When something breaks down, do you think about fixing it or just buying a new one?

[NickB79]

I'm not talking about large purchases like a car, but smaller ones like a microwave, TV, computer, household appliances, etc. Or are you like a lot of friends I have who see a broken appliance as an excuse to go out and buy all new, state-of-the-art toys? Because I've about had it with a few select friends of mine who criticize me for having an "obsolete" TV, computer, cellphone and household appliances.

Sorry, had to vent a little, but I feel like the last sane person sometimes when I'm out with these people.

[jody]

1. Thought about getting a new one but found alimony was to expensive!

:rofl:

[LWolf]

2. It depends.

Can I fix it myself? If I pay someone to repair it, how much will it cost?

[Marr]

3. Many modern appliances aren't really things you can maintenance.

They've got electronics and computerized bits that just go out, and no screwdriver is going to help. Or the cost of repair is higher than the cost of a new unit.

I fix things that I can fix-- things like doors, plumbing, furniture, lawnmowers, lighting, etc. But if it's got a glowing green light on it, I just throw it away when it stops working.

[pnwmom]

29. When our older microwave stopped working,

it turned out that it needed something very simple. A new fuse. Problem solved.

The green light theory would have cost us hundreds of dollars.

Washing machines are another thing that can be repaired. Often it's just a matter of replacing a belt. And dishwashers can develop problems that can be easily fixed.

[Marr]

42. A microwave, washer, or dryer can be very serviceable.

How old was the microwave?

I'm thinking more along the lines of DVD players, Playstations, flat screen TVs, and things like microwaves that are *newer*... those kinds of things. I wouldn't expect to fix those things in a million years.

[pnwmom]

43. I agree. I doubt that my husband would try to fix his Blackberry, for example.

But he will still take a computer apart and see if there's something in there he can fix.

For the things that CAN be easily repaired (like washing machines), Sears is a good source because of their parts department. It's basically the only reason we shop there.

[konnichi wa]

4. I used to be able to repair just about anything electrical or mechanical but nowadays

that simply isn't economical (or even possible) in many cases. Most stuff made is not designed to be repairable (or more like it's designed to be UNrepairable.) Are there any TV repair shops near you? None near me. :shrug:

[Jade Fox]

5. fix it.....

I inherited some of my parents Depression mentality, I believe. My dad was one of those guys who could fix lots of stuff, and built lots of stuff too. I have to force myself to go buy something new, and usually buy new/used.

A co-worker of mine told me she just had to go spend $1200.00 on a big flat-screen TV, because her brother and sister already had one. Huh?

[here_is_to_hope]

7. I got the fix it mentality too from my Grandparents...

They taught me the value in at least trying to save/recycle a broken item.
Nowadays with all the cheap crap out there, not much point but I still repair anything I can before it gets tossed.

[shraby]

6. Many times the cost to repair is almost

the same amount as to buy new. Also considering the dearth of places to repair small appliances the option for us is to buy new, then we have a new machine that probably won't have to be repaired for some time to come. A repaired one is apt to have something else go wrong with it because of its age.

[JerseygirlCT]

8. If I can fix it, or find someone who can, I'd usually prefer that

(unless it never worked well to begin with - then it's a good excuse to get something else).

I don't really get obsolete tv, etc. If it works, it's fine by me. I haven't a need for a gigantic television in my family room, for instance.

My cellphone is becoming sort of a joke, since it's probably at least 5 years old now. But it works for what I need: the occasional phone call. When it does die, I'll have to trade up, but for now, I'm putting that off. (I'm also hesitant to sign on for another two-year stint... or to give up my lower grandfathered rate for something higher later if I go to a pay as you go model).

I use my computers until they die on me. Then I save parts, I'm afraid. I'm no techie (unfortunately), but sometimes an extra hard drive comes in handy, you know?

Maybe I'm just a tightwad, though. That's entirely possible, too!

[Gidney N Cloyd]

9. A month ago I paid a guy almost $100 to fix my lawn mower. He made it worse.

Yesterday I bought a new one for a little under twice what I paid the repairman. There's a lesson in there for me someplace but I doubt I'll ever learn it.

