Fixing things - worth it or not? - YouLookFab Forum

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Fixing things - worth it or not?

Astrid

Veteran

My citizen watch was horribly scratched, so I haven't enjoyed wearing it for a while. I felt like I needed to do a revamp with a new glass and band now, or I would not be able to resist the temptation of spending even more money on a new watch. The cost definitely made me hesitate though! But I decided to have it done and I can go fetch the watch next week. I'm still looking for a new leather band to pair it with...

I feel like having things fixed (if you can't do it yourself) has become really expensive. Everyone wants you to spend the money on the new and trash the old. I'd be interested to hear about your criteria for deciding between repairs and replacement. Do you have a certain percentage of the original price you're willing to spend on repairs? Are you more likely to have certain pieces fixed than others? Have you ever spent money to avoid spending even more? (That sounds so ridiculous...)

General

25 replies

Latest reply was from Laura (rhubarbgirl)

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What a good question, Astrid. I have to confess that I operate pretty intuitively. If I still love the item and feel sure I will wear it a lot, I go for the repair. For example, my J. Crew merino tunic sweater has a little hole -- maybe from a belt or a zipper getting stuck -- I'm not sure. I have already worn it quite a lot this year, but I don't feel "done" with it and am sure it has another good season in it, at least. Also, due to the placement, I don't think the mend will show too badly. But if it were a sweater that I truly wasn't enjoying any more, or if the mend were going to be obvious, I would probably let it go, even if I hadn't actually earned a decent CPW on it. After all, if I didn't wear it much in its pristine condition I am unlikely to love it more with flaws.

Having said that -- this type of repair is not going to equal the cost of a new item. And if it did, I would hesitate. Unless the item had sentimental value, in which case I might hang on. But otherwise, it would frustrate me since I bat for Team Polished.

harmonica

Veteran

I like o get things fixed, especially when it comes to my wardrobe items. There are several reasons, but thinking about the environment and sort of recycling is the most important. Besides, I love my wardrobe pieces.

AM

Veteran

I know this isn't in the area of fashion but...
We are in desperate need to have our living room furniture reupholstered. Of course this will cost more than buying all new. I'm torn about what to do. Part of me knows the quality and great lines of our current pieces -- and part of me wants something new (feeling like I need a change). And then there is the cost. And then there is the fact that we are also working on some other areas of our older house. Sorry to ramble -- but I am torn between renewal with reupholstering or completely new.

approprio

(website)

Veteran

There will always be things that can't be fixed, but a cherished item of high quality should be repaired where possible. We're far too quick to throw things away in my opinion.

I do clothing repairs myself, but I'm all for getting shoes fixed when I can, because may of them have been investments. But quality repairs are expensive. I had a pair of Churches brogues resoled (as in replacing the entire sole!) for the price of a pair of mid-range shoes a couple of years ago. It was worth it to me because they're a fantastic pair of shoes, but some people would probably think I was mad. I also had my Margiela boots expensively refurbished, because I knew how hard it was going to be to find another pair I love as much.

On the other hand, I'm pretty bad at admitting defeat on the inexpensive items. I'm dreading the moment my cheap Topshop boots wear out, because I don't imagine there'll be any fixing them.

Astrid

Veteran

Suz, I think I mostly go with my gut too. And of course if it's something I can do myself at home I will do it. I fixed the hem of my blackwatch wool skirt for example, using blind stitch and my hands. It did take a while, but I did it one evening before the TV and it didn't bother me.

Harmonica, I think the decision gets easier when you are emotional about your pieces and truly love them... I have to confess in this case I'm not in love with the watch. But it was the most sensible thing to do, especially since I've acquired quite the expensive taste when it comes to watches.

AM, that sounds like a difficult decision. I guess you have to really dig deep and think about your reasons for either upholstering or replacing. And whether your reasoning is really sound or if you only think you should do this or that because it's expected by others, would be seen as wasteful or whatever.

Approprio, I agree. That's why I find it so annoying to look at the cost of repairs. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for decent wages for the people doing the repairs, but some things are ridiculous. Especially if we're leaving the realm of clothing and looking at electronics for example. Cheap plastic pieces that are produced en masse for a few cents and are sold at such a high cost that you just replace the whole thing? And you're right of course that you can't really repair some of the cheaply made things - you need a certain kind of quality to make repairs possible.

K.M.

