Right to repair: Difference between revisions

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====Access to tools and parts====

Many manufacturers restrict access to parts and tools, making them only available to their own dealers’ repair shops. This practice locks independent shops out of repairs and enables manufacturers to set artificially high prices. Most manufacturers don’t publish the related instructions, already created for their internal use. Withholding repair documentation makes DIY repairs more difficult and more dangerous.<ref>https://www.repair.org/restricting-access</ref>

Many manufacturers restrict access to parts and tools, making them only available to their own dealers’ repair shops. This practice locks independent shops out of repairs and enables manufacturers to set artificially high prices. Most manufacturers don’t publish the related instructions, already created for their internal use. Withholding repair documentation makes DIY repairs more difficult and more dangerous.<ref>https://www.repair.org/restricting-access</ref> In some cases, repair isn't even an option, leaving consumers to purchase another device.

==== Blocking and locking third party parts ====

Some manufacturers are actively blocking third party parts from being used in repairs in different ways:<ref>https://www.repair.org/parts</ref>

* '''Persistent Alerts''': Discouraging third party parts by showing intrusive “unable to verify” warnings, making users feel like their device is compromised. A notable example are [[Apple]] practices with third party battery and screen replacements.<ref>https://support.apple.com/en-us/102658?cid=mc-ols-iphone_rear_system-article_ht212878-ios_ui-06012022</ref>

* '''Software Lockouts''': Replacing a part will result in an error message that can only be cleared with manufacturer's exclusive software. For example, this happens in [[John Deere]] tractors.

==== Pairing parts to the motherboard<ref name=":1">https://www.repair.org/</ref> ====

One way of deterring repairs is to match components to the motherboard of the device. Replacing one faulty part with another will not be welcomed by the central board. Replacing the faulty part is possible only if one finds a matched part for a new central board, increasing the cost and complexity of repair. [[Apple authorized service provider program|Apple's Self Repair initiative]] ties parts to a serial number of a device, preventing independent repair and end-of-life refurbishment in a significant way. Manufacturers generally can re-code those parts for new ones. Software pairing for that purpose is used by their own authorized repair facilities.

====Engineering parts to prevent replacements====

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In the case of parts that aren't used in other devices, this can cause repair prices to shoot up, since there isn't an incentive for repair shops to have this part readily available. Using phones as an example, Phone A and Phone B are both from the same manufacturer, and are physically indistinguishable. However, on the inside Phone A uses a completely different screen connection than Phone B, and Phone B has a completely different battery shape than Phone A. The parts are no longer interchangeable between the phones, and more parts need to be stocked as a result. As well, the repair shop takes a risk on keeping a stock of parts that may or may not sell because they are exclusive to a certain phone. This can also lead to people not wanting to have their phone repaired, since they will be without their phone for a week or two while the shop waits for a part to ship.

==== Designing unrepairable products<ref name=":1" /> ====

Manufacturers often make design choices that precludes or discourages repair. They have proprietary screw heads, so that they need special tools to use. Batteries are epoxied in with industrial-strength adhesive, so regular maintenance is more complicated than it should be. Pieces are soldered into clunky assemblies, so you must replace, e.g., an entire top case to replace a single key on a keyboard.

===Use of "warranty void if removed" stickers===

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Proprietary filetypes and protocols can make hardware useless if the company who made it closes their business without disclosing the software, protocol, or filetype to the public or surviving entity before doing so.

== Self-repair programs ==

==Self-repair programs==

In response to the passage of Right to Repair legislation,<ref name=":0" /> many companies have introduced their self-repair programs. many companies have introduced their own self-repair programs. While these programs are marketed as initiatives to expand repair options, they often come with significant limitations. Below is a list of such companies, along with their related articles:

* '''[[Samsung self-repair program restrictions]]'''

*'''[[Samsung self-repair program restrictions]]'''

* [[Apple authorized service provider program|'''Apple authorized service provider program''']]

*[[Apple authorized service provider program|'''Apple authorized service provider program''']]

* '''[[Google asserts the right to seize your phone during a repair]]'''

*'''[[Google asserts the right to seize your phone during a repair]]'''

