Replace or Repair Electronics? UBREAKIFIX Looks at Both Sides

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As you tackle your spring cleaning, you may be finding some old tech around the house that you no longer use. Although you don’t use it, you don’t know whether you should toss it or try to salvage it. Here’s some advice from the local tech experts at UBREAKIFIX.

Repair or replace?
The question is one that is asked frequently, but the answer largely depends on several factors from the age of the device to the type of damage that the device has. It even largely depends on the type of device that you’re considering.

“Most devices are worth repairing in general,” says Sean Staggs, manager of UBREAKIFIX Brentwood. When helping their customers decide if something is worth keeping, they take a look at the device and the damage and let the customer know the price it would cost to repair. If the repair price is too close to replacement cost, they will advise the customer to go ahead and replace. When making the decision, a good rule of thumb to follow is to repair only if it costs less than half of the device’s value.

Water damage
When it comes to specific devices, water damage on laptops can be more difficult, but in most cases not impossible. It really just comes down to how much damage the water did and what parts if any need to be replaced. Most of the time, it is still repairable.

Screen Damage
As for screen damage on Smartphones, Tablets, or Mac/PC, it’s definitely better to fix, especially if it’s a newer device. The average screen for most devices costs around $100, much cheaper than the price tag of a smartphone.

TVs
TVs, on the other hand, are a bit different. If you have an old tube TV, it’s time to upgrade. Flat screen TVs are much more reasonable now in price, and you’ll get a much better picture overall. If your screen happens to be out or the power supply needs replacing and you’re out of the warranty period, you should just replace the TV. The cost of repairing it can be just as much if not more than a new one. The replacement of the power supply by itself runs roughly $275 at a repair shop, which generally can get you a nice 42” tv if you keep your eye out for deals.

If you’ve decided to replace the old broken item, the question then becomes what you do with it. Getting rid of the devices again largely depends on what they are. With a laptop, really and truly there’s not an easy way to do it without having a bit of a technology background. The easiest thing to do is to bring it to a local store like UBREAKIFIX. They’ll work with you to keep your information safe and get the device recycled for you. Scott Phillips, Owner of the Brentwood and Murfreesboro stores, says that you never want to “simply throw it away if there’s anything you don’t want out there.” For phones, you can simply do a factory restore which is the safest way to get rid of your data. Once you’ve done that, it’s safe to recycle or sell.

This technology advice is brought to you with the help of UBREAKIFIX. From smartphones that have been run over by a car, to tablets that have taken a dive in a pool, UBREAKIFIX is prepared to face anything that comes their way. Every UBREAKIFIX technician goes through an intensive training process, and they maintain an environment of constant learning, so no device is too new, no technology too complicated.

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