A list of costs for repairs made outside of the warranty period: These costs you may not know

Once the warranty period has expired, the repair costs may be much higher than you imagine.We have compiled a list of common costs for repairing appliances and other equipment that are out of warranty, including labor, parts, and inspection fees. This will help you understand the true costs of repairs, and avoid being "taken for a ride.

How much will it cost to repair it after the warranty expires?

Many people think that the costs of repairing an appliance after the warranty has expired are just the cost of replacing a part, but when the bill arrives, the numbers might make your blood pressure soar.Today we'll talk about the hidden costs that repairmen don't tell you.

The main costs are labor and parts.

The hourly rate for labor is also very high.

The charges for after-sales service vary greatly by brand. For example, for a domestic brand of home appliance, the basic fee for a technician to come to your home is NT $ 80, while for a high-end imported brand it is NT $ 200.This doesn't include the time spent repairing the machine. If the repairman takes more than an hour to check out the machine, then he will charge an extra NT $ 50-100 for every hour.

Original spare parts are so expensive you can barely afford them.

After the warranty period, the manufacturer will not give you a "friendship price.For example, if the motherboard of an air conditioner is defective, it will be replaced for free during the warranty period, but afterward it could cost NT $ 800-1500.What's even worse is that some parts which could be repaired are simply replaced, doubling the cost.

Hidden costs.

They may have wasted their money.

Some repair shops charge between NT $ 50 and NT $ 100 for a diagnosis, and even if you decide not to go ahead with the repair, you don't get this money back.Don't underestimate the value of this money, especially when an old appliance repeatedly has problems; the cost of the inspection alone can cover the cost of a minor repair.

Fees for high-rise buildings and remote areas are impossible to avoid.

The fee for fixing an air conditioner or other high-level equipment is NT $ 100-300.If the destination is remote, they may also charge a surcharge for long-distance travel.

Here are three ways to save money.

Third-party repair shops are not a shortcut.

Don't just focus on official after-sales service. Sometimes a third-party repair shop can be up to 50 % cheaper.For example, if you change the pump in your washing machine, an official repairman might charge NT $ 400, while a third party could do it for NT $ 280. Just make sure to ask for a warranty certificate.

It's cheaper to do small jobs yourself.

Problems like an old refrigerator seal or a clogged washing machine drain pipe can be solved in half an hour for less than NT $ 100 by ordering parts online and following a video tutorial.

Is it better to replace or repair?

If the repair costs exceed 50 % of the current value of the equipment, we suggest replacing it.For example, if a water heater needs a NT $ 800 repair after six years, it might be better to spend a little more and replace it with a new one for NT $ 1500.

A real-life case: It's cheaper to buy than to repair.

Last week, our neighbor Old Wang's washing machine started making strange noises during the spin cycle. After an official technician came to look at it, he said that the bearings and shock absorbers needed to be replaced, and quoted a price of NT $ 720.But he found the same model on the online platform for NT $ 999, so he decided to trade in the old phone for NT $ 200, and ended up paying only NT $ 799 for the new phone. He also got an additional two years of warranty.That's a bill that doesn't add up to a big loss!