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When to fix -- or ditch -- your iPod
It's tempting to toss broken electronics without trying to get them repaired. But tests show that sometimes fixes are worth the time and trouble.
By The Wall Street Journal
When electronic gadgets break, is it worth it to get them fixed?
Repairing broken devices seems almost pointless when an abundance of improved models are available and technology prices often slide. But chucking old gadgets isn't the most eco-friendly move. So we set out to have ours repaired.
In 2005, Americans discarded 2.6 million tons of electronic goods, or e-waste, including VCRs, DVD players and computer equipment, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Consumer electronics often contain toxins such as lead and mercury.
We sought repairs for five broken electronic items by sending them back to their manufacturers. Most of the items were out of warranty.
We learned that repairs are worth considering but that deciding whether to repair or replace depends on the situation. If you get your gadget fixed, you often delay the enjoyment of technological advances, such as the new Blu-ray disc players, which can record and play high-definition video. You also may not save any money, since the cost of repairing compared to the cost of replacing can be about the same.
We saved money in two of our tests -- at least $100. But part of our savings was because our devices were newer than we had remembered. One was still under warranty. We also found that repairs aren't always possible. A ******** cell phone, for example, that we accidentally laundered was beyond hope, according to a company customer-service representative.
Manufacturers' Web sites answered many questions about repairs and fees, usually under the customer-support section. But we often had to call customer-support representatives because we had trouble processing some of our online requests. Repairs are usually performed by a third-party service.
When repairs are worth it
The drawer of our ******* DVD player was jammed with a movie inside. Comparable models cost about $60. But we wanted to repair the player to retrieve our DVD of "Capote." We coordinated our service via phone and shipped our player to *******, at our expense, with a check for $42.50.
The repaired player arrived about 10 days later, along with "Capote" and a second DVD that was stuck in the same drawer -- apparently the reason for the player's malfunction. The return of our movies was worth the trouble, even if fixing our old player cost almost the same as buying a new one.
A Nintendo DS Lite handheld gaming system was unusable after it was dropped and the display screen fell off. The company's Web site included an easy-to-read chart about repairs and fees, and links for arranging service. Our repair was to cost $75, but a telephone representative later said the fee was only $50 because our item was less than a year old. (It was still under warranty, but since we'd caused the damage, the repair wasn't covered.)
A new Nintendo system would cost about $130, so repairing our existing one was worth the fee. We received our repaired system within about two weeks. It works as well as a new unit.
The hold button on our iPod Nano wouldn't release, so our tunes wouldn't play. We thought our Nano was more than a year old and, therefore, ineligible for Apple's limited warranty. However, we were surprised to learn, after completing a service request on Apple's Web site, that our warranty was still in effect -- a status determined from the serial number. However, a $29.95 shipping charge applied because our iPod was more than 6 months old.
Apple sent us foam packaging via overnight mail for returning our iPod along with specific instructions to arrange for pickup from our home. A replacement iPod arrived within a few days of sending ours to Apple. If we had bought a new one, we would have spent $150.
When buying new is better
We're still recovering from the pain of dropping our Sony **** notebook and shattering the LCD screen. A comparable replacement costs anywhere between $1,200 and $2,011, depending on the features. But then we learned that a $699 flat fee applied to replace the LCD screen, which Sony considered "major" damage.
We thought it was impractical to invest $699 in an outdated notebook and decided to apply the cash toward buying a new, upgraded system. (Newer computers have Windows Vista operating systems and Blu-ray disc burners.) A Sony spokesman said that though PC prices have decreased, parts prices remain constant or, in some cases, are increasing.
Our Kodak digital camera stopped working after it fell on the ground. Kodak's online support system informed us that a $110 repair fee would apply. Another option: We could trade our camera for a 15% discount on a new camera from the Kodak online store.
Upgrading the camera would have been the better choice. The most inexpensive model comparable with our own was $99, not including the discount, and had 4.0 megapixels instead of our existing 2.0, plus a more powerful digital zoom. An even better model would cost $199, not including the discount.
However, we wanted to test the repair service. Two weeks after our request, though, we learned the parts to fix our camera were no longer available.
This article was reported and written by Suzanne Barlyn for The Wall Street Journal, with contributions from Jeff D. Opdyke.
