Skip navigation

 Login or Register | Member Centre

If it's broke, fix it

From Saturday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 2:56 PM EDT 28/04/08

Repairing rather than replacing damaged items helps the Earth and your wallet. Before you toss, check our Globe Style list to see whether it can be saved ...Read the full article

This conversation is semi-moderated What is moderation? | How do I report a comment?

  1. aniphylactic shock troops from Victoria, Canada writes: Wow. Other than hardwood floors, there's hardly a single item on that list worth going through all the trouble and the expenses quoted in this article.
    Face it, these days it's usually cheaper to buy a replacement.
  2. John Deriso from Edmonton, Canada writes: I've actually only recently discovered that buying good quality items and repairing them over time is cheaper than just buying cheap versions and constantly replacing them.

    Maybe it's not for everyone, but spend a little bit more initially, and you'll keep that chair or that coat or that carpet for a lot longer.
  3. R Keller from Canada writes: Notice they didn't mention TVs or radios. Or computers for that matter.
  4. E Ronquist from Montreal, Canada writes: You ask: "Know the best shoe repair shop in Montreal?" Try the Carinthia Shoe Company, 1228 St-Marc, not only very skilled but cheerful.
  5. Mike Quinlan from Gatineau QC, Canada writes: I hope the author realizes that an awful lot of pairs of jeans are sold for far less than $250. Seems to me the more you spend on something the more you might be willing to spend on having it repaired. Sadly though the reverse holds true as well and touches more people. Namely, the less you spend initially, the less you are willing to spend to have something repaired. Maybe you get your $400 shoes repaired, but you dont when you payed $40 for two pair at PayLess or whatever its called. Lets not forget dollar stores. Most of the stock will find its way into landfills within a year or two of purchase.
  6. Y V from Toronto, Canada writes: Novelty Shoe Repair on Yonge Street near King St is the best in Toronto for repair and rebuilding.
  7. Keystone Provincial from NOT Winnipeg, Canada writes: Well, that's it isn't it? Cheap goods are cheap to manufacture, cheap to buy and totally disposable when they wear out. It's a mindset we've had since the '70s and it causes the mountainous landfills we're seeing now. Even recyclable materials are cheaper to make than to reuse so who wants to bother with it? My father-in-law told me early in my married life that the secret is to buy the best you can afford and we've done that for 25 years. We still have the Zenith TV we got for a wedding present, I'm using an 8 year old Dell computer (with the archaic ME OS), our Panasonic microwave is still going strong after 20 some years and our fridge and stove are our original ones. Educating people to invest in quality is key and often repairs are not that costly. If only the electronic repair industry would see it that way.
  8. Nature Lover from Canada writes: I love having things repaired and making them last. But MY problem is I have trouble throwing things away esp if they are still good and "someone might be able to use them" including me! How I often envy the clutter-free people of the world.
  9. T J from Canada writes: Let's not forget the noteworthy building materials' recycling mecca of the Habitat Restores where kitchen cupboards, flooring, doors, toilets (lined), tubs (even jacuzzi or cast with feet), showers, fittings, bricks, shingles, lumber etc. can be recycled and purchased for a fraction of their original cost-thus diverting many tons from landfills.
  10. Nassar Ben Houdja from Canada writes: If as much effort went into recycling as all the flavor of the day eco stunts, real progress would be made.
  11. Rusty Nail from OK Falls BC, Canada writes: Why not buy at yard sales????? My wife just bought a wall hanging for $10.o, new price was $150.0.Bought Lattice used for $5.00, new close to $80.00.Stop throwing evey thing out have a Yard sale make some money and help the enviroment at same time. Rusty
  12. Johann Decruyff from La Paz, Bolivia writes: John Deriso from Edmonton, Canada writes: I've actually only recently discovered that buying good quality items and repairing them over time is cheaper than just buying cheap versions and constantly replacing them.>>>>

    good point. wal mart shoppers pay attention.
  13. Johann Decruyff from La Paz, Bolivia writes: radios? someone still owns one? TVs and computers arent repairable depending on age. the parts often dont exist any longer.
  14. Adam Evans from Toronto, Canada writes: A well-intentioned article, can't fault 'em for trying ... even if they miss the true scale of the problem.

