I wonder how many they save. There is a market for the BD's, the 08 series Maytag's, etc. But it's a very small market. Not many people want them, unless they are a landlord, looking for a cheap washer/dryer.

It might be a source for BD's, though Gordon, might be worth checking out.

I like the idea too. How many good appliances end in scrap yards because their owners just want to change them? Unfortunately, I think many have been conditioned to do so by campaigns about energy savings or just to follow trends. Some remodel their home or buy a new one and their old appliances need to go out because they don't fit too well in the new place.  Stores take them back and recycle them to avoid loosing clients who might be satisfied by these low cost appliances instead of new ones bought on credit. 

The same could be said about cars. I saw low mileage cars in very good condition sent to scrap yards (and sitting in scrap yards) as their owners traded them for new ones and government pays with our money to get rid of them. Then, they aren't allowed to be back on the road (but the nicest ones are sometimes shipped overseas where some people will continue using them). And at the same time, those who can't afford buying a new car often ride in unsafe, high mileage, collision damaged cars and they need to pay to get theirs fixed with the money they don't have to pass e-tests and sometimes just to keep them running... Often, the poor scrap yard employees who see them sent to the crusher wish they could just switch these cars with theirs that are in much worse shape but they can't... It seems our government would rather see them leasing an inexpensive Korean car than driving a good used car that they could fix themselves for much less with money spent locally.

Fact is, folks, YOU CAN'T SAVE THEM ALL! I have a backroom full of appliances, 15+ years old. Any older than that, and most people don't want them.  They aren't as energy efficient as a 5 YO one. And parts availability get's iffy. And there are only so many landlords out there.

 The other thing is, I'm not going to put $75.00 in parts, + an hour of my time, to fix a ,say refrigerator,  that I might sell for $100.00.

 Plus, how many people around here keep talking about wanting vintage appliances, but when one shows up 200 miles and 3 hours away, they say "if it were only closer"..... They want a fully operational machine delivered to their basement. For next to nothing.

The retailers take the path of least resistance.

 If  a large business approaches Lowes, and says "I'll put a trailer out back for your trade ins, they will be unseen and out of the way, we'll empty the trailer once a week, you have to do nothing but put the trades in the trailer", why wouldn't Lowes take that option, over leaving them out back, where they become unsightly, where people strip off  the aluminum, and copper, and leave the rest, where someone might get hurt trying to load a washer in the back of a SUV, and sues Lowes, etc.

 I know several of the Lowes, Sears, etc, around here have been burned by people thinking selling used appliances is a walk in the park. You plug it in, it works, you sell it. It don't work that way. A good Lowes store can generate 20-25 or more trades a week. Mr Little Guy can't keep up with that many, so he starts picking the best, and leaving the rest. That's less of a problem these days, with scrap prices being up.

 I know of at least one place, in Indianapolis, who has the contract to pick up trade  ins at Lowes, BestBuy, etc. They refurbish what is worth refurbishing,  but they will also sell you what they get in, before they go through it. So not all the used ones go to the scrapyard.

Also, BestBuy, Lowes, etc, will make more money selling you a new washer off the floor, VS selling you a 10YO washer out back, in unknown condition.  How much should they charge for say, a 2003 model washer, in unknown condition? It might need a minor lid switch, it might need a major transmission repair. No way to know, until you buy it.

It's possibly why, we have Lowes, Sears(to a lesser degree) BestBuy, HHGregg, Menards as the big appliance retailers. I know Menards places their trade ins in their outside sales lot, where they can be purchased. The rest either have a trailer, or they are kept inside. HHGregg uses the business from Indy, I'm not sure who Lowes is using, the trailer says NOVA services.

 I would like to be able to buy trades from Lowes, Sears, etc. But at least around here, they won't deal with individuals, for the above mentioned reasons.

 Right now I have 2 smaller retailers I get my trades from. One is over an hour away. In both cases, these Mom and Pop retailers sell trade ins, too. They sell me what they can't use. The one place hates GE, so I get everything that's made by the General. I also get the older pieces they can't use. I've been dealing with them for over 20 years now, have a good relationship established.  But I'm sure they are approached all the time by people wanting their trade ins. Very competetive these days!

That's just it. Mrs Average Housewife probably couldn't diagnose a bad motor, let alone change it. So she calls ZZZ repair, who charges $59.00 just to show up, and diagnoses the motor. With retail on the motor being probably at least $100.00, and an hour labor to change it, you're easily looking at over $200.00, on a 20 YO machine. Do you fix it? And hope the outer tub isn't ready to give out?