Should you repair it or replace it?
Three numbers, one honest answer — the same rule of thumb we use at the counter: when a repair approaches half the replacement cost on a unit over fifteen years old, replacement usually wins.
When the rule of thumb is wrong
A ratio can’t see everything. It leans too hard toward replacement when the unit is a workhorse whose parts are still plentiful — a well-built mixer can absorb a major repair and run for another decade. It leans too hard toward repair when the machine is out of production and the NEXT failure has no part waiting for it, or when downtime is costing you more per day than the difference between the two numbers. That judgment call is what the diagnosis visit is for — the technician quotes the repair and tells you straight whether the machine deserves it.
More on how quotes come together on the what service costs page, and common questions in the FAQ.