For non-electronics, I bought a huge umbrella online once. It was missing a thin metal rod that helped form a hinge in the umbrella. I told the company this, they sent me a new one and told me to throw the old one away.

Because throwing it away would be ridiculously wasteful, instead I went to Home Depot, bought a steel rod of appropriate diameter for $3, cut off a piece and used that.

So I got 2 umbrellas for the price of one.