Veteran

Astrid, what a great question. I've been thinking about this a lot as I recently set aside a few pairs of shoes to take to the cobbler. As I was researching cobblers I realized that many people don't think it's worth fixing items anymore because they can pay the same price or often much less to get something new. I don't feel that way though. A beloved item that fits well and can last long with maintenance--not to mention the sentimental value--is priceless. Replacing the item with something that would cost less than repairing it probably would mean that the new item wouldn't last for very long. I guess for someone who likes the flavor of new things, this is good, but I'm not one of those.
So how do I decide? If I love the item enough and if I can afford the repair (as long as it's not a crazy price), I'll have it repaired and refrain from mulling over the price paid, instead focusing on the joy of continuing to use my item.
(By the way, I've even sometimes had this thought regarding dry-cleaning some items like scarves. It would have been cheaper to buy new ones... but still, no.)

unfrumped

Veteran

Astrid, I had to come to some sort of peace--I decide if I like the item, what is the cost, but don't hold myself to a strict "repair everything standard".
Sometimes I do use the "make do" standard so that I neither repair nor replace but wait for more of a need--that doesn't work for watches (except in the phone generation, to some extent!).

For some items the repair cost saves money by continuing certain outfits without having to buy new colors, new accessories. Other times, buying new is an avenue to same--maybe things had evolved but the one item (shoes, bag) was not keeping pace. That sort of thing.

Haha--AM--try to think of various "costs"--and I'd place a lot of weight on whether the frames are excellent and you think you would be shopping for much lower quality if looking at new furniture AND you love the style of what you've got. If there's anything you hate or regret about comfort, arm style, back height and so on, not much point in re-doing the same. The re-upholstery route usually offers a stunning range of fabrics so you can get exactly the colors and durability you need- or custom-made slipcovers that are washable. Is that important, a good opportunity? Or is selection and finding upholsterers nerve-wracking for you, and you're happy with typical fabrics and neutrals? If you have time, you could window-shop a little and see if "new" options seem good enough or if you're not satsified.

Glory

Veteran

Interesting thread. I have had this discussion several times with myself. I also go with my intuition. Sometimes you fix one part of an item only to have it break somewhere else- the sinking ship syndrome. Years ago I had this with a vehicle. One repair led to another and another and another. I don't even want to think about how much I had to spend keeping that rust bucket purring. In the end I had to pay to have it towed away.
For watches etc I think if you still love it, repair it but only if the repair isn't completely crazy cost wise.

Summer

Veteran

I always like to repair if possible, but, with something like a watch, I agree that it can be tricky finding the balance between repair or replacement costs. I suppose it comes down to how much you love the item in question and whether you would be able to find an acceptable replacement.

With household items, I would probably consider paying up to 50% - 75% of the replacement cost if the repair would be likely to give several further years of service, but weighing up the options is never easy.

kkards

Veteran

i will typically repair if the repair is less than the replace value, but i also think about how long i think the repair will last and/or how long do i think the item will last. if the item is starting to look tired, even if i can repair it for less than new, i will often opted for new. on the other hand, sometimes if i think the item will be hard to replace, i'll repair so that i have more time to look for the exact thing i want and not have to settle.

Anonymous

This is a difficult question to answers because it depends. I had a badly scratched Citizens eco drive watch that I had for about 10 years and it was not worth repairing or getting a new band, but I sold it at a garage sale for $10. (I told then to make me an offer). But my husband has an expensive watch which has a lifetime guarantee and he has had it repaired.

I have Fry boots from the 1980s that I have resoled at least twice and still wear them. They are worth it considering how much I paid for them back then and how much they cost now. The cost of resoling is much better than spending money on new boots that might or not be of the same quality. Other boots are not worth it unless they are in great shape and just need the zipper replaced. I have handbags that I have returned to the manufacturers for repairs to the hardware, zipper, straps, etc. because they were under warranty.And if there was not a written warranty, I find that manufacturers will stand behind their products and fix it free of charge to maintain a certain image.

I will sometimes sell things online that have a flaw, rather than paying to get it fixed, always disclosing the flaw and it still attracts offers.

I guess in the end, you have to decide if it is valuable enough for you to hold onto to spend the money for repairs.

Jules

Veteran

I am a fairly conservative consumer to begin with, so I don't feel obliged to repair broken things if I want the new one anyway. If I really love the item I still have to take a good hard look at it (does the quality and current overall condition really warrant repair? How long is the repaired version likely to keep working?).
I agree the current disposable economy for many consumer items is really unfortunate. Really hoping my new furnace lasts longer than 10 years - the inefficient one we replaced was still working at 40+ years! Granted, we are burning less gas now but if I have to replace the new kind every 10-15 years, there is environmental impact there as well.

Laurinda

Veteran

Thanks for providing me the opportunity to vent Astrid.

I don't mind replacing a scratched or broken watch crystal (it runs US$6-10 here for a replacement) or a worn out leather band, my pet peeve is:
Cheapo zippers. When the bottom stabilizing piece cracks so the zipper ends can no longer be lined up to zip; or the plastic teeth wear out from normal use and your jacket flops wide open while biking home at -10F; or the coat or jacket is long enough to need a two-way zipper to open the bottom so you can sit down, but the maker saved 10 cents by using a one-way zipper that then pulls out of the seams at the bottom with the added stress; and don't get me started on using velcro instead of zippers to close off pockets (Lands' End I am looking at you!)... I can sew well enough to rip out a seam and replace a standard zipper with one of higher quality -- that is probably my most common repair for myself and family -- but grrrr.

