US Woman Loves India’s ‘Repair Culture’: ‘If Something Is Broken, You Can Always Get It Fixed’

The woman compared the repair culture with the US. (Photo Credit: Instagram)

While many developed countries follow a ‘throwaway culture,’ where broken items are quickly replaced for new ones, India still likes repairing items. This not only saves money but also reduces waste and encourages reuse. Shedding light on the same, an American woman living in India has praised the ease of getting almost anything repaired in the country.

Kristen Fischer, known for expressing her love for India, dropped a video on Instagram where she shared another reason she enjoys her time here. In a video titled ‘Just another thing I love about India’, she talked about how easy and affordable it is to repair things in India compared with the US.

What Did She Say in the Video?

Fischer shared how her broken electric kettle was repaired by a local technician for just Rs 30. “One of the best things about living in India is that when something is broken, no matter what it is, you can always get it fixed,” she said in the clip.

“My kettle broke this week, so I took it to this repair guy, and he only charged me Rs 30 to fix it,” she continued, adding, “Now it works great.”

In the caption of the post, she added, “If something is broken in the USA, people will simƒply buy a new one. It typically costs more to repair an item than to replace it. But in India, you can find simple repair shops anywhere and fix anything for a very low cost.

“You can have appliances, shoes, phones, clothing, and pretty much anything else fixed, repaired, or mended. Another reason I think India is so much less wasteful and more resourceful than America,” she added.

What Did Social Media Users Say?

As expected, the video struck a chord with desi netizens, who flooded the comments section with agreement and anecdotes of their own.

“Yes! This is indeed very helpful! It avoids unnecessary expenditure! Also, Indians are good at ‘jugaad’. We can find solutions for every little problem,” a user commented.

Another said, “I have a kettle like that. I love the thought that people can fix things. I honestly try to fix anything that breaks because I hate throwing stuff away needlessly.”

“So what do you do if things get broken down in the US? Buy a new one every time?” a curious viewer asked.

An individual stated, “Yes, so true. I had noticed that too; there is always someone who knows how to fix something. Love it.”

“Yes, I agree. It’s the same in the UK too. In India everything has an alternative which is a quick fix, also called ‘jugaad’,” said another.

“So my washing machine broke due to rust. We thought of replacing it, but then my MIL called a washing machine repairman and got the metal body replaced by a fibre body… We have been using that machine for 4 years now,” shared another.

Who is Kristen Fischer?

The American woman and her husband, Tim Fischer, moved to India in 2021. The couple, parents to four daughters, run a web development company catering primarily to Western clients. Known for embracing Indian culture, language and everyday life, the Fischers frequently post content about their experience living in India, learning the local language, and discovering daily-life hacks that continue to surprise them.