Here's How Much It Costs To Repair A Cracked Tv Screen
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It's finally happened — your worst nightmare. Maybe the controller was flung from your wrist while playing with your VR set, the little ones decided to try playing baseball inside, or your dog's tail finally hit the TV stand hard enough that your brand-new OLED flatscreen took a tumble. However it happened, your TV screen now has a dreadful crack. Televisions don't come cheap, so before you start scanning for the newest model, it makes sense to see if it can be repaired. But repairs aren't exactly affordable or easy.
Most television warranties will not cover cracked screens, likely because they are usually caused by household accidents and not a fault of the manufacturer. This repair will usually cost more than $200 and can cost up to $1,000 in some circumstances. If you're thinking that's quite the price range, keep in mind that the specific cost you'll end up paying comes down to how extensive the damage is, whether there's available labor in the area, the technical specifications of the screen, and other factors. That being said, you should expect to dole out some serious cash if you choose to go the repair route.
How broken is too broken?
While trying to assess the damage of your television crack, you will inevitably wonder whether you can fix it yourself. Luckily, a quick fix might be possible if you're dealing with a shallow hairline or spiderweb crack. Unlike extensive fractures, these don't go deep enough into the screen that they can't be covered up. One DIY solution is to take a regular clean pencil eraser to the cracks and gently rub them out. The rubber from the eraser sort of fills in and diffuses the crack so that they will be less noticeable. You may also be able to find LCD scratch repair kits at an electronic store that are suitable for superficial scratches and cracks.
But anything beyond that, and you're probably looking at a lost cause (per Home Guide). Replacing a screen can easily cost as much as buying a new TV since it requires the display panel to be replaced entirely. This is, of course, unless you're looking at a decades-old TV, in which case, we respectfully say that it's probably time for an upgrade anyway. The cost of the parts alone is steep, let alone labor considerations. Hourly rates for an electronics repair specialist can be anywhere from $60 to $125, which can quickly become an astronomical cost, even to get a diagnosis and quote.
So when is repair worth it?
Whether you want to go for a repair or a replacement will usually depend on the exact nature of your cracked screen, and you should ask around for quotes before making your final decision. Some may be able to give you a decent deal (close to $200), some higher, and some may say that the screen can't be fixed at all. But to give an idea of the costs for a new TV versus a repair, the 4-series 50" Amazon Fire TV is available for just $279.99, which is close to the low end of repair costs. On the high end, the LG C2 Series 55-Inch Class OLED is listed at $999.99.
So if your cracked TV cost more than $700 and you get a quote close to $200, paying for a repair may be worth it. But if you've had your TV a few years and the repair quote exceeds a few hundred bucks, buying a new television is probably your most cost-effective option. That being said, it may be wise to wait for Black Friday, Super Bowl season, or spring sales to get the best price on your brand-new TV.