[AllentownJake]

10. Depends

I've tried to get my lawn mower fixed twice. The fucking thing keeps breaking down.

No more fixing time to get a new one.

[LostinVA]

30. How big is your lawn?

Ours is about 2/3 of an acre, and I use a push reel mower made in the USA by Great States. $82.99 with free shipping via Amazon, and maintenance is almost nil.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

31. Yes, unless you own a golf course or something, you don't need a power mower

A push mower does the job fine, only needs to be sharpened occasionally, and uses no fuel except human muscle power.

Riding mowers are REALLY a stupid waste for anyone who can walk.

[LostinVA]

34. LOVE the reel mower!

We're selling the gas-powered push Toro. We never use it.

I like being able to go out at 730 or 800 on Sunday morning (when it's still cool and full sun isn't in teh yard yet), and cut the lawn. You can also stop to chat with a dog-walking neighbor. *snickerty-snick*

Oh, golf courses DO use reel mowers for the green, because it's a precise, even scissors cut

[AllentownJake]

40. Fuck that I'm busy

I need the type that powers itself.

[LostinVA]

41. I've timed it -- it takes me five minutes LESS using the reel mower

[kestrel91316]

11. Small appliances are designed to be thrown away when they break.

They are not designed to be repaired. There is usually no physical way to access the workings without breaking the outside, and no way to replace parts.

[baldguy]

20. Planned obsolescence

Another marketing innovation from our friends at General Motors.

[tridim]

12. I just installed a new switch on my coffee maker

I couldn't believe how crappy the original switch was after getting it out. Damn you China.

The switch I installed will probably last 50 years.

[konnichi wa]

19. The heating element will burn out tomorrow morning.

:silly:

[CrispyQ]

13. Planned obsolescence - only greedy capitalists would think that's a good idea.

We have a table top water distiller that needed repair. A new one would have cost $800. It was difficult finding someone who would do that type of work! Finally, one of the hardware stores told us about this old man who still does repairs like that in his garage. He fixed our distiller for $30 plus cost of the part. We were thrilled. Since then, I've taken a few items into him. He does a great job & at very reasonable rates. He must be in his 70's & I wonder who will do that kind of work when he is gone.

Years ago I read a sci-fi story - one of those life on a future Earth stories. One of the main character's family owned a landfill. They made their living sifting through & salvaging all the crap we've thrown away. The character was stunned at the waste & he wonders at the kind of culture we had, that we could & would throw so much stuff away.

[haele]

14. If I can fix it, I will.

If I can't fix it, or the cost of the fix is more than the cost and reliability of a new item, I'll tend not to. I grew up poor, and we had to eek every ounce of usefulness from everything, be it food left-overs, clothes, or appliances. "When I was a kid", bio-degradable went into the backyard garden compost heap. Broken furniture was broken down for useful parts (brackets, usable wood, upholstery). Ed Begley would be proud...

The problem occurs with the others in the family; one (I'm looking at you kidlet) tends to believe in the disposable life without understanding the consequences of not re-using or re-cycling. Hopefully, that's just a phase.

Haele

[LaPera]

15. Buy a new one, if it's not broken I buy a another one so I'll have two, then I update them

I stay on top of it...I have to be sure I have the newest & latest models from Blu Rays to cars to computers to blenders I'm in step and always have the hippest latest hi-tech models, if there's a new gadget or item on the market, I'm on it dude... everyone loves to see me walk into their stores, my friends always seem to want my old shit...but I encourage them to buy new....and I just toss my old crap in the trash. It's not worth it to have old shit around.

I know I'm only one person, but I also know that I'm helping the economy grow...Yes, I'm a consumer, and proud of it, I do my part and I share my stuff with anyone who wants to use it...However, I must admit, this downturn in the economy is making it harder to buy new, so I too look for the lowest prices on the Internet and for sales around town like everyone else.

We all need to buy more to get our economy rolling again....That's what I'll be doing today, looking for a new printer that uses less ink I saw one on my new Sony 60" Grand WEGA SXRD TV - I do my part....I just wish Sony would come out with a new Playstation soon because my PS3 is looking very old next to my other things.

Just remember, NEW is always better!

