I have to start by saying I hate throwing things away. That comes from both an environmental angle and a resource angle. Just because a device is old doesn’t mean it’s bad — I couldn’t count the number of times I’ve taken an old device and given it a new job. There’s something to be said for restoring an old Mac to its former glory, even if all it ends up doing is sitting on a shelf looking good. Repair or replace is the question I get asked more than any other, and sometimes the honest answer is that a device just needs to say goodbye and head off to responsible e-waste recycling.
Repair or Replace: Doing the Cost Math
As a small business, I have to pay my staff regardless of how a repair turns out. That’s the real problem — we can’t charge for the time a repair takes, only for the part itself. So that $75 push-button phone you love? Fixing it can run you $300, because the repair is slow going and the parts are hard to track down. We’d love to help with every repair going, but pricing them that way would close the business down.
When a repair stops making economic sense, we’ll tell you to buy a new device instead. I hate charging someone for a repair that doesn’t add up, so we’d rather be upfront and point you toward an upgrade. If you want to see how we think about pricing more generally, here’s a closer look at how we price computer repairs in Lithgow.
Old Computers and Realistic Expectations
There’s no version of an old Windows XP computer that’s safe to use on the internet — none. So there’s a point where upgrading really is the best option. Believe it or not, we’re not saying that to sell you a new computer — we actually make more money on repairs. A repair on an old computer or phone that’s no longer safe to use online, or that won’t fix the underlying problem, isn’t doing you any favours.
The irony is that most people holding onto an old computer are doing it because the idea of learning something new feels overwhelming. In reality, newer computers are usually easier to use, not harder.
If you’ve got an old computer running one program — a CNC machine, some specialty software — and it’s never touched the internet, there’s nothing wrong with keeping it running. The trouble starts when you want to use a Windows 8 machine for online banking, email, or today’s games.
Cheap Devices Often Mean Expensive Repairs
The problem with cheap devices is they’re often not built to be repaired — they’re built to be replaced when they break. Just today, someone left the shop pretty frustrated because their tablet, a brand I’d never even come across, had a broken charge port. None of my usual suppliers stocked parts for it, and when I finally tracked some down, they cost more than a replacement tablet of the same model.
Compare that to something like the iPhone 11, which is designed to be repaired. The screen is an easy swap, and parts run around $50, because there’s a whole market of third-party suppliers competing for your business. The more common a device is, the more competition there is for parts, and the cheaper repairs get.
Exceptions to the Rule
Some devices are worth repairing no matter how old they are — if they’re holding data you need recovered, or running a job that has no modern equivalent. We’ll always suggest the cheaper option, but if one of these exceptions applies to you, let us know. We’ll factor that in.
Nobody Wants to Throw Out an Old Computer
I get it — nobody wants to throw a computer away. But sometimes it really is the most cost-effective option in the long run. Knowing when to repair or replace a device is what keeps your gear running longer and your wallet happier. We won’t always give you the answer you’re hoping for, but it’ll always be the honest one.