You and the Right to Repair
Corporations are working to take away your rights
A company makes a product.
You buy said product.
That product now belongs to you, you own it.
Right?
If some corporations have their way, no, you don't. We understand that corporations which produce a good for sale that they want to make money. As much as they can. They don't want to leave any money left on the table for anyone else but themselves, to do so would be irresponsible of them.
The aftermarket repair business for cars, farm equipment, electronics, or computers is a billion dollar market that is largely left to small and medium sized business to take care of the product you own when your warranty runs out. Unfortunately some major corporations are noticing all that repair money and want it for themselves. They like to couch it in PR with messages talking about complexity of systems and quality assurance of the repairs. The messages are all about looking out for the consumer, but all boils down to money that want in their accounts.
The choice you have on how your product is repaired is being challenged on three fronts.
- Pushing through legislation to make it illegal for a consumer to take their product to anyone but themselves or a "authorized" (who are required to pay to manufacturer) repair center.
- Manufacturing the product to a point where repair by anyone but the manufacturer is impossible. Using glue and making it impossible to open without breaking are common tactics..
- Making the parts to repair your product unavailable to all but the "authorized" (companies have to pay the manufacturer for the right to be listed as authorized) repair centers.
The RIGHT TO REPAIR movement is working to keep this all from happening. There is talk of action on the federal level to ensure the right to repair and legislation is currently making it's way through the governmental branches in 14 states. VICE.com is running some great articles that would be worth a read if you have the time to do so. Contact your congress person and let them know you want to the right to choose who you want repair your own personal property.
https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgqk38/the-right-to-repair-movement-is-poised-to-explode-in-2021
