My four-year-old PS4 was running normally on Monday. On Tuesday it simply would not start. I tried everything then googled and tried more stuff - with no success. Could not get it to start in safe mode. Tried de-powering and booting without the hard drive (per Sony website advice) etc - all no go.

So I took it to an apparently respectable computer repair place on the North Shore - who advertise as PS4 repair specialists. On Wednesday they emailed saying the motherboard was stuffed and to repair it would cost $400 incl gst. 

I didn’t want to spend that much on a repair given the price of brand-new units so I went out and bought a new one that day. I then went and picked up the old one.

Thinking I would try and sell the old one for parts on Trademe, I decided to give it one last check this morning before listing it on Trademe. It started perfectly (after safe mode) and is running fine.

Now I have a problem. I have forked out for an inspection fee at the repair place and for a new one - so now I have two functioning PS4’s. I don’t know if the repair people were trying to rip me off. Maybe they couldn’t get it going - but how come it is now running? Intermittent fault?

I’m not sure I could return the new one under these circumstances (I have already set it up and started using it).

I could sell the old one on TM - then I’m out of pocket for the inspection fee and the difference between the cost of the new one and what I get for the old one.

Or I could sell the new one - then I’m still out of pocket.

I think the repair place has a bit to answer for here. Maybe I should have waited to get the old one back before buying the new one - but I relied on their advice which lined up with my problem experience with it.

Advice appreciated.