ETA: Gryffin's post (below) reminded me of the Japanese tradition of Kintsukuroi: "fixing broken pottery with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum -- as a philosophy it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise." Kintsugi at Wikipedia

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gryffin

Veteran

Astrid - I'm a fixer. I've had jackets/blazers relined, watch crystals/guts/batteries replaced, shoes resoled and repaired, zippers replaced, belts reconstructed. I like things that have a history - I collect antiques - furniture/china/crystal/porcelains etc. I love things with a provenance. As per clothing - if I love it, and it can be repaired, I do it - irrespective of cost because love it not replacable. If the fabric is going I'd retire it to my "beloved" section if I could not part with it. But I'm not a "shiny new" kind of girl. It's kind of the velveteen rabbit syndrome - the marks of living are the signs of love and make things more real and special!!

Thistle

Veteran

Great question!

Here is my confession. I very, very seldom have things fixed, at least for clothing. But then, I don;t buy very expensive pieces. Mostly mall brands, which I don;t really expect to hold up for long anyway.

As for cars, I run those bad boys into the ground. I expect at least 15 years out of one and will most certainly pay for repairs even when the car is pushing end of life

Dimity

I agree with Glory - sometimes you can spend money on one repair only to find that something else breaks too. Having said that, though, I do a lot of my own repairs and find that I actually like some things that way. They don't seem too precious and I don't have to worry about looking after them because they're already faulty and repaired. It can be ridiculously expensive to repair things, though, so it's hard to know what's truly the best course. And as others have said, it's not just about the monetary cost, as there's an environmental cost that simply isn't weighed in when we toss something and replace it with new. So it's a dilemma best assessed on a case by case basis.

doubleh

Veteran

I will fix when something is sentimental, an investment or something I just really really love. Alternatively, I have bought inexpensively/2nd hand with the intention to repair. I will caution that sometimes the fix seems subpar to bring an item back to life and then I feel ripped off, so unless it can be perfect, I won't do it.

Deb

Veteran

Approprio took the words right out of my mouth.....

retailgirl

Veteran

I'll get things fixed, usually. I keep my cars ten years or so. I get shoes re soled or re heeled. To AM, I had two chairs and an ottoman, that belonged to my mother, from the forties, reupholstered and I couldn't be happier. Well worth the cost, which was equal to new but the old things are made better. I had a glen plaid Ralph Lauren suit that I loved that developed a hole and I had it re woven. ( cost about $50; had to send it ti Chicago, they did a great job, Without a Trace). But then I lost about 25 pounds, really too much to make alterations worthwhile. Very sad, I loved that suit and it was timeless.

Runcarla

Veteran

Frugal fixer! I enjoy repairing and maintaining things. I also do preventative work, like having a thin rubber sole (traction! Added cushioning!) added to better quality footwear, and waterproofing leathers-shoes, bags, jackets. Mending, hemming, sewing on buttons, replacing a zipper, simple alterations, are all things that I can do. I even have a kit of mini plyers, snips, etc. for simple jewellery repair. I also follow with companies that honour warranties!

Now, if you know someone who can string pearls, or un-shrink a merino wool sweater put through the wash in error...???

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks for answering! It was really interesting to read about all your methods or experiences.

@Laurinda, I've heard of that before, but I didn't know the name. Such a beautiful concept.

rachylou

Veteran

For me, it depends on my love of the item and how unique it is. It's pretty hard to find skilled repair people, at least where I live. When a place says they do alterations, for example, half the time they just mean they will fix fallen hems.

...Oh, and can I gripe about bad zippers too? I stalked a full-length puffer for months this winter. No one thought to have them this year. I found the one I got at Marshall's - and I'm pretty sure it must have been accidentally trucked in from another state or something. Anyways, super el cheap zipper. Now I don't know what to do. Try to get the whole thing replaced - it's a long, two way zip, and I have little confidence that anyone here will be able to do it. Or wait until next winter to stalk again, struggling with the zip for the next six months or whatever...

whinge whinge whinge!

Laurinda

Veteran

@Rachylou: If you don't want to tackle zipper replacement yourself I'd expect a good sewist could handle the repair and replacement with a much better quality zipper. Replace a Broken Zipper in a Coat or Jacket
I have no connection to them, but I have had good luck with zippers from a place called Cleaner's Supply.

rachylou

Veteran

Thanks, Laurinda! I have maybe too much anxiety about the coat to do it myself. But then, I have yet to find a good sewist (good term, btw).

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I once thrifted a pair of Nordstrom Collection flats for five bucks and then spent fifty getting them resoled and reheeeled. That felt a little weird.