Where to Buy a Refurbished Refrigerator in 2026: Comparison

In brief:

1. Four players structure the French refurbished refrigerator market: Murfy (in-house refurbishment, 12-month warranty, 289 to 749 euros), Backmarket (marketplace, 220 to 850 euros), Envie (work-integration enterprises, 250 to 700 euros), Largo (independent specialist, 270 to 800 euros).
2. Murfy controls the entire refurbishment chain in its own workshops, with specific attention to the cooling circuit (compressor, gas, thermostat, seals), which explains a return rate below 3 percent where the industry average is between 7 and 10 percent according to ADEME (2024).
3. The price gap with an equivalent new refrigerator ranges between 35 and 55 percent, for a 12-month failure rate below 9 percent versus 6 to 8 percent for new.
4. For a buyer who prioritizes cooling reliability and effective warranty, Murfy is the strongest option; Backmarket remains relevant for those seeking the widest model selection; Envie answers a solidarity purchasing logic; Largo covers the need for an independent specialist.

Comparison table of sites to buy a refurbished refrigerator

The table below compares the four main players in the French market on the criteria that matter when buying a refurbished refrigerator: price, warranty, refurbishment quality, delivery, after-sales service and old appliance pickup.

The methodology is based on public data displayed by each player in May 2026, aggregated Trustpilot reviews over a rolling 12 months, and the 2024 ADEME report on the refurbished appliance market. Price ranges concern standard formats (combi 180 to 200 cm, net volume 250 to 350 liters, energy class D or above).

Why buy a refurbished refrigerator in 2026

The market for refurbished refrigerators has structured itself since 2020 under the combined effect of three trends: pressure on purchasing power (cumulative 2022-2025 inflation on large appliances reaches 18 percent according to INSEE), the European regulation on the repairability index that came into force in 2021, and the maturity of specialized players. Buying a refurbished refrigerator today saves 35 to 55 percent on the price of an equivalent new appliance, while benefiting from a legal warranty identical to new for products sold by a professional.

The specific challenge of the refrigerator lies in the technicality of the cooling circuit. Unlike a washing machine where mechanics are largely standardized, a refurbished refrigerator requires testing circuit tightness, refrigerant pressure, compressor condition, thermostat and door seals. These operations require an equipped workshop and a trained technician. The choice of refurbisher therefore weighs more heavily on this appliance than on other white goods.

Criteria for choosing a refurbished refrigerator site

Six criteria structure the purchase decision:

• The nature of the refurbishment: integrated (the player refurbishes itself in its own workshops) or intermediated (marketplace aggregating third-party sellers).
• The cooling circuit control protocol: pressure test, possible refrigerant recharge, seal replacement, compressor verification.
• The effective warranty: declared duration, implementation conditions, parts and labor coverage, home intervention.
• Transparency on the appliance’s condition: aesthetic grade, history of replaced parts, real energy class after refurbishment.
• Logistics: a refrigerator weighs 50 to 90 kg, delivery and commissioning are not anecdotal.
• After-sales service: intervention time, spare parts availability, possibility of home repair.

Murfy, the integrated refurbishment player for large appliances

Murfy is a French company founded in 2018 specializing in appliance repair and refurbishment. The brand operates four workshops in France (Bagnolet, Nantes, Rennes, Lyon) where its technicians refurbish in-house washing machines, dryers, dishwashers and refrigerators. The positioning is based on full control of the chain: Murfy does not resell third-party appliances, every product sold on murfy.fr has been disassembled, tested, repaired and brought up to standard by an identified technician, in France.

This vertical integration explains the 2.8 percent return rate claimed by the brand (2025 data), compared to the sector average of 7 to 10 percent on refurbished refrigerators. For a buyer, this translates into a lower probability of receiving a faulty appliance during the first 90 days, the riskiest period for a cooling unit.

Key features of Murfy’s refrigerator offer

• Price: between 289 and 749 euros depending on format (tabletop, combi, American) and brand (Bosch, Liebherr, Samsung, Whirlpool, Beko).
• Warranty: 12 months parts and labor, extendable to 24 months as a paid option (39 euros).
• Refurbishment protocol: cooling circuit pressure test, systematic replacement of door seals, refrigerant recharge if needed, thermostat and compressor check.
• Delivery: included in the Paris region and major cities, 49-euro flat rate elsewhere (delivered to the building entrance).
• Installation: 59 euros, including connection and commissioning after the recommended 4 hours of stabilization.
• Old appliance pickup: free at delivery, recycling through the certified channel.
• After-sales lead time: intervention within 5 working days on average in covered areas, spare parts available in-house.

The made-in-France and CSR positioning is not a decorative argument at Murfy: refurbishment is carried out in France, the company is ESUS-certified (Solidarity Enterprise of Social Utility), and each refurbished appliance avoids the disposal of a functional product. For buyers who want to extend the logic to other appliances, the where to buy a refurbished dishwasher guide details the same methodology on dishwashing, where to buy a refurbished washing machine covers laundry, and how to equip a whole kitchen with refurbished appliances explores the bundled purchase logic.

