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I've done electronics and software for some years, more of us are out there (I even know hobbyists with the approriate knowledge and talents). If you consider your usual payment per hour as consultant, it is a complete waste of time to repair some cheap devices but it keeps your electronical knowledge fit and your hands in training. A perfect "work" to relax.
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A lot of the time it probably doesn't even make sense at the hourly rate a salaried employee is paid. Anything under $200 I'm unlikely to bother trying unless I'm either bored or the problem and fix are obvious.
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, waging all things in the balance of reason?
Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful?
--Zachris Topelius
Training a telescope on one’s own belly button will only reveal lint. You like that? You go right on staring at it. I prefer looking at galaxies.
-- Sarah Hoyt
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Arguing with the support via email can take up an hour easily as well, so it seems to be efficient buy a new piece. Unfortunately there are situations, where this "solution" does not satisfies me - esp. when repairing seems like a nobrainer.
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Variation of no.3 is a lieutenant with a map.
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Famous last words:
"Don't worry - I can fix this!"
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In a past life I was an appliance repairman. On one occasion (actually many in one form or another) I was greeted at the door by a woman who told me:
"I have to warn you - my husband has already had a look at it".
When I entered the laundry I was confronted by a floor strewn in parts which had once comprised a washing machine.
Peter Wasser
Art is making something out of nothing and selling it.
Frank Zappa
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I have no problems fixing anything at home, being electronic, electric, plumbing... whatever...
But I think a bit before starting.
What I don't touch:
-> Expensive items still on warranty
-> Water related electronic devices, like vapor irons and stuff like that where usual causes of failure are related to limestone problems. Usually the time spent trying to fix it doesn't worth the cost of a new one. Maintenance is crucial on these devices...
-> High voltage devices (above 220 volts)
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I had to choose put down the screwdriver because there is a "Warranty void if removed" sticker. This question assumed that there is a warranty on the item and then I just want it repaired or replaced.
If it have no warranty, I will open it. High voltage also does not scare me, though I wont touch anything above about 1000V due to the potential of proximity shocks, unless I have the correct tools available for the job...
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Eh... if it's cheap or not too expensive and I know I can fix it, even with the warranty seal I'll open it.
Sometimes the time required for "official" repair is too much and I just dig in 
Also chances are the object is still under warranty but is broken in a way not covered by it... I already changed a lot of broken PSP and laptop screens for instance...
What I've been experiencing lately is as the prices drop, fixing becomes less of an reasonable option.
Sometimes is more amusing to fix than actually better than buying a new one 
Cheers!
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Also bare in mind, the warranty on some items is worthless, because you still have to pay the postage which may cost more than the item is worth
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I screw things up.
Better to replace the item, or have someone else take a look at it.
It's an OO world.
public class Naerling : Lazy<Person>{
public void DoWork(){ throw new NotImplementedException(); }
}
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First thing that strikes in my mind is, Huh I got a chance to see whats inside this machine......
Then I tried to make it work  or worse  that depends
Thanks and Regards,
RK_PRABAKAR
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As usual, there is no option for what I would do. First reaction - get the screwdriver. If there is a warranty sticker, I would consider the cost of the item, the cost (monetary & inconvenience) of waiting on the repairer. If the item is inexpensive or the hardship of waiting on the warranty is to great, then clear the table so there's space for all the parts. On the flipside, I'll wait on the warranty repairer if necessary. Although, last time I waited 3 weeks longer that they said I would have to, only to be told that they could not fix it. Losing my cool with them over that proved non-beneficial when they turned out to be the only supplier of parts for something else that needed a part. I learned that bridges burned down usually cost a lot to rebuild.
J.
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If it's under warranty, leave it and try to have it fixed under warranty.
If it's not under warranty, it comes apart... and probably never works again. 
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+1
M.D.V.
If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about?
Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you
Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
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Strange poll. If I don't simply throw away the broken device of find a way to let others do the work for me, then my only option is to go crazy with a screwdriver?
What are you? helpless users? Often enough the problem is obvious, even if you are not a professor for everything. Like an Atari 400 that had a lose cable at the power jack or the equally lose cable from the head of a video recorder. If you are not sure, then ask somebody who knows. As you know from Q&A, a specific question will be appreciated, for all vague questions see a psychic.
And here is my favorite, really useful since we have FleaBay, where they will try to get another buck for trash: Get a second device which is also broken and take the working parts from one to complete the other.
Going crazy with the screwdriver, indeed.
Sent from my BatComputer via HAL 9000 and M5
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The only thing that resembles a little bit the nice, tasty and perfect sensation of eating bacon is to go mad with a screwdriver, finding parts that are not useful anymore and get something working again by oneself.
Based in a true story (except for the part in which something starts working again) 
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