    Reality is that our environmental woes are inextricably linked to our passion to consume. Businesses (including the G&M and their advertisers) want us to buy more stuff. If stuff is repaired (or made to last in the first place) then we aren't doing our job as good consumers. Where was the mention of repairing our appliances, our cars, homes and the other big-ticket (and big impact) items? Even 40 years ago, people had common skills for maintaining and getting long-term value out of the few things they owned.

    Our culture is addicted to shiny, disposable, new stuff. It's expensive to live that way, both economically (personal debt) and environmentally.

    For more along these lines, this is a simple and thorough look at our addiction to stuff: http://www.storyofstuff.com/ .
  15. D Worsley from Kitchener, Canada writes: That book on chair repair (or any other book) can be purchased locally if one is truly serious about doing right environmentally.
  16. Peter Walker from Canada writes: Luggage can often be repaired under warranty - IF you kept the papers to begin with, it is sometimes worth 15 years or more these days.
    That is IF the airlines don't pick up the tab - and you must request politely, NOT DEMAND. Tose that demand everything are most likely to be denied!!
  17. Royal Writer from Canada writes: Thank you for this article. I was looking for a place to fix the cane on my chair and now I have someone to contact!
  18. Andrew E from Canada writes: who buys $250 jeans, and what makes them worth more than $40 Wranglers? After all, they're just a couple of yards of 10 to 14-ounce cotton denim fabric, thread, a $2 zipper, and possibly rivets.
  19. Sissy Schuss from Canada writes: This article and its suggestions on what to repair is playing at the margins - most is just commone sense - if people want to hang on to things they will find a way to do so though I was not aware that shirt collars shrink with age. My parent's generation certainly worked this way but now we are raising children who live in a packaged and disposable world. Better would have been to tell people what do with their CRT TVs as they switch to LCD TVs. Did you know that your kid's ipod can be disassembled and the battery replaced? Yep websites are popping up all over on how to deal with the low end tech stuff that people toss in the garbage. Any suggestions on what do with my vinyl record collection?
  20. Sissy Schuss from Canada writes: and oh yeah - i've got the bare bones of six computers stacked in my office from which I've pulled all the parts eg memory and processor (made of gold btw) built over the last 20 years or so - none of whch would be useful in a windows vista world no idea what to do with them so they just sit there
  21. Fred Stubbs from Canada writes: I recently had the seat of a cane chair repaired by a store in Toronto west end by Maple Leaf Furniture http://www.mapleleaffurniture.ca/index.html and the owner did an excellent job. Give them a try if you have a need in this area.
  22. EarthHour OurEarth from Canada writes:
    Learn to maintain and fix most things yourself. Fuel used to transport/ship to outsource individual broken item is not environmentally friendly.
  23. EarthHour OurEarth from Canada writes:
    re: Sissy Schuss from Canada writes: and oh yeah - i've got the bare bones of six computers stacked in my office ... none of whch would be useful in a windows vista world no idea what to do with them so they just sit there.

    May I suggest ... you should have taught µSoft a lesson. They are probably the worst offender of engineered obsolescence. Should never have bought Vista. I'm still using DOS, Win95/98/XP, Linux on recycled PCs ... legacies handed down from my children. Fixing should start with µSoft ... designing things to last ... backward compatibility.
  24. roger hart from Ste-Anne-des-Lacs, Canada writes: I enjoyed reading the comments from your readers as much as the article itself.

    I consume to feel good. If I buy a new gadget, I get a rush and want to show it to my friends. When I recycle, repair and keep that 25 year old microwave, I am full of conflicting emotions. My friends yawn at my story of recycling. How safe is my microwave?

    Force all manufacturers to take back their used items and recycle them. Change the economic system from consume and produce to conserving the environment and reducing world population. countries who conserve their rain forests get a good GDP (gross domestic product) rating.

    How about an article on the environmental benefits of keeping your old car versus buying the new hybrids? How about an article on where you can donate your old but usable electronic items?