[tularetom]

16. I've seen some "fix or replace" charts for various items

And basically for anything that's computerized, if it's older than five years, it's generally acknowledged to be cheaper to buy a new one than fix the old one.

Nowadays this includes things like washers and dryers, ovens, microwaves, etc where all the cycles are programmed.

Sadly, I have to agree. I can repair anything mechanical, like a lawn mower, weed eater, or chain saw, I can even replace a belt or pump in a washer or dryer, but if a chip somehow goes bad, I'm lost.

[Amonester]

17. My laptop's integrated wi-fi circuitry "failed" this week...

it's a (now "old", by today's 'waste-market' standards) HP (made in Taiwan, or nearby) crap of about 3 years old now.

So instead of having to pay (how much? $100?), I just bought a new USB (external) Wi-Fi plug-in device ("on discount") for 19.99 (+tx) and voila. A little tricky to install but, after inserting the mini-CD and let the OS load its drivers, all it needed was the WEP key, and that was it.

I can't afford purchasing a new laptop yet, so I'll use this (now old!!) crap until I will.

[MineralMan]

18. For most things like appliances, parts are simply not

available. If they were, their cost would exceed the cost to replace the appliance.

After about five years, parts are not available for many things, including lawnmowers, snowblowers, and the like.

Even very expensive items, like flat-screen HD televisions, repairs are almost impossible. They are not designed to be repaired and little information is available about them for the repair person.

Bottom line is that today's merchandise is not designed to be repaired if it breaks.

[Hippo_Tron]

21. Almost always try to fix it

If it's really old and it really was its time then I will buy a new one. But generally at that point it's not even economical to fix it compared to getting a new one.

A few years ago my grandmothers gave me some birthday money. I spent it on a new flat screen TV even though I already had one. When I realized that the flat screen TV didn't bring me a whole lot of happiness and that the $300 would've been better spent elsewhere. Being an economics major has gotten me to think constantly about opportunity cost (not just how much something costs, but what else you could be spending that money on instead).

[Deja Q]

22. Viagra fixes me up every time!

:party:


So does Prozac, but you didn't need to know that...

[Arugula Latte]

23. Unfortunately, it's often more expensive to fix than to replace.

[MADem]

24. I have old crap. I "like" it, actually.

I consider it a challenge to see how long I can make something last. About the only time I'll upgrade is if something is broken, it will cost more than it is worth to fix it, AND it is an energy hog. I'm about there with a dryer, but I'm nursing the old thing along for another few months--just because I want to see how long I can make it last.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

49. I'm exactly the same way.

I still use my grandmother's GE electric hand-mixer from the '60s. Was sad when my 22-year-old Sony TV died. Am riding a 1992 Trek. And am kicking myself for giving away a '60s Eureka vacuum cleaner--I've blown through three cheap-shit-from-China bagless vacuums in under a year.

[MADem]

53. I have a blender from the fifties--it's a George Jetson-ish beauty!

Silver, looks like a beehive!!!! Works GREAT too!

Hit "The Sally" (Salvation Army store) and maybe you can replace that vacuum!

[WorseBeforeBetter]

55. Good idea...

after I hit Lowe's tomorrow to return yet another stinkin' plastic vacuum!

[LaurenG]

25. We try to fix things ourselves then see if a repairman can fix it for

a reasonable rate. If it's hopeless we buy another, sometimes used, sometimes new.

[alc]

26. getting harder to fix things

I used to fix everything myself. The older I get the more I pay someone else to fix things or just replace them. I think it started when I had kids. When they were too young to help I'd want to spend time with them instead of an afternoon fixing something. When they got older they didn't want to spend time on repairing something with me. I wish they had been more interested - I loved spending afternoons or weekends fixing stuff with my dad or granddad. I do about 2 or 3 projects a year with each of them any more often and they get bored.

The other problem is that things are made to not be fixed these days. Unusual screws - I thought I had every star/triangle/etc screwdriver I could need but found a new shape a few weeks ago. Cases are glued shut or otherwise sealed to not come apart. Internals are covered with epoxy so you can't just resolder things. I think short life spans and repurchases rather than repairs are part of many business plans.

