Repairs are up 7.5 per cent, but which brands are the most repair-friendly?

Amid the gloom of retail sales dropping 3.9 per cent in June, there is some good economic news: repair and non-retail stores sales are up 7.5 per cent on last year. In many cases -- washing machines are one -- it's common sense that repairing products is more economical than buying new. But which brands make it easiest and cheapest for you to repair their gear? I've rounded up a few here, but please share your recommendations in the comments.

Surprisingly, although Which? publishes a reliability index for brands, it doesn't publish a league table for which are the easiest to repair. So in the absence of any other independent data, that leaves us with anecdotes.

Here are some brands that make it easy for you give gear a second life -- I've either experienced them personally or heard good things about them.

Dualit

Dualit toasters are famed for their build quality, but they also have a less publicised frugal bonus too: it's easy to buy replacement elements when they die. So instead of going out and buying an entire new £30 toaster, you just order a new element for £7.64 direct from Dualit. One SmartPlaneteer tells me she's managed to replace every single element in her Dualit toaster over the years.

Bosch

I've owned Bosch washing machines and had major repairs carried out by Bosch engineers for less than £100. That's expensive, but still cheaper than buying a new machine. The firm also guarantees it'll supply major components for any model up to 10 years after the model's discontinued.

Arcam

Although there are some rumbles of discontent over on the AV Forums, this British hi-fi brand generally has a good rep for repairs and offering upgrades of internal components for old kit.

Dyson

The word from repair shops is that Dysons are one of the few vacuum cleaners people bother to repair, because they're so expensive in the first place. As such, there's a market of local repair firms that'll help source Dyson components and fix your cyclone vac. You can also buy Dyson replacement parts direct or send your back to Dyson for a full refurb for £65.

And a sector we don't recommend repairing -- gadgets and consumer electronics

The guys and gals at our sister site CNET.co.uk tell me there are few gadget firms with a good reputation for repairs. Instead, our techie friends advise buying new when a gadget dies because prices generally fall fast -- so you get a better specced new product for the same price as the repair of an old one.

What about your experiences?

Which brands have you found made it easier -- and economical -- to repair their products? And who are the villains, the ones who force you into buying new?

Related Links

• SmartPlanet