    Yours
  25. T J from Canada writes: Consider looking for a (Yahoo) Freecycle group in your area-it is astounding what others will take off your hands-working or not-electronics (computers/televisions), books, appliances, furniture etc.
  26. Nadine Marothy from London, Canada writes: This computer is second hand. It may not be the latest technology but it does the job.
  27. Bradley Strider from Canada writes: Has anyone actually researched this, or is it just conjecture? I ask because it's not necessarily true that repairing something is more environmentally responsible than buying new. What is the energy cost of keeping an inefficient old automobile or refrigerator running? What if the raw material, labour and energy cost of fixing up an old electronic device is actually less than buying new?
  28. David Zetland from Davis, United States writes: Plastic. That's the word that's missing from this piece, and it's missing because most plastic is not repairable. Broken lawn chair? Cracked tupperware? non-renewable broom? All of these things are use and toss. Let's add a fourth R: -- Reduce (plastic purchases), Reuse (buy/swap/dumpster dive), Repair (this article) and LAST PRIORITY, Recycle....
  29. Sissy Schuss from Canada writes: it is almost always cheaper to repair something then it is to buy it new - this assumes it can be repaired - even your kid's ipod can be repaired but obviously there are limits if you are replacing a broken object with a modern version consider that that the latter is probably made in mexico or china - neither have strong environmental records and the quality of manufacturing is likely to be such that you are going to have to replace it again
  30. JN Smith from Canada writes: I would be interested in an analysis of the considerations in keeping your old car for 12 years versus buying a new hybrid/low emissions car every three years. I haven't seen anything yet discussing the environmental costs of more manufacturing and increased disposal. This also includes appliances and other electronics. I haven't jumped on to "Consume more to be more environmentally friendly" bandwagon yet. We also need to look at the increased costs of manufacturing all our new widgets in places like China and the landfill costs. Do I need the new stainless steel energy star fridge? Probably not if my old white fridge is working. I would have to send the old fridge to the dump and my new fridge is made in a country with little environmental standards. Same goes for cars. I plan to keep my vehicle until it dies as I keep it well maintained. Anyhow, I would like to see more analysis about all the environmental costs.
  31. Royal Writer from Canada writes: Fantastic! Thanks Fred Stubb for the contact info! :)
  32. G Young from Canada writes: I think the fashion industry is the ENEMY of the evironment. The idea of "home fahion" particularly is offensive. One should never have to get rid of their couch because it is "the wrong shape". Our personal decorating style is "rustic", which really means "old and beat-up". It makes for a funky, cool style if yopu just have a fit of flair.

    As for clothing fashion, I actually believe that we could cease clothing manufacture for the next decade we would still be able to clothe the entire planet for that time. If you've never been inside one of your local thrift shops or the Value Village around the corner, GO. You will be amazed.
  33. Keystone Provincial from NOT Winnipeg, Canada writes: We went through 2 different mixers in about 5 years because all the gearing was made of nylon cogs that grind up in no time flat. Then, at a yard sale, I found an ancient '60s era hand mixer with a solid metal case and metal gears for about a buck. I picked it up and it's run like a charm ever since, and that was about 5 years ago. My only concern is that the cord is not up to modern code but I'm sure that could be replaced for a couple of bucks too.
  34. Lowen Wrainger from Canada writes: You better watch out! You've just declared war on Wal-Mart and China!
  35. Ken Woodwords from Ottawa, Canada writes: My mother used to repair collars of shirts, which usually are worn out first, by turning around and sawing them again. I did try it myself, and my children laughed at me.
  36. crazy fiddler from Canada writes: Here in BC they're talking about taking all cars prior to 1994 -as I recall - and compacting them and reusing the metal materials, just to get them off the road. The premise was that it would be more environmentally friendly. Go figger.
  37. Plain Jane from Toronto, Canada writes: Anyone rich enough to have any of this stuff is never going to go to all the trouble to get it fixed. Why not write an article for normal people whose biggest problem isn't getting a silver salt-cellar replated?
  38. Random Person from Heard and Mc Donald Islands writes: Anything better then going to the closest Wal-Mart and buying some junk to replace a valuable item....
  39. Helen Pettingill from Canada writes: The reason I have so much clutter is because I believe in the premise of not throwing away anything that could be of future use to me or someone else. Admittedly my clutter drives me crazy but I'm that much of a fanatic & environmentalist that nothing useful should be tossed. Sometimes it's just a question of how to recycle odd items. Admittedly, if I was any good at managing my personal time, I would take more action & purge more but life is busy you know. Every now & again I go on a splurge & get rid of a car load of stuff & give it to friends with younger kids or to the Sally Anne or to Wastewise. It's a great feeling. I have also joined the recycle.org group & have gotten rid of plenty of useful things I didn't want any more. That's a great website. There's one in every major area. It would make your head spin to find out that there's actually a demand for your old egg cartons, spools of thread, old scraps of wrapping paper, mismatched socks, bits of tinfoil, styrofoam, half filled cans of paint - you name it. One man's junk is another man's treasure. How true. I recommend y'all check out that site if you have things that need to go. You need to have a Yahoo account (no biggie) & be willing to give everything for free. It's another green way to go.
  40. burnadette smith from Canada writes: Reading these comments has been really helpful, thanks guys!

