To Fix, or Not To Fix? That is the Question

Betrayal. Disappointment. Confusion. Frustration. Anger. Sadness.

These are the feelings you experience when the beloved device you own has suddenly taken a turn for the worse. In a perfect world, the electronic toys we buy would last forever. Like an old friend through the years, they would be with us to entertain, organize, or whatever it is the device is supposed to do for as long as we wish. But alas, the world isn't perfect, and the products we buy don't last forever.

When an electronic device fails you ultimately have two options - Repair or Replace. While it may seem to be an easy choice in some situations, many times it is unclear which is the correct path to take. Hopefully, with a little guidance, you can make the right decision.

The Steps Involved

Step One - Determine the Cause of Failure

As a first step, it is usually best to try and determine the cause of failure on your own. Sometimes a device may appear to be broken, but improper settings, bad batteries, and a plethora of other things can cause strange behaviors.

Look at the circumstances surrounding the failure. If the behavior happens after a major event (like dropping it or a battery exploding inside), then it's pretty safe to assume that the unit is need of repair. If the device just stopped working on its own, here are some suggestions to try (depending upon the device you own):

• Hard reset the device - Many devices have a way to reset them. Check the manual for how to peform this task. You can also try to unplug it or remove the battery and put it back in.

• Check all connections - Make sure that all of the connections to your devices are snug and that all of your cables are in working order. You can try to switch out a cable or two that you know is working to see if that fixes the problem.

• Check the manufacturer's and other websites - Often the manufacturer of the device has a support page which can be very helpful in diagnosing problems. You can also try to find other sites, such as TechLore, to help solve the problem.

• Contact the manufacturer's customer service - Even if your product is not under warranty, sometimes their customer service department can let you know if your product is broken over the phone or through email. Though a long shot, it is worth trying.

The worst part of the experience is first learning that your device is really broken. Once the initial feelings of frustration and anger subside, you must make the big decision of whether to fix it or replace it. Approach the decision logically, and you'll make a sound decision.

Step Two - Determine the Device's Value

As a device ages, its value decreases, making it difficult to invest money in its repair when it may not be worth it. So the next step is to determine the unit's value relative to present standards. While you may have spent a premium on it in the past, major advancements in technology could make your device worth very little in today's market. When approaching a repair decision, it's best to not let what you paid for it determine its value you to you today.

If your device is really old, going more than 7 years or so, it may not be possible to repair since parts are usually not available for really old electronics.

Step Three - Figure Out if it is Replaceable

Repairing older electronics is not always a bad thing. If, for example, your Laser Disc player stopped working for some reason, finding a replacement could prove to be difficult. You obviously don't want to sit on a stockpile of one hundred laser discs without the means to play them. Since you can't walk down to the store and pickup a new laser disc player, repairing it could be your only option. This holds true for players of many dead formats, like Betamax and 8-track.

On the flip side are devices like VHS players. While you may have spent $400 for a VCR in 1992, a new one today may be purchased for as low as $30. Of course there are some exceptions to this rule, such as high-end VCRs, which may not have a comparable unit available anymore.

TVs are the hardest to figure out. Obviously, TVs are replaceable, but they're not cheap either. New HDTVs have killed the market for analog, making older TVs undesirable to repair, especially if it dates back to the 70s. However, a TV is an investment that is expensive to replace, so you need to determine the general cost for a replacement unit before making a decision.

Step Four - Get a Quote

In most cases, it is a good idea to get a quote for a repair. Quotes are a necessary part of answering the big question, because you can judge the cost of repair vs. the cost of replacement, then decide for yourself which course of action is the correct one.

The bad part of a quote is that they are generally not free. The average carry-in quote is about 30 to 35 dollars, and an in-home service quote can run you from 75 to 100 dollars. Getting a quote on a big-screen TV is necessary, since repair cost can significantly vary depending on the problem. However, in our VCR example, the cost of the quote could exceed the cost of a replacement unit. That's where the risk is. If you take a broken device in for repair, you are already invested in the unit. Good service centers will apply the cost of the quote to the repair cost if you choose to fix it, so not all is lost if the quote comes back reasonable.

You'll often learn that the unit isn't repairable, which is nice in one way because the decision is made for you. You just have to accept the fact that you lost a few bucks on the quote. However, it's good to at least have that piece of mind rather than wonder whether or not repairing your old one was ever an option.

Now that you have the quote, add it all up and compare it to the cost of a new unit. Keep in mind that buying a new unit often offers you additional features or better performance, which you need to weigh in with your comparison.

Also, keep in mind the time frame for repair. While it is industry practice to generally tell you 2 weeks, repair times often drag on longer waiting for parts. It may be worth a few extra bucks to you to buy new and not have to go a month without your TV set or DVD player.

Step Five - Make your Decision

With all of the information in hand, the time has come to make your decision. Decide once, and don't look back. The ones who really lose are the ones who decide to repair it, then change their minds and buy another unit anyway. You're stuck with the repair bill once you send it in, and having an extra 5-year-old VCR around the house doesn't bring much additional happiness to your life.

Consider these simple guidelines when making this decision:

• Anytime the repair quote is the same cost as a replacement unit, don't bother fixing it unless you have a special bond to your device.

• If the repair cost exceeds 2/3 the cost of a new unit, it is usually not worth repairing.

• If the cost to replace your broken unit is under $100 and is comparable to your old one regarding features and quality, then it's probably not worth fixing your old one.

As we learned in step three, TVs always pose more of a challenge than small electronics do, simply because TVs are often much more expensive than other items. If your cheap TV/VCR combo just died, the decision follows the same path as other things, but TVs that cost you 2-thousand dollars do require a little extra thought. It's tough to accept that your TV is going to cost 600 dollars to fix, but if you can't afford the 1500 to buy a new unit, you're pretty much stuck repairing it. Your budget will more or less determine your course of action regarding high-price items.

It's good to remember that repairing old electronics always assumes risk, since something else could go wrong with it in the near future. When something is really on its last leg, it may be best to part ways and move on.

Wrapping Up

As with all things, these are some general guidelines to follow, but every situation is different. Gather advice from your friends and family and get help from professionals whenever possible. If you get advice from those in the industry, take it for what it is. Stores will usually tell you to replace it, while service centers will encourage repair.

If you have any additional advice for others in this situation, share your comments in the discussion thread below and help others make a good decision.