When something breaks, do you fix it or throw it away and purchase a new one?

Question

It used to be that people would take things apart when they broke and replace the defective part. These days I often hear people say that this or that doesn't work so they just toss it and get a new one...

I do wish that if a person felt that it wasn't worth their time to tinker with an item and see if it could be fixed if they would consider giving the item away instead of tossing it into the garbage. Too many useful items are landing in the landfill...

Even things that are not broken are thrown away because someone feels that if they no longer need it they do not want to be bothered with it so they toss it... some renting huge trash bins and tossing hundreds of pounds of usable items away before a move or after the death of a loved one.

I can understand if someone does not want to mess around with a yard sale, however there are charitable organizations that can use the items and will pick up for free. Or organizations such as http://freeshare.org where you can post items for free.

Answer 1

I am grateful for a family member that can fix almost anything.  I always take it to him to be fixed before even considering purchasing new.  

It may not look as good after being fix but still serves its purpose.

Answer 2

It depends on the extent of the damage. If something within a larger item (for example, a wire connected to my computer) is damaged, I replace just that one component.  If the damage is more extensive (i.e. a plate or glass smashed to bits), I replace the entire item if I can.  I donate everything I no longer need or use (clothes, older dishes, toys, even a piano!) to the Salvation Army.  There is no sense in throwing something away if it can still be used by someone in need.

Thanks for sharing the website btw.

Answer 3

Yes.  I do fix it or throw it away and buy something new.

Answer 4

I just try to fix it... and i go as far to look it up on the Internet and it works out... sometimes.

:-)

Answer 5

I try to fix it as best I can.  Currently the wheels on my desk chair are all held on with duct tape.  :)  It's cheaper for me and just better to have things last longer if the defect is minor.  At some point one has to get a new one usually though.

Answer 6

It depends.  If I can fix it for less than the cost of a new one, I will generally fix it.  If, however, it is more cost effective to junk it and replace, then that is what I will do.

Some examples:

I would generally fix; Major appliances, automobiles, my wife.

I will generally replace; DVD/CD players, small appliances (toasters, coffee makers, alarm clocks), Hollywood celebrities, especially pop tarts.

Answer 7

I spend time looking for something to replace the broken part, if there's any. Some stuffs, when broken, can be transformed into another one. We should not throw things that still has plenty of years to live. I usually do that. There's no need to keep updated with a new trend. I always think of a way to recycle it. But, for some stuffs, there are kids on the streets who would like to keep those stuff. But i try to make them look new or fix them before I gave it to them. Someone in the Philippines invented a machine where we can put plastic in it and it will recycle the plastic to create a new stuff. I usually gave broken plastic to my neighbors so that it will be a brand new stuff. And that machine is just the same size as a human, and i hope that the whole world can get a machine like that.

Answer 8

I don't give up on my stuff that easily, I try to repair it my self.

There is always a way to tweak things, so that they will work again.

Answer 9

I try to keep up on preventative maintenance, so that by the time it does break, it hopeless to try to fix it.

then i salvage everything i can to use as parts for other projects.

Answer 10

Yes I get things fixed.  My refrigerator broke a week ago and I called a repair person.  He said that very few people could fix the older refrigerators now and that parts were not available as much because people are just replacing things when they break.  Well I got my refrigerator fixed and saved it from the landfill because the part was still available.  There is also freecycle and things can be donated.  I throw very little out.  I give items to friends and family and also donate to charity.  It is amazing how many things can be recycled or reused.

Old jeans can be used to make paper that is 100% cotton, people use old magazines for collage.  Sometimes people even use the front of old Christmas cards to make ornaments.

Answer 11

try to fix it or recycle it :D

Answer 12

I always try to repair first, then replace.  I've had repairmen come out to fix appliances and they would tell me, it would cost too much for them to fix it.  So they tell me how to do the repairs, what needs to be replaced and what tools I need.  One even gave me advice on where to order the replacement parts.