Monday, Jan. 12, 2009

Making Do: More go for repairs as economy struggles

Even if mama needs a new pair of shoes, she might have to settle for a mended pair in this economy.

Record-high unemployment levels and a roller coaster stock market have more people holding off on purchases big and small when they can make do with what they have. Repair businesses are reaping the benefits.

A customer at His & Hers Tailoring Shop along Main Street recently took in an overcoat to be mended that she had had since 1973.

“We’re going to see a lot of that,” said owner Thomasena Reynolds. Over the past 36 years, she has seen the trend repeat each time there is a downturn in the economy.

“Other times, when the money got kind of tight, we’ve fixed a lot of clothes,” she said.

Bubba Atkinson, owner of Mel’s Shoe Repair Service on Taylor Street, estimated business is up for him about 30 percent be-cause of the economy.

“The repair business is booming right now,” he said. “People are wanting to repair things, especially of value, instead of getting something new.”

In boom times, it is not unusual for people to throw out things that are getting a little worn, said Richard Clodfelter, re-tail professor at the University of South Carolina.

But the down economy, coupled with the move toward a more environmentally sensitive society, has people rethinking those decisions, he said.

“People probably will start looking at those things more care-fully,” Clodfelter said. “It creates some opportunities for other type retail services.”

Atkinson — whose father was a shoe repairman during the Great Depression when people were rationed two pairs of shoes each — fixes a variety of items from handbags and luggage to dance shoes and work boots. He has had the downtown shoe store for 35 years.

A lot of the fixes are simple, he said, such as new heel tips for women’s shoes that save custom-ers from having to buy a new pair. The cost is about $7.95 for the pair.

“Those are well worth it,” he said.

Jerry Benjamin, owner of Jerry’s Shoe Repair in Northeast Richland, said he also has seen a bump in business in recent weeks because of the troubled economy. People are bringing in shoes they have had in their closet for a while looking to get them fixed instead of buying new ones.

“The money can definitely be used for something else, gas, rent,” he said.

Higher-ticket items, such as jewelry, furniture, appliances and even cars, also are getting new life.

Jeff Radenbaugh, owner of Sloan Appliance Service in Cayce, said the average amount of time it takes his technicians to complete an appliance repair call is about four days. That’s doubled in re-cent months to eight days.

“We’re busier,” he said. “People are going to repair rather than replace if they can save $40 a month. That’s a lot these days.”

Consumers can save even more money per month by stay-ing in an older vehicle longer.

“People are tending to fix their older vehicles versus going and buying new cars,” said Vance Cureton, owner of Quality Automotive on St. Andrews Road in Co-lumbia. “Some people are choosing to spend $2,000 or more on something, and they feel like they can drive it for another year or two years.

“We’re staying real steady.”

REPAIR OR REPLACE?

In this economy, nearly everyone is looking for ways to cut costs. Repairing an older item with a minor problem might keep you from having to replace it until the economic outlook brightens. But in some cases, it’s better to buy. Here’s a look:

APPLIANCES It’s nearly always cheaper to repair an appliance than to re-place it, but it’s not always the wisest move, said Jeff Radenbaugh, owner of Sloan Appliance Service in Cayce.

Rule of thumb: If it’s under 10 years old, you’re generally safe putting up to 40 percent of the cost to replace the item into it. If it’s over 10 years old, don’t put into it more than 30 percent of the cost to replace, including price, delivery and taxes.

AUTOMOBILES If the body of the car is in good condition and it’s paid for, it might be worth it to pay for a major repair, said Vance Cure-ton, owner of Quality Automotive in Columbia.

Rule of thumb: Consider how much you are spending and how much longer you believe the car will last. For example, if you spend $1,500 on a major repair, that’s only about three months’ worth of owning a new car when you figure in payment, taxes and insurance, he said.

CLOTHES, SHOES AND JEWELRY If the article of clothing or shoe is in poor condition, worn through in places or severely damaged, you might be better off replacing it with a new one that will last a while, said Thomasena Reynolds, owner of His & Hers Tailoring Shop in Columbia. Generally, jewelry can be repaired fairly easily if it’s not completely worn out, said Frank Goodale, owner of F.D. Goodale Jeweler in Camden.

Rule of thumb: If you can buy it at the same price or cheaper than what it will cost to alter or fix, you’re better off replacing it.

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