections offered by the seller. If your current appliance may still be usable, ask for a diagnosis and repair quote. Before buying, check exactly what’s included in delivery, installation, returns and removal of your old appliance.
You need to get an essential appliance working again quickly and compare the delivered cost of a new, second-hand or refurbished model, without overlooking the protections offered by the seller. The French Ministry of the Economy and the Envie network, which shares a survey conducted by OpinionWay, explore these issues.
You’re considering a pre-owned appliance, provided the condition, tests carried out and available remedies are clear enough to assess the specific item. The French Ministry of the Economy and the DGCCRF explain the warranties and information to check.
You’re weighing up whether to keep your current appliance or replace it, and want to consider how repairable it is, its energy use and what will happen to the old appliance at the end of its life. ADEME and the French Ministry for the Ecological Transition offer guidance on these topics.
Worth considering : if you want to compare the specifications of a particular model and the history of a pre-owned appliance matters to you.
Weigh up : when buying from a professional seller, the presumption that a lack of conformity existed at the time of delivery lasts for two years for new goods, compared with one year for second-hand goods, according to the French Ministry of the Economy.
Worth considering : if the specific item suits your needs and you can check its condition, model and terms of sale.
Check : the seller may be a private individual or a professional. The legal guarantee of conformity does not apply to a sale between private individuals. When buying from a professional, the period during which it’s easier to prove that a fault existed at the time of delivery is one year for second-hand goods, according to the French Ministry of the Economy.
Worth considering : if you’re looking for a pre-owned appliance whose functions have been tested and, where necessary, repaired, with the work carried out on the item clearly described.
Check : ‘refurbished’ doesn’t mean new or guarantee that the appliance won’t break down. The Envie network describes the appliances it collects as repaired, cleaned and tested. Check what work has been carried out for any other offer.
Worth considering : if the appliance could still meet your needs after a repair. ADEME includes repair among the options to consider for large household appliances.
Weigh up : whether a repair is worthwhile depends on the fault and the appliance. Ask for a diagnosis and quote before deciding.
| Criteria | What to check before buying | Who considers it most important |
|---|---|---|
| Total cost | Compare appliances for the same purpose and add together the price of the item, delivery, any installation and the returns terms. | When I need to replace an essential appliance, I want to know the total cost, not just the price shown. Around 33 % of consumers make total cost their top priority. |
| Condition and remedies | Ask for the full model reference, any reported faults, the tests carried out, the seller’s details, and the warranty and returns terms. | If I’m considering a pre-owned appliance, I want to know exactly what’s been checked and who to contact if there’s a problem. Around 27 % of consumers put verifiable condition and available remedies first. |
| Durability and use | Compare energy use on a like-for-like basis and look into repair options. For eligible washing machines, check the model’s durability index. | When I want to extend an appliance’s useful life, I also compare its repair options and energy use. Around 20 % of consumers prioritise how long they can use an appliance. |
| Delivery and removal | Measure the space and access routes, then check exactly what delivery, installation and removal of your old appliance include. | If access to my home or removal of the old appliance is a deciding factor, I want to arrange these steps before placing an order. Around 20 % of consumers prioritise installation and removal. |
A product description that refers to its apparent condition doesn’t necessarily tell you what tests have been carried out or what repairs have been made.
Ask how the specific item is classified, whether it has any faults and what checks have been carried out. Don’t assume you know its condition from the name of a product range.
When you buy from a professional seller, the legal guarantee of conformity may cover the goods for two years. However, the presumption that a fault existed at the time of delivery lasts one year for second-hand goods and two years for new goods. These are different things.
Keep the appliance description and proof of purchase, and make sure you know which professional seller is responsible for the guarantee.
Delivery, installation, returns and removal services can vary between offers and contracts, including for large appliances.
Compare written details of the services on a like-for-like basis, and decide what to do with your old appliance before delivery.
A model’s product details and ratings tell you about that model, but not how much a pre-owned item has been used or what condition it’s in now.
Compare the model reference and its ratings, then ask separately for a description of the specific item and details of the tests carried out.
The examples mentioned include new washing machines and a ‘Second Life’ offer from the brand. They show different ways to buy, not a ranking of quality.
The brand appears in French listings for pre-owned washing machines and publishes information about the ratings that apply to certain categories.
Miele France lists spare parts for dishwashers, which is useful to check for a specific model.
The models below are fridge freezers and washing machines to consider when replacing a large appliance, depending on the category and features that suit your home.
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Worth a look if you’re after a large-capacity fridge freezer.
Capacity: 467 L. No Frost technology. Energy rating E. Dimensions: 83,3 × 65 × 181,5 cm. The doors aren’t reversible, so check that they open the right way for your layout.
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Worth a look if you’re after a 10 kg washing machine with the features listed in its name.
Capacity: 10 kg. Spin speed: 1 400 rpm. Energy rating A. AutoDose, steam and Wi-Fi. It needs a stable, level surface, a 220–240 V power supply, and suitable water inlet and drain connections.
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Worth a look if you’re after an appliance that combines refrigeration and freezing, with a stated capacity of 444 L.
Capacity: 444 L. Frost-free technology. Energy rating E. Stated noise level: 40 dB. Light silver finish.
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Worth a look if you’re after a multi-door fridge freezer with a stated capacity of 495 L.
Capacity: 495 L. Energy rating E. Black finish. Allow at least 50 mm of clearance at the back and sides, as specified in the installation instructions.
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Worth a look if you’re after a 10 kg washing machine with several advertised wash features.
Capacity: 10 kg. Energy rating A-30 %. 530 mm drum. Spin speed: 1 400 rpm. 16 programmes, steam and 1-Touch Smart Wash function. Dark grey finish.
When a consumer buys from a professional seller, the legal guarantee of conformity covers these goods for two years from delivery. This is separate from the period during which the presumption that a fault existed at the time of delivery applies: two years for new goods and one year for second-hand goods. This guarantee doesn’t apply to sales between private individuals, according to the French Ministry of the Economy and the DGCCRF.
For a distance or off-premises sale between a professional seller and a consumer, the cooling-off period is generally at least 14 days and also applies to second-hand goods, subject to legal exceptions. Don’t assume the same right applies to a sale between private individuals or a standard in-store purchase. Before ordering, check how returns work for a large appliance. These rules are explained by the French Ministry of the Economy.
Measure the space and access routes, then check whether the contract covers delivery only or installation too. Before entering into a contract with a professional seller, ask them to confirm the delivery arrangements and exactly which services are included.
When you buy a new appliance, take-back rules provide for the removal of a used appliance of an equivalent type on a ‘one-for-one’ basis, including for distance sales. The regulations also allow certain shops to accept appliances for disposal without a purchase. For a second-hand or refurbished offer, ask the seller what collection options are available. ADEME also mentions donating, reselling or taking the appliance to a recycling centre, depending on its condition.
No. In France, the durability index replaced the repairability index for eligible washing machines from 8 April 2025. It doesn’t describe the wear and tear on an individual pre-owned appliance. Ask for a description of the specific appliance and details of the tests carried out if the offer describes it as refurbished. The French Ministry for the Ecological Transition explains which products the index applies to.