Empowering consumers and protecting sustainability
By Paul MacDonald, ServiceSource
The Right to Repair movement, a powerful force in recent years, has sparked vital discussions about consumer rights, environmental sustainability and corporate responsibility.
At its heart, this movement empowers individuals and independent repair shops by advocating for legislation that legally grants them access to the tools, parts and information necessary to fix devices, appliances and machinery.
See: An Introduction to Right to Repair
Time for a Change
Consumer electronics, appliance and agricultural equipment manufacturers have tightly controlled the repair process for decades. Their restrictions on parts, software and service manuals have forced consumers into costly, often proprietary repair services or worse: to replace products entirely. This practice, known as “planned obsolescence,” has been criticized for driving frequent replacements and contributing to excessive waste.
The Right to Repair movement is a beacon of hope, challenging this model and advocating for a more transparent and consumer-friendly approach. Stakeholders argue that consumers should be free to repair or take products to an independent technician without voiding warranties or facing exorbitant fees.
Legislative Progress
In the U.S., the Right to Repair movement has been gaining momentum with increasing consumer and policymaker support. Some of the most significant steps have been taken at the state level. Massachusetts was the first to pass a comprehensive Right to Repair law in 2012, focusing initially on the auto industry. This law required automakers to provide access to vehicle diagnostic and repair information, leveling the playing field for independent repair shops.
More recently, in 2021, President Biden signed an executive order encouraging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to create rules that would empower consumers to repair their own products. The FTC, a key player in this movement, has since expressed its commitment to enforcing right-to-repair policies across various industries, especially home appliances, consumer tech and agriculture.
New York was the trailblazer in the CE space, enacting the New York Digital Fair Repair Act, the first Right to Repair law in the U.S. for electronics products, in 2023. This year, Minnesota followed with its own Digital Fair Repair Act, while California’s Right to Repair Act covers home appliances as well. Similar bills are under consideration by legislatures in at least 22 additional states. The proposed laws aim to cover a wide range of products, from smartphones, laptops and major appliances to farm equipment and medical devices.
Environmental and Economic Impacts
The environmental benefits of the Right to Repair movement are significant. The current throwaway culture contributes heavily to electronic waste (e-waste), one of the fastest-growing waste streams globally. By enabling more straightforward repairs, fewer devices would end up in landfills, reducing the need for new resources to manufacture replacements. Repairing and extending the life of products is not only environmentally friendly but also more cost-effective for consumers.
Moreover, the movement can potentially create a thriving ecosystem for small businesses, particularly independent repair shops. By leveling the playing field, these businesses can offer competitive services that benefit local economies and give consumers more options.
Industry Pushback
Unsurprisingly, the Right to Repair movement has faced opposition from large corporations. Tech giants like Apple, trade groups like AHAM and manufacturers like John Deere have argued that opening up repair processes could lead to safety and security risks, potentially allowing unauthorized modifications that compromise user safety or data privacy. They also claim that product complexity requires specialized knowledge to perform safe repairs.
Where Does BrandSource Stand?
Following Repair.org board member Willie Cade’s first-time presentation before members on the Right to Repair movement at Convention 2024’s ServiceSource Town Hall, BrandSource’s National Service Committee formed a coalition of industry stakeholders to participate in the conversation. We hope to contribute to the legislation’s language to prevent any negative impacts on the appliance repair industry and to open communications with manufacturers responding to the new laws.
The National Service Committee wishes to better understand the ramifications of the new repair laws before taking a stance on them. While the legislation can help members that are not authorized service centers gain access to repair documentation and parts, it could also hurt those who are approved warranty providers. The committee members also have concerns about consumers abandoning a DIY repair and turning to a self-servicing dealer to clean up their mess.
While there are legitimate safety concerns, right-to-repair advocates believe that these arguments are often overstated and serve to protect corporate profits rather than consumers. They point out that other industries, such as the automotive sector, have successfully balanced consumer access with safety regulations.
Looking Ahead
The Right to Repair movement is about more than fixing broken gadgets; it is a broader fight for consumer rights, environmental sustainability and economic fairness. By shifting the power back into the hands of consumers and independent repair shops, the Right to Repair movement is fostering a more sustainable, equitable and repairable future for all … or is it disrupting the appliance repair industry?
Paul MacDonald, AVB’s senior ServiceSource lead, ran his own 38-tech service business and is a past president of the UASA. He currently operates The Expert Service Program, which helps servicers run their operations more efficiently and profitably. You can reach Paul at (647) 500-7785 or Paul.M.MacDonald@brandsource.com.
