PartSelect.com Surveys Show Consumers Overestimate Cost, Complexity of DIY Repairs

Survey data reveals that DIY repairs are easier, faster, and more cost-effective than many consumers realize.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia - When your washing machine, refrigerator, or stove breaks, do you call a repairman or open it up and assess the problem yourself? According to new survey data collected by PartSelect.com, the complete online resource for the do-it-yourself (DIY) repair market and official home of the Instant Repairman, consumers are more likely to call someone else than tackle the job themselves. But DIY is often easier, faster, and more cost-effective than many realize. The surveys reveal a misunderstanding of the cost and time commitment required for DIY repairs, as well as the cost of hiring a repairman.

According to the data, 29.9 percent of consumers are likely to call a repair service when an appliance breaks. Yet respondents misjudged the cost of an appliance repairman with a third estimating that they would pay $50 to $100, and an additional 22.8 percent thinking it would cost $100 to $150. A visit from an appliance repairman will cost, on average, $160 to $200, which only 15.7 percent of respondents predicted.

Further responses revealed why consumers might be more likely to call a repairman. When asked what the greatest challenge would be to repairing a household appliance, 42.5 percent of respondents indicated that their lack of skills and know-how would be the greatest obstacle. In addition, half of respondents said that they thought repairing a broken appliance would be either somewhat difficult and time consuming, or very difficult and time consuming.

PartSelect.com’s customers, however, have performed 35,000 repairs and rated their difficulty, describing 90 percent of repairs as “easy” or “really easy.” These same DIYers have reported that 79 percent of repairs take 30 minutes or less, and 48 percent of them take less than 15 minutes.

“Many people haven’t done their own repairs or been exposed to DIY before,” said Ben Graham, Director of Ecommerce for PartSelect.com. “Our surveys indicate that there is a common misconception that repairs are complicated and costly, and best left to a professional. But repairs are almost always overwhelmingly easy. Most people don’t realize that repairs often just involve replacing parts that have worn down, and the average person can quickly get an appliance back up and running. Education tools, such as step-by-step instructions and video tutorials, are accessible online, within everyone’s reach. DIY repairs should be a cost-effective and valid option for everyone when an appliance breaks down in their home.”

Methodology

These surveys were administered by PartSelect.com through Google Consumer Surveys in May and June 2012. Around 1,500 consumers answered each individual question on expectations regarding appliance repair.

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