In every industry, there’s always someone who will promise to do it cheaper. On the surface, that sounds like a win for the customer, I mean, who doesn’t want to stretch their budget further? But if you take a closer look, the real question isn’t “how much does it cost?” but rather “what am I actually getting for that price?” This is especially true in the device repair and technology services industry. Schools and organizations are under constant financial pressure, often needing to do more with less. That makes it tempting to jump on the lowest-priced option. But as the old saying goes: you get what you pay for.
Same Tools, Different Choices
Every provider in this space has access to the same basic resources: parts, tools, and people. What separates one company from another is the quality of each of those choices.
Take parts, for example. Many low-cost providers use harvested or used parts in their repairs. From an environmental perspective, that can sound like a good thing, it reduces e-waste and reuses what’s already out there. But here’s the catch: customers often aren’t told that those repairs involve used components.
Why does that matter? Because the value of a device at the end of its lifecycle is directly tied to the quality of its parts. Devices with used parts often see their resale or trade-in value plummet, sometimes by 20% or more. That “savings” you got on the repair comes right back around as a loss when it’s time to refresh or resell your fleet.
People Pay the Price
Another overlooked cost of “cheap” is the people behind the service. If a company is consistently undercutting the industry on pricing, they’re cutting corners somewhere. Unfortunately, it’s often at the expense of their employees.
That could mean lower wages, reduced benefits, or poor working conditions. Skilled technicians are the backbone of this industry, and when they aren’t supported, they don’t stick around. High turnover, inexperienced staff, and rushed repairs are the inevitable result. What looks like a bargain today can create costly headaches tomorrow when devices start failing more quickly or warranties aren’t honored.
Hidden Costs of Cutting Corners
Price pressure can also show up in less obvious ways:
- Training: Companies chasing the lowest dollar often skimp on ongoing technician training, which means their teams aren’t up to speed on the latest devices and repair standards.
- Support: Post-repair customer support may be nonexistent. If something goes wrong, you’re on your own.
- Quality Assurance: Cheaper providers may skip quality checks altogether, pushing devices back into circulation without proper testing.
Every shortcut shifts the “real cost” back onto the customer, whether that’s through lost instructional time in classrooms, more frequent device failures, or hidden fees to fix mistakes later.
The Budget Dilemma
None of this is to say that schools and organizations don’t face tough financial realities. Many districts are working with shoestring budgets and are forced to make difficult trade-offs. It’s understandable that the lowest price tag is tempting when funds are tight.
But this is exactly why it’s so important to think long-term. The lowest upfront cost isn’t always the lowest total cost. A repair that protects the future value of your devices, extends their usable life, and ensures consistency across your fleet is an investment, not just an expense.
The Race to the Bottom
When providers compete only on price, the whole industry suffers. Customers end up with lower-quality service, employees pay the price with poor working conditions, and devices lose long-term value. It’s a dangerous cycle.
The better question to ask isn’t “who’s cheapest?” but rather “who’s providing the best value?” Transparency, quality parts, skilled people, and customer support, all of these factors make a huge difference in the outcomes you get.
Because at the end of the day, cheaper isn’t always better. Sometimes, it’s much more expensive.
Until next time,
Ben Guertin
President of Techcycle Solutions