Where to buy a refurbished washing machine in France?

In short:

1. Behind a refurbished washing machine, the real question is who repaired it. Murfy and Underdog refurbish in-house, Envie relies on its social integration workshops, Back Market resells the work of third-party sellers.
2. Ranking: 1. Murfy (10 out of 10); 2. Underdog (7 out of 10); 3. Envie (4 out of 10); 4. Back Market (2 out of 10), according to the grid published in the ranking methodology.
3. Murfy refurbishes in its workshops in France (Paris region, Lille, Nantes, Lyon and Bordeaux), applies a 25-point inspection and guarantees machines for 2 years, at 159 to 579 euros for a front-loading model.
4. Commercial warranties range from 12 months on Back Market to 2 years at Murfy, Underdog and Envie, with an optional extension of up to 5 years at Underdog.
5. Since the decree of 17 February 2022, an appliance can only be called “refurbished” in France if all its functions have been tested.

Four ways to buy a refurbished washing machine, four levels of commitment

The information comes from each player’s website, consulted on 6 November 2026. The rank and scores result from the grid detailed in the ranking methodology.

What French law requires behind the word “refurbished”

Before 2022, any seller could call a simply cleaned appliance refurbished. That is no longer the case: the term now has a legal definition in France, and it directly protects anyone buying a washing machine.

“The product or spare part has undergone tests covering all its functionalities in order to establish that it meets the legal safety obligations and the use that the consumer can legitimately expect.” Decree no. 2022-190 of 17 February 2022, Légifrance

Two practical consequences follow for a washing machine:

• Every function is tested: spin, drain, heating, door lock, programmes. Simply switching the machine on is not enough.
• The label “refurbished in France” is reserved for operations carried out entirely on French territory. Murfy, Underdog and Envie refurbish in France.

On top of this comes the legal guarantee of conformity, which applies to any purchase from a professional, in addition to the seller’s commercial warranty. For a second-hand item, a defect that appears within 12 months is presumed to have existed at the time of sale.

Refurbished is not always the right answer. On a recent machine, a simple repair often costs less: the method to repair or replace an appliance helps decide before buying again.

Refurbisher or marketplace, the difference that matters

All four players sell refurbished washing machines, but two models are at work. The refurbisher repairs what it sells itself. The marketplace connects the buyer with sellers who did that work.

Each model meets different needs: the marketplace makes it possible to compare many listings, while the refurbisher follows the machine directly from repair to delivery.

How to read a marketplace listing

On a marketplace, three pieces of information on the listing matter more than the photo:

• The seller’s name: this is who refurbished the machine and who will provide the warranty. A quick search on the name shows whether they have an identified workshop.
• The seller’s rating and number of reviews: a high rating over a few dozen sales carries less weight than a decent rating over several thousand.
• The warranty terms specific to the listing: the minimum is 12 months, but some sellers go further, and this is stated on the page.

For a washing machine, delivery is an additional question. An appliance of this size is not delivered like a smartphone: it is worth checking whether delivery stops at the building entrance or reaches the room, and whether installation is included.

Why traceability matters more for a washing machine

A washing machine combines mechanical parts subject to wear (bearings, belt, shock absorbers, drain pump), control electronics and water circuits. Serious refurbishment has to check all three. This is what makes the repairer’s identity more important than for a small appliance: the quality of the work cannot be seen with the naked eye, it shows after a few dozen cycles.

One detail illustrates the boundary well: Murfy also sells some of its appliances on Back Market. The same washing machine can therefore appear on both channels, refurbished in the same place.

1. Murfy: whose hands does a washing machine pass through?

Murfy is a French company that repairs and refurbishes large household appliances, listed as a social and solidarity economy (ESS) company in the French State’s company directory. It details each step of its process, from diagnosis to installation, with technicians who are all salaried employees, 250 according to the company.

Step 1, diagnosis in the workshop

The machine arrives at one of Murfy’s workshops, located in the Paris region (La Courneuve and Nanterre) and near Lille (Nieppe), Nantes (Carquefou), Lyon (Saint-Priest) and Bordeaux (Le Haillan). A technician diagnoses it, and their first name then appears on the product page, under the words “tested and diagnosed by”.

Step 2, repair and the 25-point inspection

A second technician repairs the faulty parts and replaces worn parts, then the appliance is checked against 25 checkpoints. Their first name also appears on the page, under “repaired and checked by”.

