Yes. Interestingly, the last 3 TVs I've taken apart failed because of cold solder joints on the power supply assembly for the backlight, and from 3 different companies, so go figure. Refrigerator compressors are so easy to replace and such a common task, it's practically routine maintenance. Do you throw out your microwave when the lightbulb burns out?
When my espresso maker failed, it really wasn't that hard to replace the thermal fuse, thought I did have to take *gasp* off the cover and ended up buying a crimping tool for the new fuse.
I'm a firm believer of the saying that if you can't open it, you don't own it.
It depends on the product, the problem and what the mfg recommends. Any time you go outside what the mfg recommends, you set yourself up for failure unless you have a LOT of experience and background in that industry.
You only bought the product, but the mfg has replacement parts, certified and trained service technicians and they have warranties, service contracts to service the part for the best customer satisfaction. If you aren't trained in how to fix a particular model product, are using proper procedures, certified replacement parts, then you have just opened yourself up for failure and stop blaming the mfg because you went outside THEIR recommended service policies.
How many customers are Apple Care technicians that use proper tools, procedures, and certified replacement parts? Probably a almost NO ONE does that.
Mfg of computer products have to figure out how to best service a product. Do you do all of your own work on your car, or do you take it into a qualified service center? Do you do your own engine rebuilds? Most car owners don't. Most car owners aren't trained mechanics, with proper tools, read the service bullitins, etc.
Ownership doesn't just automatically grant you the expertise in fixing it. It just indicates that you have taken title of the product. It also does''t mean you are instantly an expert in the product either.
For REAL corporations that buy large quantities of computers, typically buy service contracts from the mfg and they let the mfg do all of the servicing. Just like people buy copiers and have the copier serviced by a trained professional. Yeah, you can replace the toner cartridge, but that's a consumable type item.
Did you go through the service technician training when you bought your computer? NOPE. So, buying a computer doesn't give that expertise. So why are tying to act like you have that?
I've always had better luck with products where I bought the extended warranty and only used certified parts from the mfg. and had THEM do replacement of faulty components. I have sent computers back to Apple only 3 times since I started using Apple computers back in 1977. Every time I used a 3rd party RAM or HDD that wasn't an Apple part or a certified 3rd party, which most of them aren't, I had problems.
I repaired my own 7 year old iMac following iFixit, and they had the wrong procedures posted and it was for a slightly different model, so the drive they spec'd out was wrong, and the procedures were wrong. it ended up costing more more by the time I got the tools, the parts, the correct parts and all of the time involved. I should have just dumped the computer and bought a new one. I will never use iFixit to tell me how to repair an old 7 year old computer. Sometimes, they get it wrong too. So, in that case, i would have spent less money if I just had Apple do the repairs. Lesson learned. Don't always go for what you think is the cheapest route to fix something.
