The quality of a company’s repair service and warranty were top criteria for retailers for fewer than 10 percent of respondents. But many scorned customers don’t hesitate to post their fury on the Internet. Adding to the challenge of competent problem diagnosis is that appliances are growing more complicated, with more electronic controls and, on the way, device-to-device communication and remote user control. Still, built into the price of any appliance is the cost to support that product over its expected working life. Check our Ratings (available to subscribers) to see how retailers and manufacturers score for service and support. Here are other tips to consider:

Do your homework. Before you contact the company for repairs, read the manual’s troubleshooting section and also check the manufacturer’s or retailer’s Web site for frequently asked questions (FAQs) and other guidance.

Web sites such as apwagner.com, easyapplianceparts.com, and repairclinic.com offer advice as well as parts if you’re handy enough to tackle a repair, you understand the risks, and the product is beyond the warranty. (Unauthorized repairs void many warranties.) At the very least, learning what isn’t the problem can shorten a call to tech support.

Consider the causes. Since some appliance breakdowns come gradually and are due to maintenance, consider that a simple fix such as replacing the filter in a refrigerator’s water dispenser can save a phone call. Sudden breakdowns are more likely due to part failure, but detailing exactly what the product was doing prior to the breakdown, such as broiling salmon fillets in your range, can speed a technician’s diagnosis.

Keep your cool. Dealing with a faceless company over several phone calls can be frustrating, and it may be the best reason some survey respondents are willing to pay more for appliances bought at a local, independent company.

Either way, recognizing that the technician with whom you’re speaking didn’t build your faulty product, and behaving accordingly, can go a long way.