A bargain is something you have to find a use for once you have bought it. Although Benjamin Franklin had this to say, try not to buy the wrong refrigerator and prove him right. You might hit the greatest deal on a used refrigerator, only to find out that it starts smelling foul the next day if it is left on overnight, or the freezer just manages to give you ice-cold 'water' instead of ice. On the other hand, shelling out just a few extra bucks for spray painting a bruise off a fridge which works just fine might be the best deal you could make. Consider these few things before you decide that a 'used' refrigerator will be in the best of your interests. Before you set out to buy a refrigerator, surely there must be a couple of things you would wish for it to have. Are you looking for a double-door refrigerator, or a single-door? Are you looking for a stand-alone freezer or a refrigerator with an in-built freezer? Other things that you need to first think about are the capacity of the fridge, your budget, the color, the brand, and the amount of space you have available to set it up. A bold newspaper advertisement shouts out loud―"flat 70% off on a refrigerator of your choice! HURRY!", and you are tempted to cut the ad out and visit the shop the same evening. But you know there's something shady about that ad. Electric appliances, even if they are used ones on sale, can serve you well for years together if bought from a trusted and reliable brand. Once you have decided on a brand of your choice, delve deeper and do a thorough research on the different kinds of models available with that brand, and narrow down your choices based on your needs. An exceptionally high price for a refrigerator that has been used only for a few months is unexplained and invalid. Similarly, a ridiculously low price for a refrigerator that has been in use for the past five years might mean there is something suspicious or fishy about that particular refrigerator. Set up a budget, follow up on ads, brands, and models that offer you deals within that fixed price range, check if value for the money that you pay is respected, and negotiate the price appropriately with the dealer to ensure cost-effectiveness. Buying a used refrigerator is one thing; paying its electricity and maintenance bills is another. A 'small' refrigerator doesn't necessarily mean that it will consume less energy or electricity. Make sure you are well aware of the energy consumption of the fridge that you decide to buy, and have your payments all figured out. Measure its performance in terms of unexplained noises, weird and foul smells, flickering lights, and broken drawers or trays. Ask the dealer about the reason for selling the fridge. Did it stop working? If yes, how many times? Was it repaired? Did it work fine after it was repaired or was it back to square one? Ask if you can get a trial run of the refrigerator, and see for yourself if the refrigerator is in an acceptable and good working condition. Understand the needs of the refrigerator as well, and ask the dealer about the kind of maintenance it would need and how regularly will it have to go in for maintenance rounds. Consumer Reports advise that "if repairing a broken refrigerator costs more than half of the price of a 'used' one, your choice should preferably be in favor of the latter option." Refrigerators, like other electric appliances, can be sustained for extremely long periods of time. Don't shy away from buying a used or secondhand refrigerator that you find is in a good condition. For all you know, the previous owner puts it up for sale because he is shifting to another country or is in the way of remodeling his kitchen and wants to buy a new refrigerator for himself.