The New Intimacy

Does anyone repair anything much anymore, or do you just replace things?

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Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
We have a remote control ceiling fan. The remote just died. It costs $90 to get a new remote or we can buy a whole new fan (the old one is TEN YEARS OLD) for $129. No brainer. We are replaceing.

Our three year old tile steamer broke. Minor item (gaskets in water holder, I am positive). Even then, they want $100 minimum charge to do a "look and see" for repair. They want $60 to sell ME the rubber gaskets, in case I want to "take the chance" that is the problem and fix it myself....OR, I can buy a three year newer design, brand new steamer for.....$58!!!!

It seems that EVERYTHING is simply disposable these days. Other then a wash machine or refrigerator that is almost new, hardly anything is worth fixing around a house...even if you can find someone who knows how. (No one fixed TV's it seems, anymore).

SO..in general, with household stuff, do you FIX or REPLACE?
Answers (public voting - your screen name will appear in the results):
If it goes bad, it gets tossed. REPLACE.
ViVix , melissa1973 , solitudinarian , Anne , Lady of the Lab , Rossie , MrsHouseWife , Lioncub , amazon , Taylor , Missmarc , michael scofield , richsam , Allstars316 , KyotoAngel
15
I try to have things professionally fixed.
Anne , PeaceToTheMiddleEast , Taylor , MidnightStorm , Sammi
5
I try to do fixes myself.
ToyTimeTim , darthkitt3n , Lovely Jubblies , pixylove101 , padmeamidala , Incendiaire , Anne , Sima-pusya , Terri69 , LostinLife , OhioJoe , Alan & Michele , MrsHouseWife , Mwar , Kissaki , JackRaiden , gsfanatic , deltalima , meitman , michael scofield , MidnightStorm , Sammi , GONE! , Gunsmoke , epiphanyjayne , XxFallenAngelxX , Lildrummrgurl7 , married with children , RomanticGoth , dv8 , Sweet-n-Playful , KyotoAngel , Kat and Aaron(aaron) , U3H , GingerSpice , KinkyKatieJames
36
Other?
- Kira - , P'Gell , unfulfilled , Rossie , travelnurse , Gone (LD29) , SMichelle
7
Total votes: 63 (54 voters)
Poll is closed
09/24/2012
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Contributor: ViVix ViVix
Quote:
Originally posted by Bignuf
We have a remote control ceiling fan. The remote just died. It costs $90 to get a new remote or we can buy a whole new fan (the old one is TEN YEARS OLD) for $129. No brainer. We are replaceing.

Our three year old tile steamer broke. Minor ... more
I often replace things because the price for repairing plus the hassle is too significant.
09/24/2012
Contributor: ToyTimeTim ToyTimeTim
I hope everyone knows my answer.

I am not afraid to tear things apart, if I can get the parts I will surely fix them. There are things that I will just replace, some things are just not worth the effort.
09/24/2012
Contributor: mama2007 mama2007
Quote:
Originally posted by Bignuf
We have a remote control ceiling fan. The remote just died. It costs $90 to get a new remote or we can buy a whole new fan (the old one is TEN YEARS OLD) for $129. No brainer. We are replaceing.

Our three year old tile steamer broke. Minor ... more
my husband fixes all our car issues, truck issues, house repairs as needed, etc. we don't pay anyone to do it unless he can't
09/24/2012
Contributor: - Kira - - Kira -
I'm the type that won't even try to fix things. I'll just replace them. My husband holds on to things forever looking for parts and such to fix them himself. We have a TV sitting in our spare bedroom that we've had for three years because he swears he can fix it with some part. So I did "other" because I was voting for both of us.
09/24/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
I'll try to fix somethings, but I don't mess with electric stuff. I have no patience for things that I have to take out a million screws for either. If we can fix it, we will try, but if fixing it costs more then getting a new one...we get a new one.

We had this with our vacuum. We took it to get repaired and they said it was going to be about $100. Well, we only paid $48 for the vacuum. So, we tossed it and got a new one. A good thing about us tossing it is that the scrapers came throw and picked it up. So someone might have been able to turn scrap vacuums into a useable one.
09/24/2012
Contributor: melissa1973 melissa1973
I have the mechanic fix my cars, if it's something like a vacuum cleaner or something that I don't have to worry about screwing up than I tinker with it.
09/24/2012
Contributor: pixylove101 pixylove101
I try to fix things. If I can't I generally replace if it's cheaper then calling in a specialist.
09/24/2012
Contributor: solitudinarian solitudinarian
I usually just replace, as bad as feel that it is for the environment. Stuff just isn't made to last anymore, and usually is more expensive to repair.
09/24/2012
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
My husband is a really handy guy. The problem is he wants to fix everything.

