EU Parliament to vote on new 'right to repair' consumer rules

RTÉ News ^ | Tuesday, 21 Nov 2023 00:01 | Tommy Meskill

[Olog-hai]

New rules to make it easier for consumers to request repairs for goods will be voted on by the European Parliament.

The legislation seeks to introduce a “right to repair”, in order to reduce unnecessary waste.

It will require producers and sellers of goods to prioritize the repair of an item during its guarantee period, when it is cheaper or equal to the cost of replacement.

After that time, consumers will also still have a right to request the repair of certain products. However, this does not extend to items like cars or batteries.

Items such as washing machines, vacuum cleaners, smartphones and bicycles are included in the draft legislation.

The initiative is all part of helping the EU achieve its Green Deal policy agenda. However, some MEPs argue that it could have been more ambitious. …

[BobL]

“It will require producers and sellers of goods to prioritize the repair of an item during its guarantee period, when it is cheaper or equal to the cost of replacement.”

Effectively, a new tax, should have expected as much from the EU.

I was hoping it was related to the way manufacturers lock-down some of their products to prevent others, including owners, from repairing them - John Deere is NOTORIOUS for that, although it sounds like they’re finally being dealt with.

[Dr. Franklin]

We live in a throw away world. Things aren’t built to last or be repaired. This law misses that fact.

[Reverend Wright]

“However, this does not extend to items like cars...”

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That is the one for an ordinary person which really matters.

Who tries to repair a planned obsolescence and even no longer supported product like a phone ?

[T.B. Yoits]

Who tries to repair a planned obsolescence and even no longer supported product like a phone?

The issue is not for planned obsolescence items but for those items that the manufacturer claims only they can repair. If only the manufacturer can repair it, then you really don't own it and are chained into a long-term service contract with them whether you like it or not.

[minnesota_bound]

I was thinking I needed a new battery for my Samsung Galaxy S10+. I looked up how to take it apart. The darn thing has a glass back and is glued together. The battery is also glued to the board inside.

I remember past phones you just pop the back off easily and replace the battery.

With phones I believe the gov’ts around the world want the battery glued in so you can be traced even if you turn “off” the phone.

[zeugma]

We live in a throw away world. Things aren’t built to last or be repaired. This law misses that fact. That's not the main point of this type of legislation. It is aimed at manufacturers like John Deere whose electronics make it almost impossible to do =any= work on yourself.

[Dr. Franklin]

That's not the main point of this type of legislation. It is aimed at manufacturers like John Deere whose electronics make it almost impossible to do =any= work on yourself.

When a car breaks, is the manufacturer obligated to tell the owner how to fix the problem? How to repair a product is usually considered proprietary corporate information. When a product isn't built to last and it breaks before the warranty expires, it is probably cheaper for the company to just replace it, rather than to actually repair what broke. Once the warranty expires, it sucks to be the owner, and usually, with consumer products, people will just buy a new one. In short, people get that for which they pay. Quality products that last usually aren't made in China, but that's what the Big Box stores sell, here and in Europe.

[zeugma]

Yes, but when the manufacturer purposely makes his product so that you can’t make changes to it for any reason, you kind of have to ask who exactly they think the ‘owner’ of the product is.