I can remember my parents doing the now seemingly radical thing of repairing stuff when it broke. They weren't alone in that era--I can remember a TV repair shop a mile or two from our house that we took our TV to, although the last time the tech said not to bother--the set was small, and the repair would be too expensive. The tech was clearly seeing the demise of shops like that, too. Not long after, the shop was gone.
My father did a lot of small repairs, like fixing the control of our electric skillet (it worked, but needed the fix again and again--at some point he broke down and bought a new control).
I think my mother never lost the idea that repairs might be the way to go, although by 1990-something my father went to the attitude of just replacing stuff.
Generally, if I can easily fix something myself, I'll do that. If I can't, I replace--although I most likely will buy the replacement in a thrift shop.
Today, as I mentioned earlier in this thread, I dropped off my iPod classic for repairs; also dropped in for repairs to a recommended tailor's - to replace the elastic - were two pairs of (organic) pure silk longjohns, perfect for our current weather; two other pairs had received similar treatment before Christmas.
One of my pairs of dark brown suede Church's shoes, - a specific pair that is now 13 years old, I also have a couple of other pairs of bespoke shoes by Church's, which are a little less aged, though the youngest of them is eight years old - and which has already had its soles and lining replaced (which occurred in Italy) will be despatched (again) on a similar mission on my next visit to the store where I purchased them all of 13 years ago.
My black woollen overcoat - which is 100% cashmere - and which looks great and is both stylish and comfortable, even now - is 19 years old this year; shortly before Christmas, I had the sleeves and lining repaired, (from the aforementioned tailor), and just yesterday, I collected it from a (long overdue) post Christmas - they had only re-opened on the Friday of last week, 2nd January, specialist cleaning from a specialist dry cleaners.
All of these were (are) exceptional quality products and were priced accordingly, but, equally, they have all repaid their initial purchase price more than amply, and I do my utmost to extend their (working) life.
As my grandmother (and then, my mother) used to say - and I take an unimaginable pleasure in quoting them both, here, this evening - "buying dear is buying cheap in the long run".
