Why Repair?
Why should we consider repairing electronic equipment when a lot of equipment has become cheap to replace? Some low cost items are simply not economical to repair, but there are a wide range of reasons why people choose to repair electronic equipment. I’ve developed an appreciation for the variety of reasons people repair electronic equipment. Here are the top 3 reasons that stand out to me most:
I just need my gear to keep working!
I think this is the obvious one. This is the musician who’s keyboard has stopped working and has a gig on the weekend, or the school classroom that needs an audio interface to keep running reliably to ensure regular classroom activities can continue without interruption. We choose instruments we enjoy playing, or equipment that fulfils a practical need and so we place value on being able to continue working with the equipment we enjoy using. For some of us, this is our livelihood.
Whether or not we consider this gear to be repairable tends to be based on the resale value or replacement cost and an economical decision must be weighed in this case. Typically this results in higher value equipment being repaired, while lower cost items are replaced.
Repair rather than replace
When an environmental or social conscience challenges our decision to repair, we’re prioritising values of reducing waste, preserving craftsmanship, maintaining history and minimising consumption and resource use.
I consider every item we repair at Elk Elektronik potentially an item saved from landfill. Without technicians working to repair equipment, these items quickly become unusable and devalued.
Throughout history, skilled people have creatively designed new products for us to enjoy. Repairing vintage equipment allows that legacy to continue.
With every successful repair, we remove or delay the need to purchase a replacement item which in turn minimises our impact on the consumption of raw materials and the energy required to produce new products.
Even if the repair costs more than it’s worth, this equipment holds personal value to me
Sometimes I look at a piece of equipment and it seems clear to say “This is just not worth repairing“, but the customer says something like “Well the cost to repair it is worth it to me!“. When this happens it generally catches me by surprise.
The market value is not always the priority in these cases and so we are willing to invest in something that holds special personal significance. This is the family heirloom, or vintage equipment purchased for a particular aesthetic.
I enjoy the opportunity to repair equipment, and hear the variety of stories that each piece of equipment holds. I’d love to hear why you choose to repair equipment? What are the things that help you decide to repair or not to repair?