[notadmblnd]

27. I get it fixed

A friend of mine is a certified maintenance tech so he fixes things for me and I feed him. The first time my burner went out in my oven (it was before we met) the part cost me 58.00. Since we've been friends the burner went out again. He got me the part for 10. They know him at the appliance part store. He's also fixed my washer, refrigerator and dryer. All in exchange for a meal.

[BuyingThyme]

28. Do you take trade-ins?

[Vinca]

32. It depends. Sometimes the cost of fixing something exceeds

the cost of buying a new one. (FYI, I'm a person with a big, fat television and a VCR it's hard to find tapes for.)

[Evoman]

33. I try to fix stuff, and after I make it worse, I go and buy something new.

It's my usual routine, since I think I can fix shit, but then find out I'm a horrible handyman.

[EFerrari]

35. LOL!

:applause:

I can fix furniture, floors, walls and upholstery but not electrical or mechanical. It would be faster to hit myself on the head with the flashlight and drive to the store. :)

[Evoman]

36. I tried to fix my vcr.

Before I tried, it used to chew up tapes.

No prob, I thought....opened it up.

Now, when you move it around, it makes tinkly noises, like there is sand in it. It doesn't chew tapes anymore, though....mostly because it won't turn on at all.

And I gave myself a nasty cut putting it back together.


Now I have a nice, new PS3 which plays blue-ray discs....I have to say, I'm glad I didn't manage to fix that stupid vcr.

[earth mom]

37. We had a bunch of stuff break at the same time. Computer, tv, washer & dryer, microwave, dishwasher

It's taken some time but we replaced the most important stuff like the computer and washer and dryer.

Other stuff like the microwave and the dishwasher, we're living without.

I've never cared about keeping up with friends or relatives or the Joneses.


Stop caring about what everybody thinks and you will be much happier.

[janx]

38. I get it fixed!

Recently, I got both my lawn mower and my vacuum cleaner serviced.

[malaise]

39. We fix lots of things

We finally threw out a 35 year old AM/FM radio.

[csziggy]

44. It depends on how much is wrong with it

We repaired our old washer and dryer until the drums were starting to rust and stained the clothes. When the compressor went out on the 20 year old refrigerator, I elected to buy a newer, more efficient one than spend 75% of the cost of the new one to patch up the old one.

Usually I keep stuff until it is so worn out it is not worth the cost of repair, then try to replace it with something that will last as long as the original. And if I decide to replace a working item, I 'rehome' the old one to someone who can use it.

I spent three years patching together old computer parts from donated family computers to make working computers that I gave to people as their first computers. Some may never upgrade from the old ones until they finally break. My husband today helped one of our first recepients upgrade from a 10x CDROM to a DVD burner in his old Pentium computer. That computer still does what he needs and will for a long time, probably.

When I quit building computers, I gave/traded all the old parts to a local computer shop that does a lot of pro bono computer work - he'll use those parts to rebuild computers for free and recycle the dead parts.

[BlooInBloo]

45. I think - however long or briefly - about the costs and benefits of fixing/replacing/making do.

[SoCalDem]

46. Most "small things" these days, cannot be "fixed"

Things are no longer mechanical. Electronic things, "digital" things, etc are so specialized that the people with the knowledge to fix them are not likely to sell their services cheaply enough to make repairing them worthwhile. When we first married, back in 1970, we routinely had our TV fixed, even had a coffeemaker & toaster repaired. Toys were always repaired; so were clocks, cameras & watches. Shoes were re-soled & heeled, clothing was taken-in or let-out and mended, furniture was slipcovered or re-upholstered (cheaply). Recently I checked into having a dear old sofa re-upholstered..the CHEAPEST place I found, wanted $700..(more than I paid for it).

I paid $400 for a Kodak digital camera, that went on the blink. To repair it was a flat charge of $200 PLUS (depending on what was actually wrong with it). In the intervening years, newer versions of the camera had come along, and were LESS than the cost of repairing it. Kodak "gave" me a $100 "credit" toward the "new camera"..which I loathed (too small for me to see the "controls") and gave to my son. I replaced the original one for $75 on ebay.

Things are no longer meant to last.

