British Right To Repair Law Comes Into Force Today, But Excludes Smartphones and Computers (9to5mac.com) 28
A British right to repair law comes into force today, requiring manufacturers to make spares available to both consumers and third-party repair companies. However, despite claiming to cover "televisions and other electronic displays," the law somehow excludes smartphones and laptops. 9to5Mac reports: The European Union introduced a right to repair law back in March, and the UK agreed prior to Brexit that it would introduce its own version. BBC News reports: "From Thursday, manufacturers will have to make spares available to consumers, with the aim of extending the lifespan of products by up to 10 years, it said [...] The right to repair rules are designed to tackle 'built-in obsolescence' where manufacturers deliberately build appliances to break down after a certain period to encourage consumers to buy new ones. Manufacturers will now be legally obliged to make spare parts available to consumers so appliances can be fixed."
Which? notes that the UK law ensures spares are available for either 7 or 10 years after the discontinuation of a product, but that it only covers four specific consumer product categories (plus some commercial/industrial ones). From the report: "Spare parts will have to be available within two years of an appliance going on sale, and up until either seven or 10 years after the product has been discontinued, depending on the part. Some parts will only be available to professional repairers, while others will be available to everyone, so you can fix it yourself. For now, the right to repair laws only cover: Dishwashers, Washing machines and washer-dryers, Refrigeration appliances, and Televisions and other electronic displays. They also cover non-consumer electronics, such as light sources, electric motors, refrigerators with a direct sales function (eg fridges in supermarkets, vending machines for cold drinks), power transformers and welding equipment. Cookers, hobs, tumble dryers, microwaves or tech such as laptops or smartphones aren't covered."
Which? notes that the UK law ensures spares are available for either 7 or 10 years after the discontinuation of a product, but that it only covers four specific consumer product categories (plus some commercial/industrial ones). From the report: "Spare parts will have to be available within two years of an appliance going on sale, and up until either seven or 10 years after the product has been discontinued, depending on the part. Some parts will only be available to professional repairers, while others will be available to everyone, so you can fix it yourself. For now, the right to repair laws only cover: Dishwashers, Washing machines and washer-dryers, Refrigeration appliances, and Televisions and other electronic displays. They also cover non-consumer electronics, such as light sources, electric motors, refrigerators with a direct sales function (eg fridges in supermarkets, vending machines for cold drinks), power transformers and welding equipment. Cookers, hobs, tumble dryers, microwaves or tech such as laptops or smartphones aren't covered."
Manufacturing (Score:2)
Does the UK even design smartphones and laptops, or are they at the mercy of USA, Korea and China?
Continental Europe has the Fairphone.
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Re: Manufacturing (Score:1)
Not yet.
Somebody has to start it ...
We managed that. Which is great.
Now the next step is to get a market big enough for small Chinese manufacturers to make parts for it.
I wonder how the original IBM PCs got so big without all those third party manufscturers of components? Were they technically that great?
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Does the UK even design smartphones and laptops, or are they at the mercy of USA, Korea and China?
Continental Europe has the Fairphone.
Yes. Well they used to when I was there because I was one of the ones designing the things.
I wouldn't be surprised if it's all gone pear shaped since then.
Well that's just great (Score:2)
My ZX-81 broke down this morning, what am I supposed to do know?
Re: (Score:2)
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.htm... [ebay.com]
Re:Well that's just great (Score:4, Funny)
Upgrade to a C64, my friend.
Smartphones should be main problem (Score:4, Insightful)
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This was my first thought here too. While I understand the reasons to make the exception namely preventing a situation where manufactures simply bypass the UK market for high-end smart phones and laptops.
It seems like it makes the entire effort rather pointless. Smart phones and portable computers are probably the most significant consumer investments worth protecting with a right to repair law for electronics. No there are not other things I am certain my fellow slashdoters can name with significant barrie
"But Excludes Smartphones and Computers " (Score:5, Insightful)
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I guess John Deere didn't fork over enough.
Re: "But Excludes Smartphones and Computers " (Score:1)
This is not the 1980s. :)
Anyone has a list of British politicians, where they worked before, where thy will work after, and who they work with during their time in the government?
I want to show this guy.
So it excludes everything. (Score:2)
I imagine you can use those exceptions to basically exempt anything. Your washing machine, car, hydraulic fruit pouch press, etc. are all just laptops/phones with special peripherals integrated.
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Re: So it excludes everything. (Score:1)
... not that it's possible... :)
You have the right to glue it in. Without special skills it *will* break during the process. But you have the right. Now wipe your ass with it. ;))
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My washing machine comes with a smartphone app to control it. I believe that makes my mobile device part of my washing machine.
Why exclude ANYTHING? (Score:4, Insightful)
What claimed justification did they give for excluding things?
That seems like saying "Yeah, I know this is wrong, so we are going to outlaw some of the time. We can't just go enforcing legal rights for EVERYTHING, how would we get our bribes?"
Isn't that discriminatory though? (Score:1)
All those other industries are being penalized. That's an unfair trade advantage surely?
But those things already have parts. (Score:5, Insightful)
But those things already have parts available. I've put a new door seal and a timer in my fridge this year, it's over 30 years old and the parts are readily available. Last year I replaced some parts on my 20+ year old dishwasher, and verified that pretty much everything else in it can be had with very little difficulty. My 10+ year old washing machine has never needed a repair, the matching dryer needed a belt, which I could have ordered for $8 but spent $18 to get it locally the day it broke because I had wet laundry.
10 year part availability is essentially meaningless for things that don't generally break in the first decade you own them and already typically have parts available for longer than that.
10 years is probably about right for phones, it's way too short for computers, a 10 year old computer is not really significantly slower than a brand new one for most people now. I'd suggest 20 years for computer parts, and at least 50 years for large appliances and cars.
No price rules either. (Score:3)
You want to replace the dead control board in your £180 dishwasher? That'll be £200 please.
Best Democracy Money Can Buy (Score:2)
So, the "cut-down-to-Sponsor-requirements" UK law comes in force and surprise, surprise, none of his shiny built-in-obsolescent pieces of plastic tat are covered.
Paid for. Delivered. British democracy at its best.
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What the fuck?
I have two Dyson vacuum cleaners. Both are trivial to dismantle and put back together, which makes repairing them exceedingly easy.
One of them is 22 years old, still working perfectly fine. The other has needed a replacement battery pack but I've been able to keep it otherwise in excellent condition.
Obsolescence my arse.
Re: Best Democracy Money Can Buy (Score:1)
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The real reason why Dyson sponsored BrExit was this. All his sour grapes about tests were posturing. His real problem was that none of his products are repairable.
Absolute bullshit. I own a Dyson, a DC41. I can buy from Dyson direct pretty much everything other than the main electric motor and the thing is put together with screws (philips and torx) and clips. Things like the extending flexible hose which are something that fails are available to buy and are held in place with a small plate requiring just two screws to undo to replace. A few days ago I bought some replacement roller brushes, Dyson were the cheapest supplier and it came in a box complete with not only
Things that already last longer and have parts (Score:1)
Things that already last longer and have parts are now regulated to have parts for a minimum period of time.
Things that don't even last 3 years (especially battery) are not getting the same treatment.
So looks like this law doesn't really change anything. It's just something that politicians can point to and say they are doing something.
Oh, great, you can fix your Mini (Score:2)
Oh, great.
It's legal to fix your Mini.
The OG. Not the BMW one.
But you always could.
The OG.
Not the BMW one.