==References==

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 ====Access to tools and parts====
-Many manufacturers restrict access to parts and tools, making them only available to their own dealers’ repair shops. This practice locks independent shops out of repairs and enables manufacturers to set artificially high prices. Most manufacturers don’t publish the related instructions, already created for their internal use. Withholding repair documentation makes DIY repairs more difficult and more dangerous.<ref>https://www.repair.org/restricting-access</ref>
+Many manufacturers restrict access to parts and tools, making them only available to their own dealers’ repair shops. This practice locks independent shops out of repairs and enables manufacturers to set artificially high prices. Most manufacturers don’t publish the related instructions, already created for their internal use. Withholding repair documentation makes DIY repairs more difficult and more dangerous.<ref>https://www.repair.org/restricting-access</ref> In some cases, repair isn't even an option, leaving consumers to purchase another device.
+==== Blocking and locking third party parts ====
+Some manufacturers are actively blocking third party parts from being used in repairs in different ways:<ref>https://www.repair.org/parts</ref>
+* '''Persistent Alerts''': Discouraging third party parts by showing intrusive “unable to verify” warnings, making users feel like their device is compromised. A notable example are [[Apple]] practices with third party battery and screen replacements.<ref>https://support.apple.com/en-us/102658?cid=mc-ols-iphone_rear_system-article_ht212878-ios_ui-06012022</ref>
+* '''Software Lockouts''': Replacing a part will result in an error message that can only be cleared with manufacturer's exclusive software. For example, this happens in [[John Deere]] tractors.
+==== Pairing parts to the motherboard<ref name=":1">https://www.repair.org/</ref> ====
+One way of deterring repairs is to match components to the motherboard of the device. Replacing one faulty part with another will not be welcomed by the central board. Replacing the faulty part is possible only if one finds a matched part for a new central board, increasing the cost and complexity of repair. [[Apple authorized service provider program|Apple's Self Repair initiative]] ties parts to a serial number of a device, preventing independent repair and end-of-life refurbishment in a significant way. Manufacturers generally can re-code those parts for new ones. Software pairing for that purpose is used by their own authorized repair facilities.
 ====Engineering parts to prevent replacements====
@@ Line 37: / Line 46: @@
 In the case of parts that aren't used in other devices, this can cause repair prices to shoot up, since there isn't an incentive for repair shops to have this part readily available. Using phones as an example, Phone A and Phone B are both from the same manufacturer, and are physically indistinguishable. However, on the inside Phone A uses a completely different screen connection than Phone B, and Phone B has a completely different battery shape than Phone A. The parts are no longer interchangeable between the phones, and more parts need to be stocked as a result. As well, the repair shop takes a risk on keeping a stock of parts that may or may not sell because they are exclusive to a certain phone. This can also lead to people not wanting to have their phone repaired, since they will be without their phone for a week or two while the shop waits for a part to ship.
+==== Designing unrepairable products<ref name=":1" /> ====
+Manufacturers often make design choices that precludes or discourages repair. They have proprietary screw heads, so that they need special tools to use. Batteries are epoxied in with industrial-strength adhesive, so regular maintenance is more complicated than it should be. Pieces are soldered into clunky assemblies, so you must replace, e.g., an entire top case to replace a single key on a keyboard.
 ===Use of "warranty void if removed" stickers===
@@ Line 57: / Line 69: @@
 Proprietary filetypes and protocols can make hardware useless if the company who made it closes their business without disclosing the software, protocol, or filetype to the public or surviving entity before doing so.
-== Self-repair programs ==
+==Self-repair programs==
 In response to the passage of Right to Repair legislation,<ref name=":0" /> many companies have introduced their self-repair programs. many companies have introduced their own self-repair programs. While these programs are marketed as initiatives to expand repair options, they often come with significant limitations. Below is a list of such companies, along with their related articles:<!-- Don't know if this is the best format to make the list -->
-* '''[[Samsung self-repair program restrictions]]'''
+*'''[[Samsung self-repair program restrictions]]'''
-* [[Apple authorized service provider program|'''Apple authorized service provider program''']]
+*[[Apple authorized service provider program|'''Apple authorized service provider program''']]
-* '''[[Google asserts the right to seize your phone during a repair]]'''
+*'''[[Google asserts the right to seize your phone during a repair]]'''
 ==References==