A cracked screen, dead battery, or water-damaged tablet on your team forces a decision: repair it or replace it? Many business owners default to replacing, but the math often favors repair — especially when you have multiple devices and a reliable repair partner that comes to you. Here’s how to calculate it for your operation.
The Real Cost of Replacing a Device
When a business device breaks, the purchase price of a new one is the most visible cost — but not the biggest. Add what comes after: IT setup, account provisioning, app reinstallation, and data migration. That’s hours of billed or salaried labor. Meanwhile, the employee waiting on that device runs at reduced productivity. If data wasn’t backed up, it’s gone. The actual cost of replacing a single tablet routinely runs two to three times its sticker price when you factor in setup time, migration effort, and lost output. There’s also an environmental cost: discarding a repairable device adds e-waste to your company’s footprint — something increasingly relevant for corporate sustainability and vendor relationships.
Repair Costs Way Less — Usually 20–40% of Replacement
For the most common business device failures — cracked screens, dead batteries, broken charging ports — repair typically runs 20–40% of the cost of a new replacement device. Turnaround with a mobile repair partner is 1–2 business days. Compare that to replacement: full device cost, plus IT setup time, plus data migration, plus the employee downtime waiting. With RAD Wireless bulk device repair, we pick up from your location for free, repair, and return — your team doesn’t manage a single logistics step. And on multi-device jobs, volume pricing drops the per-device cost further.
When Repair Makes Sense (Spoiler: Almost Always)
Repair is the right call when a device is under 3–4 years old and the repair cost sits well below 50% of replacement — which covers the vast majority of screen cracks, battery swaps, and port repairs. Where replacement wins: a device that’s 5+ years old, running an unsupported OS, or breaking repeatedly due to structural failure. For everything else, repair wins on cost, speed, and simplicity. And if you’re running a fleet — say five tablets and two are cracked — one call handles both at volume pricing. One invoice, two repaired devices back in service the next day.
Frequently asked questions
Is it ever better to replace?
Yes — if a device is very old and repairs cost more than 50% of replacement, or it breaks constantly. But for devices under 3–4 years old, repair wins.
How fast can you repair mine?
Most repairs take 1–2 business days, and we pick up and drop off at your location for free — no shipping, no waiting.
Does repair void a warranty?
Our repairs come with a 90-day warranty. Your device’s original manufacturer warranty may be voided if it was still active, but that’s usually irrelevant if the device is already broken.
Can you handle multiple devices at once?
Yes — bulk jobs get volume discounts and one invoice. Call or text 407-575-9894.
Ready to protect your devices and keep your operation running? Learn about bulk device repair or call 407-575-9894 to set up an account.