Published Dec. 13, 2007
It's tempting to toss broken electronics without trying to get them repaired. But tests show that sometimes fixes are worth the time and trouble.
By The Wall Street Journal
When electronic gadgets break, is it worth it to get them fixed?
Repairing broken devices seems almost pointless when an abundance of improved models are available and technology prices often slide. But chucking old gadgets isn't the most eco-friendly move. So we set out to have ours repaired.
In 2005, Americans discarded 2.6 million tons of electronic goods, or e-waste, including VCRs, DVD players and computer equipment, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Consumer electronics often contain toxins such as lead and mercury.
We sought repairs for five broken electronic items by sending them back to their manufacturers. Most of the items were out of warranty.
We learned that repairs are worth considering but that deciding whether to repair or replace depends on the situation. If you get your gadget fixed, you often delay the enjoyment of technological advances, such as the new Blu-ray disc players, which can record and play high-definition video. You also may not save any money, since the cost of repairing compared to the cost of replacing can be about the same.
We saved money in two of our tests -- at least $100. But part of our savings was because our devices were newer than we had remembered. One was still under warranty. We also found that repairs aren't always possible. A ******** cell phone, for example, that we accidentally laundered was beyond hope, according to a company customer-service representative.
Manufacturers' Web sites answered many questions about repairs and fees, usually under the customer-support section. But we often had to call customer-support representatives because we had trouble processing some of our online requests. Repairs are usually performed by a third-party service.
When repairs are worth it
The drawer of our ******* DVD player was jammed with a movie inside. Comparable models cost about $60. But we wanted to repair the player to retrieve our DVD of "Capote." We coordinated our service via phone and shipped our player to *******, at our expense, with a check for $42.50.
The repaired player arrived about 10 days later, along with "Capote" and a second DVD that was stuck in the same drawer -- apparently the reason for the player's malfunction. The return of our movies was worth the trouble, even if fixing our old player cost almost the same as buying a new one.
A Nintendo DS Lite handheld gaming system was unusable after it was dropped and the display screen fell off. The company's Web site included an easy-to-read chart about repairs and fees, and links for arranging service. Our repair was to cost $75, but a telephone representative later said the fee was only $50 because our item was less than a year old. (It was still under warranty, but since we'd caused the damage, the repair wasn't covered.)
A new Nintendo system would cost about $130, so repairing our existing one was worth the fee. We received our repaired system within about two weeks. It works as well as a new unit.
The hold button on our iPod Nano wouldn't release, so our tunes wouldn't play. We thought our Nano was more than a year old and, therefore, ineligible for Apple's limited warranty. However, we were surprised to learn, after completing a service request on Apple's Web site, that our warranty was still in effect -- a status determined from the serial number. However, a $29.95 shipping charge applied because our iPod was more than 6 months old.
Apple sent us foam packaging via overnight mail for returning our iPod along with specific instructions to arrange for pickup from our home. A replacement iPod arrived within a few days of sending ours to Apple. If we had bought a new one, we would have spent $150.
When buying new is better
We're still recovering from the pain of dropping our Sony **** notebook and shattering the LCD screen. A comparable replacement costs anywhere between $1,200 and $2,011, depending on the features. But then we learned that a $699 flat fee applied to replace the LCD screen, which Sony considered "major" damage.
We thought it was impractical to invest $699 in an outdated notebook and decided to apply the cash toward buying a new, upgraded system. (Newer computers have Windows Vista operating systems and Blu-ray disc burners.) A Sony spokesman said that though PC prices have decreased, parts prices remain constant or, in some cases, are increasing.
Our Kodak digital camera stopped working after it fell on the ground. Kodak's online support system informed us that a $110 repair fee would apply. Another option: We could trade our camera for a 15% discount on a new camera from the Kodak online store.
Upgrading the camera would have been the better choice. The most inexpensive model comparable with our own was $99, not including the discount, and had 4.0 megapixels instead of our existing 2.0, plus a more powerful digital zoom. An even better model would cost $199, not including the discount.
However, we wanted to test the repair service. Two weeks after our request, though, we learned the parts to fix our camera were no longer available.
This article was reported and written by Suzanne Barlyn for The Wall Street Journal, with contributions from Jeff D. Opdyke.
Published Dec. 13, 2007
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