We still re-sole & re-heel my husband's shoes & boots..he wears a 10A, and we pay through the nose for those special order shoes:)

[stop the bleeding]

47. both it just depends how much $, time and energy is required. nt

[Ikonoklast]

48. I just re-built my ten-year old lawnmower last week.

It stopped abruptly after about five minutes running, in a puff of blue smoke and some rather loud metal-on-metal noises.

I popped the head off, and saw that the valve seats were covered with carbon and they weren't closing all the way, preventing proper compression and fuel combustion. I scraped the excess carbon off the vavles and the head, cleaned the intake up real nice and put it all back together.

Started on the first pull, and ran even quieter than before.

But, then again, this is a simple side-valve single cylinder four-stroke motor with no electronic components to fail. A fairly basic mechanical fix.

[Raineyb]

50. It depends on the item.

Some things are cheaper to buy new than to pay someone to fix.

Computers I'd generally fix until it starts becoming difficult to get parts.

[Missy Vixen]

51. We fix it

The puppy chewed on the vacuum cleaner. We bought a nice vacuum two years ago because we now have two long-haired cats and a chocolate Lab -- in other words, we needed hardcore pet hair removal. It cost $10 to fix the vacuum cleaner earlier today with used parts; we are very grateful.

One of our friends didn't want her brand-new Cuisinart food processor. She gave it to us. We have a Cuisinart toaster from another friend who threw it out. She wanted a newer one. It's worked like a dream for almost ten years now. The only reason why we upgraded our cell phones two years ago was because we went through an extended power outage, and we'd like to be able to at least recover e-mail if it ever happens again. Our cars are thirteen and fifteen years old.

We bought a nice television about a year ago, but that replaced the fourteen-year-old TV in our family room.

Our friends (and others,) all laugh at us, too. They have been for a long, long time now. We're fine with it.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

57. Cuisinart makes good stuff.

It's made in Japan, or used to be. I have a stainless steel Cuisinart teapot that will last forever. I got it in 1982 or thereabouts. I also have a 1982 model food processor that I make bread in.

I'm still doing the old fashioned TV. My stereo is a component set I got for Christmas in 1971. Marantz receiver. The CD player is a Denon six-stacker that's close to 20 years old.

When I bought the CD player, the salesmen all tried to sell me a single CD player. They did not get the concept that I would load it up with CDs (symphonies and stuff) and let it play all day.

[carlyhippy]

52. some things I go and buy new

we had a microwave for 6 years and it was not working very well, finally scrapped it and bought a new one, for alot cheaper than I paid for the one 6 years ago, and it works so much better...same with a vacuum cleaner a month ago, my old one was not working very well, I bought a new one for less than the old one, and it works much better. sometimes it is cheaper and less hassle to just go buy a new item.

[yorgatron]

54. I repair everything I possibly can,same as my dad.

[SmileyRose]

56. Fix - even if I have to break down and buy another - I still try for fix.

Took me 4 months once to fix a toaster. Obviously I bought a new one before the old one was fixed, but I really liked that old toaster. Once fixed the new one, which was yard sale used to begin with, got a good cleaning and was passed off to the women's shelter.

[Duer 157099]

58. I'm fixated on fixing things

I just can't stand to dump things, and I can't stand to not know how to fix things. Nowadays, with Google and the net, you can find every piece of info you need to fix anything.

I have no training in any of this, but have taught myself how to fix anything (except my car, and that's only because it's too big and I don't have the tools or strength or desire to get dirty. But I will diagnose it as far as I can. The mechanics love that, lol).

Can fix any problem with computer, or just about any electronic device. And I don't even know how to solder.

Fixed my oven myself, the fridge, garbage disposal, washing machine, dvd player, vhs player, tons of remote controls, blenders, numerous LCD monitors, lots of mp3 players, etc.

For me, it's fun, challenging and interesting. Very satisfying and rewarding.

Plus, I believe that older things were built better than the garbage they make nowadays-- even stuff just a few years old is better than today's stuff.

[dysfunctional press]

59. it depends on what it is.. and the place i usually 'shop' first for a replacement is ebay.

[deaniac21]

60. I think about whiskey.