When deciding if fixing a TV is worth it or not, there are several important considerations you need to be aware of. TVs are some of the most prized and valuable possessions we have, probably the costliest after your phone or computer.
And because of this, if something goes wrong with your TV, it’s a source of needless anxiety and concern that’s never good for your health. TV repairs are generally neither simple nor cheap, except in the case of minor issues that can be resolved with some troubleshooting.
From software to hardware, there are various degrees of issues that can crop up in your TV. And deciding whether a repair is the best decision or not depends on diagnosing the issue, assessing the level of damage, and determining the cost of repair.
Figure Out What Went Wrong
To start with, you should try to identify what’s wrong with your TV. Depending on the manufacturer and model of your TV, you can easily find troubleshooting guides and videos on the internet. If your TV is a particularly older model, you might have better luck with the manual that came with your device.
Once you’ve found a basic troubleshooting guide, try to diagnose the issue with your TV. Is it not turning on? Is it unable to connect to Wi-Fi? Are there display issues like dead pixels or vertical lines? Or has the worse happened and your screen is cracked?
While some issues can be fixed with DIY tips, others like faulty hardware components cannot. And if you’ve got a cracked display at your hands, you’ll have your task cut out for you.
If your TV is still under warranty, you’re lucky and you can simply claim your warranty. In some cases, manufacturers also offer screen replacement within the warranty period. If not, you’ll need to assess whether it makes sense to spend on repairs.
Find Out the Cost of Repairs
Repairing a TV can cost anywhere from $100 for minor hardware faults to upwards of $1,000 for display replacements. Moreover, not just anyone can repair your costly TV. If you’re searching for a legitimate repair service for an out-of-warranty TV, you need to do your research well.
You can always opt for a diagnostics service from an authorized TV repair service like iDevice Repair to figure out an estimate of the repair cost, should you go ahead with it. This way you’ll not have to burn your pockets and you’ll get an idea of the potential costs for a minimal fee.
Once you’ve determined the cost of repairs, you should also consider other aspects of the entire repair journey. You might have to transport your TV to the repair center, stay without a TV for a few days or even weeks, or get stuck with an endless back-and-forth with your repair service personnel.
If you go with iDevice Repair, you can enjoy in-home repair as well as in-store repair.
Decide if the Cost is Worth It
Finally, you need to weigh the repair costs against that of buying a new TV. These days, you can get a brand new 43-to-55-inch 4K TV for around $350 to $450 from a brand like Hisense. This cost might only go up to $500 if you opt for a brand like Samsung.
In cases where you’re dealing with a cracked display, repairing often means replacing the LCD display altogether, which easily exceeds $,1000 in most cases. Plus, you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who’ll replace it. It’s always better to buy a new TV in these cases.
But there are many situations where something goes wrong with the LED panel (essentially the backlight of the TV) or a microprocessor on the mainboard is fried. Then you might get off with anywhere from $150 to $300 and get your damaged TV back to life. Even then, your costs come dangerously close to that of a new TV.
Whatever the scenario, always make sure you’re doing your due diligence before handing over your precious TV to a repair service. After all, it’s your own hard-earned money you’re talking about here.
So is fixing a TV worth it? You need to decide whether fixing ‘your’ TV is worth it or not, based on your unique situation. And then take a judicious call.
