Top5
By Stacey L. Bradford
Associate Editor, SmartMoney.com


IT'S A CONSUMER'S NIGHTMARE: Your pricey gadget breaks down just when the warranty expires. Then you're left with a conundrum. Do you shell out big bucks for a repair, or trash the thing and buy new?

One way to postpone the issue is to buy an extended warranty. But more often than not, those are a waste of money, too. (Click here to determine whether an extended warranty is worth the added cost.)

From computers to iPods, here's advice on how to handle the inevitable breakdowns.

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