More & More People Turning To Retro Gadget Repairs
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Today's smart phones can cost up to six or seven hundred dollars and new models are seemingly on the way all the time.
But not everyone wants to spend the money on the latest and greatest tech gadget. A growing number of people are looking to hold on to what they've got for a little longer.
Frank Rothman says he's easily frustrated by today's ever changing tech devices.
"Generally speaking, I'm just not good with gadgets. I find that following the instructions, getting things to work just never works for me, so when I do get something that works, I tend to hang on to it and not want to get rid of it," said Rothman.
Rothman said he's still using his old iPod and admits he's spent more on adding memory to it than it would have cost to just buy a new one. But he likes it and doesn't plan to change.
He's not the only one with this mentality, according to industry experts like Demetrios Leontaris, found of New York's iPod Doctor.
"People who hold on to their old devices are a niche market. They hold on to them for sentimental reasons, they have them because a loved one passed away, they want to recover the data, uh playlists," said Leontaris.
A quick Google search found several websites where you can can or update older gadgets on your own. Zachery Nelson runs "Jerry Rig Everything" on Youtube. He get more than a million hits a month from people trying to fix their own devices.
"Once you've seen the inside of the phone, seen how you take it apart, all the different screws and stuff, people are much more willing to take apart their devices," said Nelson.
Nelso said repairing your retro gear on you own is easy when you can find inexpensive parts online.
"A penny saved is a penny earned and if you can fix your own device, you can save a few bucks and get your device working again," said Nelson.
He admits, however, the DIY approach is not for everyone.
"You have to use a little bit of common sense and kind of know what your skill level is. Obviously, I'm showing the repair, but if you've never held a screwdriver before, it's going to be kind of difficult," said Nelson.
Rothman said he tends to fall into the 'no so handy' category.
"I find by step three I'm completely lost, so I tend to shy away from those things," he said.
Nelson said if you are using a video to make a repair, watch it all the way through at least twice before taking the device apart. He also recommends you read the comments for suggestions from others who tackled the DIY approach.
