The Right To Repair
Apple has been accused of many things over the years, including allegations of them restricting device repairs and overpricing; they strive to maintain a monopoly on device repair and as a result it's fueled a movement of online repair communities who are fighting back for the right to repair.
Various Youtube channels and different forums have been spreading repair information so that people can repair their own items.
As well, there has been a growing demand for cheaper, third party repair services, even though those "unauthorized services" have been sued by Apple in the past. Often, people can save themselves hundreds of dollars on the repair by doing it themselves or going with a third party service.
The monopoly on repair that Apple holds can easily discourage people from repairing their broken device.
Right to repair advocates have continued to spread awareness and support for legislation around the country, which includes demands for companies to disclose repair information as well as replacement parts etc.
The government helped to create the problem and now they want to be a part of the solution.
However, Apple has insisted that people could hurt themselves by trying to repair their own device; they've reportedly continued to fight back against legislation proposing any such changes.
Those behind the push for repair freedom want just that, the freedom to repair on their own. Youtube channels that share such information have been helping to significantly disrupt the dynamic and shift the power back to the consumer. So far, at least 20 states have introduced some form of right to repair legislation.
Apple has been lobbying against right to repair legislation in New York, Nebraska, California, and other areas. Aside from concerns for safety they also warn that giving out this information so that people can do their own repairs will establish a Mecca for hackers.
Despite their efforts to convince people that they don't need to be able to fix their own things, the pressure for that repair freedom continues.
It's not just against Apple either, it's against other companies too such as Microsoft, John Deere, and others.
Pics:
pixabay
But they can make so much more by selling us another new phone. Why repair anything when we can just dispose of the old one and get the shiny new one?
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Well, truthfully, you don't own your Apple phones.
There are a lot of people ahead of you with more rights to your phone, that you paid for, than you.
Any one of these can turn your phone into a brick.
Any one of these can use your phone against you.
And you have no way to stop it.
So, "right to repair"? You don't even own it, what gives you the right to repair it? However, they will yield on the "right to repair" to avoid exposing that it isn't your phone.
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STOPI think for a long time things have started to be made to break down after a few years.
It's not just Apple. Seems like lots of companies make products that are designed with obsolescence in mind, or in such a way that it's impractical, or impossible to maintain and repair.
Those are things I look for in a product. Can I fix it, and is it needlessly disposable?
Well made, serviceable products always catch my eye. Shame there aren't more of them. I wish that would become a trend again.
I go looking for a good second hand item if I can first before going to the store, chances are you'll find much better quality!
It is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it is hard to argue that manufacturers don't build obsolescence into their designs as part of a business strategy. We see this particularly with automobiles. There is no financial reward to build a car that will last 15 years. The design specs focus on a 5 year lifespan, because this coincides with the financing period most people take on a car. This not only serves the manufacturers to sell more products, but it serves the banks to continuously generate returns on their capital.
The problem, however, is that when it comes to technology products there is a natural obsolescence if the product line is subject to innovation. Owning a really solid and well made Palm Pilot would be laughable given the advances in mobile phones and in retrospect if you paid 3x as much for the Palm Pilot, only to find it is obsolete then it would not be a wise financial strategy.
So yes, I agree that if you buy something you should have the right to do with it what you want. Repair, resell, etc. But to force the consumer to pay 3x as much because you are going to build things that will go naturally out of date with the highest quality may be putting effort in the wrong place.
@beunconstrained, Yea! I understand. That's why I said NEEDLESSLY disposable. You wouldn't want reusable toilet paper, for example (haha), and some things, like electronics, by nature have a shelf life of sorts.
When we get into things like electronics, though, there's a grey area. Sometimes, even though tech will quickly advance, there are cases where it doesn't make sense to upgrade every couple years.
The U.S. Navy is one example (not that I'm a fan). They still use Windows XP! Here is an article about it. This type of situation could just as easily apply to a large company. So some consumers NEED it to be at least somewhat serviceable for an extended period of time.
As for individuals, some people get familiar with what they have, and don't care to have the latest tech. I have personally known people that make $70k + a year that are still walking around with flip phones. It's not that they can't afford it, they just don't feel like they need anything more, and don't care to spend the time learning anything new.
I guess my point is, people like options, and there is some demand out there for such products.
As for other industries, I don't know how true it is. I think they only believe that designed obsolescence is going to sell more products. Look at the firearm industry! Simplicity, durability, and quality are consistently on the rise, yet they sell like crazy!
Nice one bro.