Apple Planning to Fight Proposed 'Right to Repair' Legislation

[niploteksi]

I'm all for right to repair...so Apple needs to fail on this part. No more soldering parts.

I foresee Apple soldering everything together with unobtanium and diamond casing if they lose. They will then charge the premium packaging to the consumers and provide manuals for how to laser torch through the high tech casing... making the repairs possible but on par with a small country's GDP. Thus still getting people to trash their products and buying new ones at an appropriate pace

 

[Sdtrent]

Tim Cook hates Apple customers more than he hates the Mac.

Haha that was a good one

 

[iMarc845]

Idiotic.

You already have the right to repair your device. You can do whatever you want with it. Run it over with a car, throw it in the microwave, whatever.

This is about trying to force Apple to sell things they don't want to sell. How can a government compel a company to sell something? Seems ridiculous to me.

Using phrasing like "right to repair" is disingenuous.

Without having the appropriate technical information available, I can neither "repair" nor "upgrade" my device. If Apple refuses to provide updates, then it should be mandatory that they make the Support Documentation available to those that want it. If they won't service my machine, then it costs them nothing to provide the information to those that will. (I'd even pay a reasonable charge to defer their "Archiving Costs." Although they already keep a bunch of useless garbage available.)

If Apple chooses not to make parts available to anyone, then I agree that they cannot be compelled to produce them or sell them. But if the parts are sold to Apple Authorized Service Centers (which have had it more and more difficult in recent years) then they should also be available to other service providers and the public. I should have the option to either use an AASC, or a non-authorized provider, or to do the work myself.

And for them to claim that a non-AASC will lead to batteries catching fire is nonsense. Using imitation parts because the OEM versions aren't purchasable is FAR more likely to lead to that scenario. I've had Apple Store Technicians ruin my MacBook while doing what should have been a simple repair... Apple Training does not guarantee excellence. Any Tech in any location has the potential to be either a screw-up or amazingly competent; having the product documentation and OEM parts can only lead to better, safer repairs and upgrades.

 

[dilbert99]

I don't think Apple forbade you from fixing your stuff yourself, that is if you can actually do it.

The proposed rule here is to force manufacturers, including Apple, to sell the components to anybody, not just their authorized service providers. I can understand any companies being wary of this. Imagine if random Chinese companies can get a hold off Apple's original parts easily.

Whats the problem with any random company getting original Apple parts?
[doublepost=1487146403][/doublepost]

What is stopping people from repairing their own products anyway? In addition, even if they did make their OEM parts available to buy, who would buy them/be able to afford them?

Service repair manuals being available also...

 

[Appleaker]

I really hope they don't stop this from happening...

 

[dilbert99]

they do embrace it, just at their shops...

Hope apple loses big time on this.

I'd have to disagree, they want to repair things by replacing a $1 part with a $1500 logic board
[doublepost=1487146782][/doublepost]

This is ludicrous. Apple has a right to sell you a device and limit OEM parts for "home repairability". Why are so many people opposed to technological progress? Can you imagine where we would be if POLITICIANS dictated what repairable meant?

Using adhesives increase the durability and make products smaller and more compact. Why would you think screws, shock mounts, and a ribbon cable are more efficient then directly connecting memory to a board? Everything will be printed at the molecular level someday. Will the same people crying on here be demanding that Apple keep components large enough to be manipulated by pliers and screw drivers?

Absurd. If you want a computer you can repair at home with Craftsman tools, buy a Dell from 1999. No one is stopping you from living in the past.

Why should I not be allowed to choose who repairs my own equipment? To do that I need the repairer to have access to service manuals. That is nothing to do with your strawman of component size and glue.
[doublepost=1487146935][/doublepost]

No, he nailed it. It's increasingly not possible for the home enthusiast to repair Apple products. I've replaced several iPhone displays in the past. But starting with the 7, I'm sure I don't want to sacrifice the water seal just to save a few bucks on repair, and as the products become even more tightly integrated, special tools or even disposability is likely. This is reality in 2017 and beyond, and no amount of legislation is going to bring us back to the time of the easily repairable plastic shell Handspring Treo, with screws showing and creaky, bulky cases. You can't want all the progress of the iPhone and want the past at the same time. And only government force could even consider such idiocy.

This is not about users repairing devices in your own home but about allowing any service center to repair your devices.
[doublepost=1487147083][/doublepost]

Idiotic.

You already have the right to repair your device. You can do whatever you want with it. Run it over with a car, throw it in the microwave, whatever.

This is about trying to force Apple to sell things they don't want to sell. How can a government compel a company to sell something? Seems ridiculous to me.

Using phrasing like "right to repair" is disingenuous.

How do you come to that conclusion? Don't you think service centers might need service manuals to repair things?

 

[TheMountainLife]

This is ludicrous. Apple has a right to sell you a device and limit OEM parts for "home repairability". Why are so many people opposed to technological progress? Can you imagine where we would be if POLITICIANS dictated what repairable meant?

