It's the age old question… do you fix your appliances and electronics or ditch them when they break?
From cell phones to TV's, sometimes it’s hard to know what to do.
CBS47 is On Your Side with what you need to know to get the most for your money.
Repair shops say business is booming as families try to save money, fixing everything from DVD players to refrigerators. But when you look at the normal life of any gadget and the cost to get it fixed, it’s often not the best bang for your buck.
Valley service technician Dillon Conner sees folks struggle with the fix it or ditch it decision every day. He says there is a basic rule that should help. Dylan said, “If it's 50% the cost of the appliance, we'll recommend to the people they should probably put their money toward a new one versus repairing.”
The problem with the 50% rule is that most companies will charge you a fee of around $60 just to find out what's wrong. That's why Conner says there are a few products you shouldn't even bother with once the warranty has expired.
Broken microwave? Conner says to ditch it unless it’s a convection microwave or higher end unit.
Broken dishwasher? Conner says it’s almost never worth it to pay for repairs.
Ovens, refrigerators, washers & dryers are usually worth saving, unless they are very old. When an old appliance breaks, many people use the opportunity to buy a more energy-efficient model or take advantage of new technology, like an HD TV.
Best Buy has a fix it or ditch it calculator that can help you decide, especially with smaller electronics like cell phones.
If your cell phone or digital camera is under warranty, fix it, otherwise, you may be better off buying a new one.
Consumer Reports says if your camcorder or iPod breaks and your warranty is expired, ditch it. Otherwise you'll just end up with an overpriced paperweight.
Computers get a bit trickier. Best Buy's Geek Squad says if you like what you have, it’s probably best to figure out what's wrong before making a decision. If you ditch it you may to have to buy more than just hardware. You may also have to purchase newer software to make the new computer do the things you were doing on the old computer. But if you have to keep getting the same computer fixed 3 or 4 times, it may not be worth it.
Another tip is if you paid less than $150 for an electronic item, it’s best to replace it. Anything more may be worth saving.
Remember, you can't just throw most electronics in the trash. You need to take them to a special e-waste recycling center. You can click on the related link to find the closest one to you.
Goodwill also takes e-waste as a donation.
