# Poll: Should I get my TV fixed? Cost-Benefit Analysis... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 2, 2010, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-get-my-tv-fixed-cost-benefit-analysis/534723 "2010-04-02T13:19:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![statsman1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-get-my-tv-fixed-cost-benefit-analysis/534723/1 "2010-04-02T13:19:18Z")
Here are the details: –TV is Insignia 32" plasma HDTV 720p –Purchased new for ~$500 in December of 2008 from Best Buy. No extended warranty purchased:smack: –Failed last week due to, according to TV repair place, a power module. –TV place can fix this for sure in 4-5 business days for $295; TV is no longer in warranty. I’m thinking I can find a comparable TV for that price and have it \*\*now, \*\*not in 5 days. Plus, if the power module went out this soon, what’s to keep the new one–or some other part–from crapping out? One followup question: If I tell the repair place that I don’t want the TV fixed, am I right in thinking he needs to pay me something to keep it, for parts or whatever? Thanks for all your input…🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-get-my-tv-fixed-cost-benefit-analysis/534723/2 "2010-04-02T13:43:00Z")
For that amount of money the replacement TV you get would be getting about the same thing. It’s almost never a good idea to get a TV fixed, especially when you’re talking about a 32" 720p Insignia. Might as well upgrade while you’re at it, y’know? Anything under 42" I’d recommend going LCD- the advantages of plasma are minimal to non-existent on smaller screens. As for the followup question, I’d imagine that the repairman would give you _something_ for your busted TV, though I wouldn’t expect much. ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-get-my-tv-fixed-cost-benefit-analysis/534723/3 "2010-04-02T13:43:43Z")
I vote “no”. Right now at Best Buy you can get a 32" Sony Bravia LCD HDTV (1080p) for $494.00. Spending $300.00 to fix a low quality (sorry) non-HDTV just doesn’t make much sense to me. As for the shop paying you to keep the old one, I think that is a great idea in theory but pretty unlikely they’re going to be willing to do that. In fact, they’ll probably charge you a labor charge for looking at the tv and diagnosing the issue. ---
**Author:** ![statsman1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-get-my-tv-fixed-cost-benefit-analysis/534723/4 "2010-04-02T13:47:47Z")
> [@MeanJoe](#): > > I vote “no”. Right now at Best Buy you can get a 32" Sony Bravia LCD HDTV (1080p) for $494.00. Spending $300.00 to fix a low quality (sorry) non-HDTV just doesn’t make much sense to me. > > As for the shop paying you to keep the old one, I think that is a great idea in theory but pretty unlikely they’re going to be willing to do that. In fact, they’ll probably charge you a labor charge for looking at the tv and diagnosing the issue. No, I perfectly agree that the TV is low quality:D. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-get-my-tv-fixed-cost-benefit-analysis/534723/5 "2010-04-02T13:51:23Z")
Do you have a Blu-Ray player? If not there’s no point in shelling out extra $$$ for 1080p. ---
**Author:** ![statsman1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-get-my-tv-fixed-cost-benefit-analysis/534723/6 "2010-04-02T13:55:25Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Do you have a Blu-Ray player? If not there’s no point in shelling out extra $$$ for 1080p. I have a PS3. But I don’t watch a lot of rental movies. When I have the time, I play video games. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-get-my-tv-fixed-cost-benefit-analysis/534723/7 "2010-04-02T13:59:15Z")
Okay. Then it’s your call whether you need or care about the higher resolution. If you don’t then you’ll surely be able to get a pretty nice 720p for $500. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-get-my-tv-fixed-cost-benefit-analysis/534723/8 "2010-04-02T14:00:54Z")
and BTW as far as broadcast and cable are concerned, 720p **is** HDTV. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-get-my-tv-fixed-cost-benefit-analysis/534723/9 "2010-04-02T15:36:23Z")
Don’t expect this place to want your old television. They would probably charge you for disposable. ---
**Author:** ![statsman1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-get-my-tv-fixed-cost-benefit-analysis/534723/10 "2010-04-02T16:30:36Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > Don’t expect this place to want your old television. They would probably charge you for disposable. Hmmm…Something else to consider.