When to Replace vs Repair Your Electronics

When your TV stops working or your computer starts acting up, you face a decision: repair it or replace it? There’s no universal answer - it depends on several factors. Here’s how to make the right choice.

The 50% Rule

A common guideline: if repair costs exceed 50% of replacement cost, consider buying new. But this oversimplifies the decision.

When to ignore the 50% rule:

• Vintage or collectible equipment with sentimental value
• High-end equipment where used replacements cost more
• Environmental concerns
• Unique features not available in new models
• Items with remaining warranty or protection plans

Factors to Consider

Age of the Device

Less than 2 years old:

• Almost always worth repairing
• May still be under warranty
• Many years of useful life remaining
• Modern features still current

2-5 years old:

• Usually worth repairing if repair costs are reasonable
• Consider the device’s original quality
• Check if newer models offer significant improvements

5-10 years old:

• Evaluate repair cost carefully
• Other components may be aging too
• Technology may have advanced significantly
• Consider the “cascade failure” risk

Over 10 years old:

• Repair mainly makes sense for high-end or vintage items
• Multiple components may be reaching end of life
• Parts availability may be limited

Original Quality

Not all electronics are created equal:

Budget devices:

• Often not worth repairing
• May cost more to repair than replace
• Built with lower-quality components
• Short expected lifespan anyway

Mid-range devices:

• Repair often makes sense
• Generally have better components
• Often worth a repair or two over their lifetime

High-end devices:

• Almost always worth repairing
• Premium components last longer
• Replacement costs are high
• Quality may exceed current budget options

Type of Repair Needed

Commonly worthwhile repairs:

• Power supply replacement
• Capacitor replacement
• Belt replacement (turntables, VCRs)
• Screen replacement (sometimes)
• Connector/port repairs

Often not worthwhile:

• Main board replacement
• Major display damage
• Water damage (sometimes recoverable)
• Multiple simultaneous failures
• Structural damage

Parts Availability

Consider whether parts are actually available:

• Mainstream brands usually have parts available longer
• Obscure brands may have limited parts
• Older equipment may require used parts
• Some parts can be sourced from donor units

Specific Device Guidelines

TVs

Repair when:

• Power supply failure (very common, affordable fix)
• Single backlight issue
• Input/port problems
• TV is less than 5 years old
• It’s a large or high-end model

Replace when:

• Major panel damage (cracked screen)
• TV is over 8 years old and has major issues
• Multiple problems simultaneously
• Repair cost exceeds $300-400 on a budget TV

Computers

Repair when:

• Power supply failure
• RAM or storage issues
• Cooling problems
• Individual components fail
• The rest of the system is good

Replace when:

• Motherboard failure on older systems
• Multiple components failing
• System no longer meets your needs
• Repair cost exceeds a decent refurbished replacement

Audio Equipment

Repair when:

• Vintage or high-end equipment
• Capacitor issues (very common in older units)
• Power supply problems
• Control/switch issues
• Belt-driven mechanisms

Replace when:

• Budget speakers with blown drivers
• Obsolete connection standards
• Major physical damage

Gaming Consoles

Repair when:

• Disc drive issues
• HDMI port damage
• Power supply failure
• Overheating issues
• Console is still current generation

Replace when:

• Major board failure
• Console is multiple generations old
• Repair cost exceeds used console prices

The Environmental Consideration

Electronics replacement creates e-waste. Consider:

• Proper recycling of old devices
• The environmental cost of new production
• Extending life of repairable items
• Supporting repair over replacement when practical

Repair is almost always the more sustainable choice when feasible.

Questions to Ask Your Repair Shop

Get the information you need to decide:

1. What exactly is wrong?
2. What’s the repair cost?
3. Are there other potential issues?
4. How long will the repair last?
5. Is this a common failure for this model?
6. Would you repair this if it were yours?

A good repair shop will give honest answers, even if it means recommending replacement.

Our Honest Approach

When you bring something to us, we’ll tell you:

• Exactly what’s wrong
• What repair will cost
• Whether we think repair is worthwhile
• If we see other potential problems
• Our honest recommendation

We’d rather earn your trust with honest advice than make a quick repair on something that should be replaced. If repair doesn’t make sense, we’ll tell you - and we won’t charge for that diagnosis.

The Decision

Ultimately, consider:

• Financial comparison (repair cost vs replacement cost)
• Environmental impact
• Sentimental value
• Your specific needs
• Quality of potential replacements

There’s no shame in replacing something that’s genuinely reached end of life. But there’s satisfaction in keeping good equipment running - and often saving money in the process.

Not sure whether to repair or replace? Bring it in for a free diagnosis and we’ll give you an honest assessment to help you decide.