For an electronic appliance like that state-of-the-art flat screen TV to suddenly die is not really an event we always prepare for. Our five-year plans, after all, don’t typically include an electronic device. As a rule, we also do not keep replacement plasma or LCD televisions within the warehouse. However, whenever such things happen, they always cause that hair-pulling dilemma I think most of us go through. That is, the dilemma of repairing the appliance or throwing it away and buying something new.
The answer to the question of whether to buy or repair, as expected, is not easy, since it depends on the situation. For example, with older generation televisions like the cathode ray tube (CRT) television, a malfunction would likely signal the owner to put more weight on the “buy new” scenario rather than the repair scenario. That’s because the prices of their more advanced descendants, LCD and plasma flat screen TVs, have fallen dramatically in recent years. And with the modern flat-panel’s relative advantage in picture quality, reliability, and energy efficiency, the argument for the “buy a new TV” option seems more compelling than having an old, bulky, power-hungry CRT TV under repair.
But what if the TV that’s breaking down is a high-tech LCD or plasma TV? The answer to this also depends on a number of considerations, but the difference here is that the decision won’t be as easy to make as newer flat screen TVs aren’t as cheap as CRTs and therefore throwing that screen away flat in the living room won’t be as easy as throwing out that 10 year old pipe.
However, buying a new television certainly has its advantages. Flat panel TV technology evolves monthly, and therefore newer ones will already have incorporated more advanced and convenient features than those that sold only a couple of months ago. The newer ones will also likely be more energy efficient than their predecessors and therefore more environmentally friendly. New TVs will also come with a warranty and that should give anyone peace of mind for at least a year.
The other option, the TV repair option, also has its advantages (and seems to have more advantages compared to the buy new option). I will list them:
- Purchasing that new plasma or LCD TV is likely to be more expensive than fixing or repairing your faulty display. Depending on what the problem is, it’s probably best to have a professional look at it first to see what the problem is. You can take it to the brand’s service center for some diagnostics (which may involve some costs) or you can fix it yourself! There is a good Plasma TV repair guide and LCD TV repair course available on the internet. You can take advantage of these self-help programs and then figure out what’s wrong with your TV using the information you’ll learn.
- TVs contain environmentally harmful components such as heavy metals and chemicals. Having it repaired and keeping it inside your home and not in garbage cans and landfills means you don’t go out to do your damage to Mother Earth. Given what’s happening to our planet, I think this is one of the most important considerations when you’re trying to solve the buy-or-repair dilemma. If it can be fixed, why not do it (actually, this also applies to CRT TVs)?
- There is a market for second hand, used and refurbished televisions. If you really can’t help but buy a new one, one option is to have your faulty unit repaired so that you can resell it as a refurbished unit. You save some hard-earned money and help keep more trash in the environment. See second bullet.
- Troubleshooting and diagnosing and perhaps repairing it yourself means you’ve just picked up a very nifty and potentially profitable skill! You could pursue it as a hobby or very seriously as an alternative source of income. Either way, I think you’re a winner.
Buying a new television is not always the best solution, nor is repairing it. If buying is cheaper than repairing a broken TV, then it would be unwise to go for the repair option. The opposite is true in the sense that if it is prudent to go for repairs, it would make good sense to follow that reasoning. However, with environmental considerations in the equation, I think it’s a win-win situation to always put more weight into the TV repair option.