The mechanics of something like a washing machine are still relatively simple (motor, belt, drum, pump), but when the PCB goes it seems to be game over as often the part costs nearly as much as a new machine.
At the ten year mark, the electronics just died. As that consists of one solid resin encased block of electronics (not a part available as spare), repairing it would only make sense if I had:
* Space to put it aside for a while and work out how to replace electronics
* Electrical engineering skills beyond what I have
* A replacement washing machine in the interim (we just had a baby at that point)
* Willingness to invest days in this project
I think I fall within the 5% (3%? 1%?) of people who can manage the first repair, but the latter is a one in ten thousand (optimistic estimate) kind of issue. Economically, it makes no sense to repair it, which is really unfortunate.
It might have been possible to take the electronics from a broken machine of the same type, but these cannot realistically be found here.
I buy my appliances from Costco with a Costco credit card because that means the appliance has a 4 year warranty. The price premium to buy equivalent commercial quality appliances with 5 year warranties is high enough that I would rather just get a new appliance and restart the 4 year clock.
Beside that, there is the convenience factor. I can buy a new washing machine, and have it here tomorrow, where they take the old one away, and plug the new one in if I want to buy that option.
You can't get that level service from a repairman. They can't compete with this business model. And even if they could, the chance of them being able to fix it is not 100%, whereas the new one is all but guaranteed to work (for as long as that lasts).
Then we posted our broken washer for free and somebody came and took it. It was obviously going to be repaired and resold or used for parts.
I really hope he has some sort of lift or elevator installed. His back is going to be destroyed in a few short years.
That's just for the part. I was willing and able to do the labor - would have been a fifteen minute job.
If there is a market for something, no matter how small, somebody on eBay is catering to it.
It can be done, but it's not that simple.