On 3/26/2011 21:53, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
Repair or replace. That question often comes up here. I had two
examples in the past week.

I have a Rubbermaid mailbox and post that wad damaged in the snowstorms.
Replacement post, delivered $54
New mailbox and post $52

Rubbermaid uses economy of scale by packaging complete mailbox
assemblies and shipping them to retailers through an established
distribution network. Replacement parts are a deviation from the norm,
and prices reflect the increased cost of maintaining a supply of
replacement parts and specially delivering them to the consumer.

The light under the kitchen cabinet burned out. It is a fluorescent
fixture that takes an F15 bulb
Replacement bulb $6.88
New fixture including bulb $6.96

The difference between this example and that of the mailbox is that the
bulb is a consumable item. Otherwise the same pricing principles apply.
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