    And I certainly agree that'd be nice to see more serious articles in the globe about things like hybrids vs. keeping your old car, etc... articles about things that we can personally do to reduce the amount of waste we are each resposible for.
  41. Peter Walker from Canada writes: To Nadine Marothy

    Your post was unreadable,

    Time to get a NEW computer every six months, not a used one (Ooops, shows I read it!!)

    LOL
  42. Clive Gingell from Canada writes: Ken Woodwords from Ottawa, Canada writes: My mother used to repair collars of shirts, which usually are worn out first, by turning around and sawing them again. I did try it myself, and my children laughed at me.
    .............

    I guess they would, (or in this case 'wood'), if you were sawing shirts. ;-)
  43. Kay Ay from Canada writes: Having grandparents that lived through the depression had an impact on me (though somehow skipped my parents). I'm just as happy buying a couple of chairs at a yard sale for $5 each or picking one from the side of the road for free (apparently it's a Queen Anne style and has to be recovered) than pay $1,000 for new furniture no one is allowed to sit on.
  44. Geoffrey Hole from Ottawa, Canada writes: Subject: locating Terra Nova Liquid Pumice Stone

    Message:

    I have white rings on my buffet. I have read in the Globe & Mail about Terra Nova Liquid Pumice Stone which will remove these white marks (they look like heat/water marks). I went to Canadian Tire on Carling Avenue and called Home Hardware, but no one has heard of it. Where can I find this product in Ottawa?

    Thank you,

    Anna
  45. PD Kelly from Canada writes: If you need to have good wood furniture fixed in Calgary, Woodwise is a good choice. It is the woodworking shop of Junktiques, an antique shop. The owner does the work and is very knowledgeable. I am currently having a 100 year old double bed "stretched" to queen size. True, just buying a new box spring and mattress and 6 legs would be adequate for a spare room but why not show off a family heirloom? With a headboard and footboard, it currently is just too short for anyone over about 5' 10" tall.

    Marnie Kelly
  46. H M from Canada writes: Hey, Tupperware has a lifetime warranty. I took back some awfully ugly puke green and brown stuff that had cracked, and they gave me brand new stuff, so questions asked. I browse every second hand shop I can find and garage sale looking for broken Tupperware, it's far too expensive to buy new. Great quality, though. Most of the old stuff is still in good shape.

    And on the topic of old cars, my sister had a '92 Geo Metro and it had better gas mileage than anyof the new hybrids could even dream of. I wouldn't be surprised if that little tin bucket got 65mpg.

    Who the hell pays $250 for a pair of jeans and doesn't take care of them?

Join the Conversation, Leave a Comment

This conversation is semi-moderated What is moderation? | How do I report a comment?

You must be logged-in to submit a comment — login now!

Not registered with globeandmail.com? Register now. It is quick and free.

close

Alert us about this comment

Please let us know if this reader’s comment breaks the editor's rules and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.

Do not use this to complain about comments that don’t break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.

Back to top