Using adhesives increase the durability and make products smaller and more compact. Why would you think screws, shock mounts, and a ribbon cable are more efficient then directly connecting memory to a board? Everything will be printed at the molecular level someday. Will the same people crying on here be demanding that Apple keep components large enough to be manipulated by pliers and screw drivers?

Absurd. If you want a computer you can repair at home with Craftsman tools, buy a Dell from 1999. No one is stopping you from living in the past.

Since you missed the point of the article here think of it this way.

You purchase a Toyota. Throughout your ownership you aren't allowed to change bulbs/oil/tires or make repairs yourself or even use a 3rd party. You are forever locked to getting service done at Toyota. This means you lose your ability to find competitive pricing in service options, parts and locations to have it easily repaired. On the flip side it would maintain high value.

I find it interesting that when it comes to things like smart devices consumers are willing to accept so many compromises but in anything else they ensure there are options and alternate ways of doing things.

 

[Tim Cooks Evil Twin]

Well of course they are. Apple wants to monopolize the reparation of their devices so they can overcharge and make more money, rather than actually care for their customers.

Of course they are. Apple is as user hostile in this as they've ever been. There is no reason for Apple to be opposing this other than to make them the only place people will go to repair their Apple gear (which Apple will of course charge an arm and a leg for) and be yet another monopoly for them. I hope they lose this and lose this hard.

Every time I've taken an Apple product in for repair at an Apple Store it's been fixed for free, even when the device has been out of warranty. No other company has come close to this level of service. I hope they win.

 

[Cougarcat]

Every time I've taken an Apple product in for repair at an Apple Store it's been fixed for free, even when the device has been out of warranty. No other company has come close to this level of service. I hope they win.

Consider yourself lucky. My phone had a power issue and it needed replacing. They charged me the full price of the repair rather than the $129 they originally quoted because of the third party battery I had installed. (My battery had died five months' prior.)

 

[Col4bin]

I must agree, I hope Apple loses here. I have a $900 computer in my hands, I should be able to fix it if I want if it is out of Warranty.

But, but, but, the planned obsolescence!

 

[thasan]

Whats the problem with any random company getting original Apple parts?
[doublepost=1487146403][/doublepost]
Service repair manuals being available also...

buy a random battery, change it urself and let it explode in ur face and then cry like a baby and if u r in america, start a lawsuit? sorry but this is just one of many scenarios. how about touch id? what about casings? poor quality displays are already being used in many countries and i have seen how this can cripple/dead an apple device. u can argue its ur choice but how about the bad press apple gets from this if you originally thought "u got a genuine part?"

 

[Guy Clark]

Key components soldered to the Logic Board and thats where Apple have gotcha. They have done this by design to force users to pay premium prices for their repairs.

A quick rant. I have a customer who is dropping off one of the 27" iMacs that qualifies for the 3TB Hard Drive Replacement Program. A service which Apple are offering for free.
https://www.apple.com/uk/support/imac-harddrive-3tb/

Now this customer relies heavily on the use of his iMac and is currently running macOS Sierra from an external USB 3.0 Drive. Apple were prepared to take the customer's faulty iMac in for repair but was told it would take in excess of a week to return which was for him entirely unacceptable. Now heres the rub. Apple were prepared to lend him an iMac for the duration of the repair for £70 per day plus VAT which worked out at £672. This just goes to prove nothing from Apple is free. Its their equipment that is faulty therefore he should not be expected to pay.

Therefore I have taken on the job. Not for free I might add but the Total cost including iFixit iMac opening tool, plastic cards and adhesive strips ordered from iFixit Europe plus the replacement 3TB Seagate Hard Drive. With the charge for fitting the replacement Hard Drive the cost comes in a little under £250 and thats for a same day turnaround.

I am not Apple registered but I have repaired countless Macs (aside from those with soldered components). Admittedly this will be my first low profile iMac but with the correct iFixit tools, care and common sense how hard can it be?

UPDATE

Repair was successfully carried out in a little over 3 hours with a little help from iFixit. The slimline 27" iMac turned out to be nowhere as daunting as I had imagined. Result one satisfied customer.

 

[pentrix2]

Nope, you can buy a modern phone with replaceable parts. It might not be as thin as the current iPhone but thinness would be the only dividing factor between a modern phone and your 1999 example.
Printed on molecular level... yeah maybe one day but do you realize how far away from that we still are?
But of course, nobody is stopping you from believing in a hypothetical future as well as believing everything Apple tells you is right.

Yea I don't kno what world Miketool is living in or he drank too much kool aid. Hahaha

 

[Tim Cooks Evil Twin]

Consider yourself lucky. My phone had a power issue and it needed replacing. They charged me the full price of the repair rather than the $129 they originally quoted because of the third party battery I had installed. (My battery had died five months' prior.)

It has nothing to do with luck. It's great customer service. Apple has always been great about repairs for my devices. It sounds like they charged you full price because you chose to try and repair the iPhone on your own. That's your fault. Apple, and almost every other company I know of, doesn't cover their devices after any unauthorized repairs. Out of warranty battery replacements are only $79 now, which is extremely reasonable.

