BY DAN HILDEBRAN
The manager of a recently opened scratch-and-dent appliance store in Starke explained that he sells new appliances that may have slight imperfections but have never been used and come with a one-year warranty.
Julio Santana said his company has been operating a similar store in West Palm Beach for nearly 15 years.
CJ’s Appliances operates from the former site of Denmark Furniture on West Call Street, joining other new retailers, No Limits and Zoo House Pet Store in the former furniture store.
Santana said the South Florida scratch-and-dent enterprise wanted to expand to North Florida, possibly Gainesville but settled on Starke because of low rent.
“We tried Ocala, but the rent was too expensive there,” Santana said. “The landlord told us he just bought a building in Starke, and it would soon be available.”
Santana said his landlord is a Fleming Island-based developer specializing in rehabilitating down-market retail space. The developer now has shopping centers in Gainesville, Ocala, Starke, and Palatka.
Santana explained that when some customers see the phrase: scratch-and-dent, they mistakenly think “used.”
“We don’t sell used appliances,” Santana insisted. “Everything here went out to the customer site, and the driver might’ve dropped it, or the customer didn’t like it, so they took it back to the store. Once it leaves the store, they can’t sell it as new. That’s where we come in.”
One additional incentive Santana offers customers is free delivery and set up of the new appliance and disposal of a customer’s replaced equipment.
