I've got a Samsung refrigerator from around 2008 that's been pretty reliable, but lately the freezer section isn't getting as cold as it used to. A repair guy quoted me $400 to replace the compressor. At what point does it make more sense to just buy a new one instead of dumping money into an old appliance?
I'd push back a little on the 50% rule because it doesn't account for how long you actually plan to keep the fridge. If you're the type who holds onto appliances for another five or ten years, $400 might be worth it for a machine that's been solid until now. The real trap though is that compressor failures often signal the fridge is at the end of its life - even if you fix it, you're looking at other parts wearing out soon after (seals, fans, the control board). So before you commit to that repair, ask the technician if there are other components showing age or wear. If it's genuinely just the compressor and the rest of the unit seems fine, it might be worth the gamble.
Most folks say that once you're spending more than about 50% of the fridge's replacement cost on a single repair, it's time to move on - and a $400 compressor fix on an 18-year-old Samsung is definitely hitting that threshold! New fridges have way better efficiency now, so you'd likely save money on electricity over the next decade, plus you get a warranty instead of crossing your fingers. If that fridge has otherwise been solid to you, I get the emotional attachment, but at this point you're essentially choosing between one expensive repair or investing in something that'll run reliably for another 15+ years without nickel-and-diming you constantly.
The real question is whether you'll actually use this fridge for another five years or so - if yes, $400 is reasonable; if you're thinking of upgrading anyway within the next couple years, buy new now and stop throwing money at an appliance that's already showing age in other ways beyond just the compressor.
Here's the thing - those percentage rules work fine on paper, but they miss that a 2008 Samsung has probably got maybe five good years left in it even if you fix it now, so you're not just gambling $400, you're gambling on whether the next thing breaks in year two or year four! I'd honestly consider what new models cost these days and whether you'd rather deal with another repair call in 2028 or just bite the bullet now and get the energy savings and warranty peace of mind.
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