It seems like most of my CW are semi-Mustachians (is that a thing), in that they all drive older model cars and bring their lunches to work. However, the few anti-Mustachians more than make up for it:
CW: What kind of vacuum cleaner do you have?
Me: I have a Dyson (bought before I discovered MMM and was a consumerist sucka). Why? Are you looking for a new vacuum?
CW: Yes. Mine isn't that old, but it's making a really weird and loud noise when I use it.
Me: Why don't you look for a vacuum machine repair shop? There's bound to be one in your area.
CW: I hadn't thought of that, that's a good idea!
Fast forward a few weeks. I had remembered to ask a follow up about the vacuum:
Me: Did you ever find a vacuum repair shop?
CW: No, I had my eye on this one vacuum cleaner. I found it at (discount box store) on a discount, and I had a coupon. I wound up getting the $300 vaccum for $63.00! I don't know what I'm going to do with my old one, though.
Granted, that is a good discount. But chances are the repair on her two-ish year old vacuum would likely have been less than she paid for the new vacuum.
Point of order:
There's consumerist sucka, and then there's functional shit that takes a beating and still delivers. I got tired of struggling with cheap hand-me-down vaccums and spent ~$300 on a refurb Dyson, which still sucks like a pro after 4 years. The dog hair it's processed could clothe an army. Thus, I consider this no more wasteful than my commercial-grade mop bucket, or my DeWalt tools, all of which are like new (functionally) after at least that long. If any of them broke, I'd fix them - because they're quality tools built to last, which makes them worth fixing. Not so much with the things I used to have.
In your CW's case, the merits of fixing vs. replacing would depend on the original equipment. If they actually got something better that will require less maintenance in the long run, and for only $63, then bravo. Now all they need to do is figure out a way to cash out any remaining value in that old one....