When a major piece of equipment stops working, it often becomes increasingly difficult to decide whether to spend money on repairs or just buy a new one. Yes, equipment can be very expensive, but repair bills can run into the hundreds of dollars and in some cases cost half the price of a new machine. If you’re requesting a repair or replacement, here’s some advice on what to think about. First: Has the device ever broken? If not, an expert recommends repairing it. “If you’re happy with how it works and looks and have never had a problem with it, I think it’s definitely worth considering a repair,” said Kevin Brasler, editor-in-chief at Consumers’ Checkbook, a nonprofit consumer organization. Consumers’ Checkbook just published new reviews of appliance repair services and home appliance stores in Boston. The reviews can be accessed by following this link, available HERE exclusively for WCVB readers. “I think the average cost is only about $150. So even if the repair costs $250, it’s usually worth doing, especially if you haven’t had any problems with the device,” Brasler said. “There’s no reason to believe that you won’t have many more years of trouble-free experience with this device.” That’s where tip number two comes in: if the repair is a major one, you might want to consider replacing the device. Something like a fridge compressor or washing machine gearbox can cost half as much as buying a new machine. And ask the repair technician if there are common problems with that part or model. Tip three at the end: Look around for a repair service. even for simple repairs,” said Brasler. “It makes sense to do a little shop around.” Undercover buyers of Consumers’ Checkbook found exactly the same repair prices for the exact same device model and found that local small repair services generally offered better prices and performed better overall . “Our recommendation is to stick with an independent company, and that’s because the independent companies received far more favorable ratings than the factory-authorized services,” Brasler said. “The factory-authorized customer service apparently had great difficulty carrying out the repairs properly.” The exception to this is if your device is still under the manufacturer’s warranty. In these cases, you usually need to contact a factory-approved repair service. According to Brasler, local electronics stores also generally performed better on the Consumers’ Checkbook ratings when a replacement is due, particularly in ensuring on-time delivery and installation. Picking up the phone might be the key to getting the best price. It’s important to mention that. “Give me your best price. I will contact other stores and whoever offers me the best price is the one I will buy from,” Brasler said.
NEEDHAM, Massachusetts-
When a major piece of equipment stops working, it often becomes increasingly difficult to decide whether to spend money on repairs or just buy a new one.
Yes, equipment can be very expensive, but repair bills can run into the hundreds of dollars and in some cases cost half the price of a new machine.
If you’re ordering a repair or replacement, here’s some advice on what to consider.
First: Has the device ever broken? If not, an expert recommends repairing it.
“If you’re happy with the operation and looks and have never had an issue with it, I think it’s definitely worth considering a repair,” said Kevin Brasler, editor-in-chief at Consumers’ Checkbook, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization. Consumers’ Checkbook just published new reviews of appliance repair services and home appliance stores in Boston.
- The reviews can be accessed by following this link, available HERE exclusively for WCVB readers
“I think the average [repair] The cost is only about $150. “Even if the repair costs $250, it’s usually worth doing, especially if you haven’t had any problems with the device,” Brasler said. “There’s no reason to believe you won’t continue to have trouble-free experiences with this device for many years to come.”
That’s where tip number two comes in: if the repair is a major one, you might want to consider replacing the device. Something like a fridge compressor or washing machine gearbox can cost half as much as buying a new machine. And ask the repair technician if there are common problems with that part or model.
Finally, tip three: Look around for a repair service.
“We’ve found that some locations charge three or even four times as much as others for the exact same repair, even for simple repairs,” Brasler said. “It makes sense if you can poke around a bit.”
Consumers’ Checkbook undercover shoppers charged the exact same repair prices for the exact same device model and found that local repair services for customers large and small generally offered better prices and performed better overall.
“Our recommendation is to stick with an independent company, and that’s because the independent companies received far more favorable ratings than the factory-authorized services,” Brasler said. “The factory-authorized service centers apparently had great difficulty in carrying out the repairs properly.”
An exception to this is if the manufacturer’s warranty still applies to your device. In such cases, you usually need to contact a factory-approved repair service.
According to Brasler, local electronics stores also generally performed better in Consumers’ Checkbook ratings when it was time for a replacement, particularly in ensuring that delivery and installation were on time. Picking up the phone can be the key to getting the best price.
“It seems dated, but you call or email stores and say, ‘This is the device I want, I’ll look around.’ It’s important to mention that. “Give me your best price. I will contact other stores and whoever offers me the best price is the one I will buy from,” Brasler said.
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https://www.wcvb.com/article/repair-or-replace-boston-consumer-advocate-appliances-break-down/44220865
