Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/847288
48
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Spring 2015
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NEW
USED
S
o maybe going on that hike or run with your
smartphone in hand wasn't the best idea. It
took a nose dive and the screen shattered. The
silver lining? The phone still works. So the question
then becomes: Should you repair it or replace it?
With getting you the best deal in mind, I asked the
same question for a number of different products. So
if you feel that your home appliances, tech gadgets
and more are at the end of their lifespan … you may
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over the cash for something new.
Back to that cracked smartphone screen — the
answer is repair. Don't bolt to the store to swap out
the entire phone. Instead, just replace its screen.
Replacing a screen will cost you around $100 from
services like iCracked or Best Buy's Geek Squad,
both of which work with iPhones and Samsung
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you'll pay around $200 for the cost of a new iPhone
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warranty replacement program, but you'll still drop
(too soon?) $299 for the new iPhone.
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the fritz?
Replace it.
Considering the
average dishwasher
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years (according to This
Old House), you've gotten your
money out of it. You can get a new
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®
dishwasher for prices
starting around $400, whereas one repair
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you're still hand washing your dishes, you might
want to consider buying a dishwasher that will pay
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circa 1999? One of the best moves is to replace it
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side refrigerator freezer from around 1999 with
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refrigerator/freezer can cost up to $1,200 or more.
Moving out of the kitchen and into the laundry
room, if you've had your electric dryer for less than
10 or so years, then get it repaired. In general, a dryer
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$200 repair, opposed to a new machine for $600. But
here's a hint: Clean out the vent before you call for a
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