The one factor you're missing in the equation is that those products, made in automated fashion with third-world wages, have to be shipped across an ocean, and

The one factor you're missing in the equation is that those products, made in automated fashion with third-world wages, have to be shipped across an ocean, and then shipped to distributors, and then sold in retailers that pay western wages, and which are owned by corporations that demand western profits. The retail mark-up of almost any item is enormous, probably at least half to 2/3 the cost. When you repair something, you avoid all that retail mark-up. However any parts you buy will also have a big markup usually, plus shipping costs.