If there's a Sears Outlet store in your area, I'd recommend looking there. Some scratch/dent stuff, but if you're primarily interested in getting a quality product at a good price, some minor cosmetic dings is a good way to save money or afford a higher quality setup.
I'm sure other opinions vary, but I would recommend picking up the extended service plan. At Sears Outlet, we got our washer/dryer about $120 cheaper than we would have new at Best Buy and we put a bit of those savings back into a 5 year plan. We've had them out a couple times to replace a hose or timer, and having the parts/labor fully covered (or a replacement, if necessary) has been worth the peace of mind.