the Cost of Appliance Repair

The service was the out of warranty replacement on a heavy duty kitchen stand mixer. The price covered parts (the motor, mounting screws, and a gear for the motor shaft, all for $60) plus labor and testing ($40).

The service was done at a used appliance store that sold various refurbished and scratched and dented appliances.

I was making a large batch of pizza dough and suddenly there were sparks and a big cloud of blue smoke (the repair guy called it magic electronics smoke, because once it escapes there isn't enough magic left in the thing to keep working) rose from the mixer.

First thought was warranty, but I'd had it for at least 5 years and was right to believe it was out of warranty.

I took it to a repair shop and was quoted $90. As a new mixer would have cost about $300, $90 seemed like a bargain. It would actually have been cheaper to have the factory recondition the mixer, but with shipping it ended about even.

The result is, though, that it works. Just as strong as before.

Get a quote before you agree to have the work done. And once you have the first quote, you can call around to see what the repairs will cost as the first guy will have figured out the problem. But be cool there. If the first guy isn't that much more than the rest of the people (say within $10), just go there.