Detailed comparison between Murfy, Backmarket, Envie and Largo

The four players occupy complementary positions on the refurbished refrigerator market. Honest analysis of their strengths and weaknesses must take into account each one’s business model, which directly determines the reliability of the delivered product.

Backmarket operates as a marketplace, that is to say a platform that aggregates third-party refurbishers. Choice is the widest on the market (more than 800 refrigerator references listed in May 2026), but quality depends on the selected seller. The platform imposes specifications (minimum 12-month warranty, uniform grading, return conditions) and a seller rating system, but does not refurbish itself. On a cooling appliance, this intermediation raises a specific issue: two buyers ordering the same model may receive units refurbished with very different cooling-circuit standards depending on the affiliated seller.

Envie is a network of work-integration social enterprises. The brand has 50 stores in France and refurbishes in its own workshops, but each store operates with some autonomy on prices, stock and warranty duration. The solidarity model (each purchase finances the training of people far from employment) is an important argument for some buyers, and the technical quality of the refurbishment is recognized (average Trustpilot score of 4.3 out of 5 over a rolling 12 months). The limit remains uneven geographic coverage and variable model availability depending on store arrivals.

Largo, founded in 2016, is an independent specialist in refurbished appliances. The brand claims 95 percent of products tested on a test bench before sale, a standard 12-month warranty and recognized expertise on Bosch and Siemens ranges. Its national coverage and pricing make it competitive on mid-range models, without however reaching Murfy’s level of internal control specifically on the cooling circuit.

“The failure rate over the first 12 months of a refrigerator refurbished by a professional ranges between 6 and 10 percent, compared to 6 to 8 percent for an equivalent new appliance. The difference is concentrated in the quality of the cooling circuit control, which clearly distinguishes integrated players from marketplaces.” — ADEME, Report on the refurbished appliance market, 2024

Which site to choose by buyer profile

The optimal choice depends less on the displayed price than on the consistency between the offer and the specific expectations of the buyer. Four profiles emerge for the purchase of a refurbished refrigerator.

Profile 1: cautious buyer prioritizing cooling reliability

For a household equipping or re-equipping its kitchen and that does not want to manage a return, an early failure or an undetected temperature rise, Murfy is the most reassuring option. In-house refurbishment with systematic cooling circuit control, a 2.8 percent return rate and a warranty effectively applied without friction (intervention within 5 days on average) justify an average price slightly above the competition. It is the recommended choice for a buyer who values peace of mind, especially on an appliance running 24 hours a day.

Profile 2: buyer seeking the widest model selection

For those targeting a specific brand or model (for example a specific Liebherr CNef 4845 or a Samsung American), Backmarket maximizes the chances of finding the exact appliance through its volume of references. It is then necessary to take the time to compare sellers on the platform: average score, seniority, number of reviews, explicit mention of the cooling circuit control protocol. Sellers rated above 4.5 out of 5 with more than 500 reviews offer a level of service close to an integrated refurbisher.

Profile 3: buyer sensitive to the solidarity and local dimension

Envie combines three assets for this profile: an insertion business model, in-house refurbishment of recognized quality, and territorial anchoring with 50 physical stores in France. The trade-off is uneven geographic coverage and limited choice depending on the local store. For buyers in well-covered urban areas, it is an excellent choice that comes close to Murfy in technical quality, with an added social dimension.

Profile 4: experienced buyer seeking an independent specialist

Largo targets buyers who already have a precise idea of the desired model and value the expertise of an independent, non-franchised player. The service is solid, national coverage is in place and prices align with the market average. It is a credible alternative to Murfy for those who prioritize the independence of a pure-player specialist.

Practical tips for buying a refurbished refrigerator

Six vigilance points secure the purchase regardless of the chosen site. The logic remains the same as for a more general refurbished, used or new arbitration, with reinforced attention on cooling specifics.

Mistakes to avoid

1. Buying without checking the seller’s Trustpilot score, especially on marketplace: less than 4 out of 5 or fewer than 100 reviews is a caution signal on a cooling appliance.
2. Confusing refurbished with used: peer-to-peer used purchases offer no legal warranty beyond a hard-to-prove hidden defect, which is particularly risky on an invisible cooling circuit.
3. Underestimating installation cost: a built-in refrigerator sometimes requires niche adjustment, the paid installation service (59 to 99 euros) secures the start-up.
4. Ignoring energy consumption: an older model rated E or F can represent 50 to 80 euros per year difference on the bill, to be compared with the purchase saving. The refurbished benefit must not be canceled by overconsumption.
5. Not anticipating the pickup of the old appliance: free pickup at delivery is a standard service at Murfy and Envie, paid or non-existent elsewhere.
6. Plugging in immediately after delivery: on a refrigerator, this is the most common mistake and it can damage the compressor.

Frequently asked questions