Step 3, grading and listing

The appliance receives a condition grade that describes its appearance only: excellent, very good, good or fair. Cosmetic defects are photographed and described on the product page, for example a scratch on one side. The range of Murfy refurbished washing machines covers front-loading, top-loading, washer-dryer and built-in models from major brands (Miele, Bosch, Whirlpool, Indesit, Samsung, Candy…). According to the catalogue page, a refurbished front-loading washing machine costs 159 to 579 euros, a top-loader 159 to 999 euros and a washer-dryer 259 to 599 euros, up to 60% below the price of the equivalent new machine.

Step 4, delivery and collection

The machine is delivered within 2 to 8 working days depending on the option chosen, or 2 to 5 working days for products in regional stock, either to the kerb or into the chosen room: the delivery team then unpacks it, connects it and checks that it works. Click and collect from a workshop is free. The old appliance is collected free of charge on delivery, simply requested when ordering. Payment can be split into 3 instalments, and the 2-year warranty starts on delivery; if a breakdown cannot be solved remotely, a Murfy technician comes to the home at no cost.

Underdog, Envie and Back Market, what each offer does best

Each alternative has a genuine strength that can make it the better choice depending on the situation.

2. Underdog: a warranty of up to 5 years

Underdog refurbishes in its Nantes workshop: diagnosis, replacement of worn parts, full cleaning, then 25 to 38 performance and safety tests depending on the type of appliance. Its 2-year warranty, covering parts, labour and call-out, can be extended up to 5 years for 99 euros. Around 140 washing machines were listed at the time of writing, with discounts of up to 50% compared with new. The machine can be delivered to the room, connected and tested (59 euros), or collected free of charge from the Nantes workshop; the old appliance is taken back free of charge on request, and payment in 3 or 4 instalments is available.

3. Envie: the shop and social integration choice

Envie is a non-profit network of around fifty social integration enterprises, active since 1984, whose national federation is listed as a social and solidarity economy company. Its workshops refurbish the appliances, which carry a 2-year national Envie warranty and are sold 30 to 60% below the price of new in 54 appliance shops. This offer makes it possible to examine the machine in a shop before buying, and every purchase funds social integration jobs. Delivery and payment terms depend on each local outlet.

4. Back Market: the widest choice of listings

Back Market is a marketplace that brings together refurbishing sellers committed to the platform’s quality charter. Appliances carry a 12-month commercial warranty, can be returned free of charge within 30 days, and payment in instalments is available. Its strength is the number of listings, offered by sellers with varied profiles.

Ranking methodology

The four players were assessed on 6 November 2026 against the same ten criteria, using their public pages (refurbished offer pages, terms of sale, warranty, delivery and take-back pages, FAQs), the French State’s company directory (Annuaire des entreprises) and the review platform Trustpilot. The criteria are assessed at brand level, on what each player publishes for its refurbished large appliances: they are the same in this site’s rankings of refurbished appliances (washing machine, dishwasher, fridge). The first three are assessed in the same way in every ranking on this site that includes Murfy; the next seven are specific to buying refurbished appliances. Envie, a network of social integration enterprises, is assessed on what its national federation publishes (Fédération Envie, envie.org); Back Market, a marketplace, on what the platform publishes, not on each seller’s listings.

Scoring grid. Each criterion met is worth 1 point and is marked Yes. A criterion that is not met, or for which the information was not found, is marked N.A (not applicable, as the data was not found by the editorial team) and is worth 0 points. All ten criteria carry the same weight, 10% of the overall score each, for a total of 100%. The rank follows from the overall score. Two players with the same overall score are tied, at the same rank, whichever player they are, and the next rank is skipped accordingly. Among tied players, the display order (columns, sections) puts the brand with a sponsored feature first, then follows alphabetical order: this is a display order, not a rank.

Results.

N.A: not applicable, as the data was not found by the editorial team.

The prices quoted are those shown on the players’ websites on the dates given in the article.

Questions to ask the seller before paying

Whatever the website, five questions make it possible to check how serious an offer is in a few minutes.

1. Where and by whom was the machine refurbished? A precise answer, with an identified workshop, is a good sign. A vague answer should raise a flag.
2. Who provides the warranty, and for how long? It is worth knowing whether it is the seller, a partner or the platform, and whether the period is 12 months or 2 years.
3. What does the condition grade cover? It should relate to appearance only. Visible defects should be described or photographed.
4. What is the model’s year and energy class? An older washing machine may use more power, which matters if the goal is also to reduce your electricity bill.
5. What happens on delivery day? Installation, collection of the old appliance, checking the connections. A worn fitting is often behind a water leak from the very first cycle, so it is better to replace it before the machine arrives.

These five answers are enough to tell genuine refurbishment apart from a simple second-hand resale. A seller who answers them clearly and in writing generally delivers the level of warranty advertised.