He had to tear out the entire floor of our downstairs bathroom Friday. (Literally down to the studs, you can see the basement) I was complaining that I smelled mildew and the toilet was rocking for months. He did a slap dash job about a year ago, and it was still bad.

Now the entire floor rotted out.

The problem is he wants to save the toilet, that I think caused the problem "to save money." The fucking toilet leaks! He doesn't seem to understand that sometimes having something professionally done, or at least buying new quality goods is going to last longer and save money in the long run.

I know we're going to have a fight about that toilet.
09/24/2012
Contributor: Incendiaire Incendiaire
I try to fix things myself, then I check the warranty, then I see how much the manufacturer will charge to fix it, and if none of those options have worked then I replace the item.
09/24/2012
Contributor: Anne Anne
It depends on what it is. If I can't do it, I find a friend who can do it for free, or i have it done professionally.
09/24/2012
Contributor: Sima-pusya Sima-pusya
I try to do fixes myself.
09/24/2012
Contributor: Terri69 Terri69
I will try to fix something myself
09/24/2012
Contributor: LostinLife LostinLife
I am always taking things apart, and trying to fix them. Some times I can get it to work. these days anymore things are so expensive with three growing sons I can't afford to replace everything.
09/24/2012
Contributor: PeaceToTheMiddleEast PeaceToTheMiddleEast
If I can't fix it myself. Then I will have it professionally done. If the price is going to be higher then just getting a new one, then I will get it new.
09/24/2012
Contributor: Lady of the Lab Lady of the Lab
Quote:
Originally posted by ViVix
I often replace things because the price for repairing plus the hassle is too significant.
Same, especially electronics <.< Because I rent my apartment, with two other roommates, I do not try to fix things. Most of the things that need fixin' are usually a matter of being worn out rather than broken, e.g. shower head and shower tower.
09/24/2012
Contributor: unfulfilled unfulfilled
I chose other because it depends on the item. My husband can fit most things electrical, but not mechanical *automotive*
09/24/2012
Contributor: OhioJoe OhioJoe
I usually fix the things that are economically repairable, but it seems that the cost of parts for many repairs greatly overshadows the cost of replacement.
We have become a more disposable society. Manufactures want a steady flow of finished products to insure providing an income for their labor force. There is not much we can do about it. I wish there was a better way to recycle the usable devices rather than "junking" the entire unit for one broken piece.
Perhaps someday we will see the resurgence of the junk man and fixit man that will take in broken devices and cobble up one that works from spare parts. Only time will tell.
09/24/2012
Contributor: Rossie Rossie
My husband isn't the handy type (except for computers and his camera equipments), but he'll try to work on simple repairs around the house. If something went wrong with major household appliances, I'd rather have the repairman come, or have it replaced if repairing fee is almost the same as getting a new one.
09/24/2012
Contributor: Alan & Michele Alan & Michele
We try to fix most things, unless the cost of repairs is really close to the replacement cost.
09/24/2012
Contributor: MrsHouseWife MrsHouseWife
My husband is pretty hand and so am I am. So if we can fix it, we do. If not we replace. If it has sentimental value I try extra hard to get in fixed.
09/24/2012
Contributor: Mwar Mwar
I have handy friends. My guy is great for fixing electronics and my friend is very house handy.
09/24/2012
Contributor: RonLee RonLee
I'll repair some things but some others, the cost of repair is up to or even exceeding the cost of replacement. Sad but that's the way it is anymore.
09/24/2012
Contributor: Lioncub Lioncub
Most of the time it is cheaper to replace so that's how we go on smaller items anyway. Bigger items like the washer or refrigerator we'll try to repair first.
09/24/2012
Contributor: travelnurse travelnurse
Depends on what it is, how old it is, what it costs.
09/24/2012
Contributor: amazon amazon
I'd toss it
09/24/2012
Contributor: JackRaiden JackRaiden
The net has guides and parts for just about everything, so I try to do fixes myself. Sometimes it's quite interesting.
09/24/2012
Contributor: gsfanatic gsfanatic
I'll usually look at a guide and see how hard it is to fix, then make the call. Most times I can fix it myself, and I'll let it go until it dies or isn't that useful anymore
09/24/2012
Contributor: Taylor Taylor
I don't know how to fix stuff so I either try and have it fixed or if it's not worth it to fix I will buy a new one.
09/24/2012