Comment by maiinablegkri

>Even if a professional can fix it, that expertise to be able to use those tools worth "a few thousand dollars" costs a lot too, likely pushing the price high enough that its worth thinking about buying a new device instead.

This is generally a problem in taxation than the devices. Consider I want to have an electrician fix my broken wallsocket:

>Billed for 100€/hour

>Out of which expenses for moving using a workcar, calculating by officially recognized tax administration car wear value 0,59€/km for 5km both ways, so ~6€, 94€ remains

>VAT is 25,5%, leaving you with ~70€

>Paying for mandatory employer's portion of pension 17,5%, leaving us with ~57,75€

Now the employee gets 57,75€, out of which following are deducted:

>Income tax for average electrician: 26%, ~15€

>Employee's part of mandatory pension: 7,15%, ~ 4,1€

>Municipal taxes: ~8% depending on municipality ~ 4,6€

So 57,75€ - 23,7€ = ~34€

There are also various single or partial percent taxes that slightly affect the outcome, and companies often want some sort of profit instead of directly giving 100% to the single employee.