 

[Keane16]

This is ludicrous. Apple has a right to sell you a device and limit OEM parts for "home repairability". Why are so many people opposed to technological progress? Can you imagine where we would be if POLITICIANS dictated what repairable meant?

Using adhesives increase the durability and make products smaller and more compact. Why would you think screws, shock mounts, and a ribbon cable are more efficient then directly connecting memory to a board? Everything will be printed at the molecular level someday. Will the same people crying on here be demanding that Apple keep components large enough to be manipulated by pliers and screw drivers?

Absurd. If you want a computer you can repair at home with Craftsman tools, buy a Dell from 1999. No one is stopping you from living in the past.

Finally some sense, thank you.

One of my favourite things about the OG iPhone build quality was the fact it was a sealed unit without a user replaceable battery. It just felt so much more solid than any other phone I'd used up to that point, non of the usual creaking you got with Palm, Blackberry, Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices of that time.

Almost every other post wants Apple to lose... thick devices with internal space used up for repairabiility. No thanks. I want as much of that space as possible used by the battery and other useful parts.

 

[MikeLW]

I can see both sides. I believe the ultimate solution is for Apple to design their devices in a modular way so that repairs can be made easily, not down to the component level, necessarily, but being able to replace individual modules is a good thing, for consumers and for Apple's own repair shops.

No thank you. I don't want the government dictating how Apple must assemble my iPhone. Do you understand the incredibly complex and intricate design inside one of the devices? The precise position and size of each and every component impacts the size, weight, water resistance and battery life. You tie the hands of the enigineers and you limit innovation and create an inferior device. This is not a car or tractor.

 

[MattCalabrese]

Something to think about. Just imagine if the car industry was able to get away with what electronic companies, and especially apple, have been. That great local shop you get your car repaired at would be gone. Forget about the corner auto parts store. Need windshield wipers? Go to your dealer. Need a new battery? Go to your dealer. Live in an area where a dealer for the car you picked up used is 150 miles away? Sorry. There are plenty of towing services that can help you get to the dealer. And don't think for a second that the car industry isn't trying to make that a reality. They HATE that we can buy parts from third parties and repair things ourselves. So to all the negative commenters, just think about this the next time you are getting your car fixed someplace other than the dealer.

Electronics shouldn't be any different. If I have the skill to open my phone (I do) and make a repair (I have) then I should easily be able to with genuine parts. I should also be able to go to a local shop I trust and who I know and have them fix it or have people that know me be able to bring me their phone and have me fix it. Not everyone will try to fix their stuff but it would be awesome if we all had a choice of who and where our stuff gets fixed. If I am paying $800 for a phone, I damn well better be able to decide who and where it gets repaired if need be. We demand that on everything else, why should phones or other electronics be any different.

 

[Macs4u]

It has nothing to do with luck. It's great customer service. Apple has always been great about repairs for my devices. It sounds like they charged you full price because you chose to try and repair the iPhone on your own. That's your fault. Apple, and almost every other company I know of, doesn't cover their devices after any unauthorized repairs. Out of warranty battery replacements are only $79 now, which is extremely reasonable.

Great customer service that isn't consistent. I've had 2 arguments with apple over the years. A recalled 5s I took in and they refused to put the new battery in from the recall as it had a slight tiny little ding in the casing at the side. Their excuse is dropping it (which didn't happen) could have caused it. Only when I threatened to call the Daily Mail did the "manager" slat the phone on the side and give me a refurb one. Second time was a phone just out of warranty. Screen kept flickering. Phone had been nursed with a case and screen protector on. They wouldn't replace out of warranty. Their excuse was the phone must have been dropped despite not a single mark anywhere on the phone. Again the Daily Mail threat got me a replacement. Disgusting customer service both times.

 

[H2SO4]

No thank you. I don't want the government dictating how Apple must assemble my iPhone. Do you understand the incredibly complex and intricate design inside one of the devices? The precise position and size of each and every component impacts the size, weight, water resistance and battery life. You tie the hands of the enigineers and you limit innovation and create an inferior device. This is not a car or tractor.

Except when it suits you of course, (referencing your comment about car or tractor). This is a consumer rights issue. Also a car is pretty intricate too but they sell parts. I can go and buy a big end bearing for a BMW M5 if I like and fit it myself - up to me if I break it.

 

[Rogifan]

Who is forced to buy/use Apple products? Don't like it then buy a product that is user serviceable. Apple doesn't have a monopoly on the smartphone market and no one has to use iOS.

 

[CARNTON]

This is ludicrous. Apple has a right to sell you a device and limit OEM parts for "home repairability". Why are so many people opposed to technological progress? Can you imagine where we would be if POLITICIANS dictated what repairable meant?

Using adhesives increase the durability and make products smaller and more compact. Why would you think screws, shock mounts, and a ribbon cable are more efficient then directly connecting memory to a board? Everything will be printed at the molecular level someday. Will the same people crying on here be demanding that Apple keep components large enough to be manipulated by pliers and screw drivers?

Absurd. If you want a computer you can repair at home with Craftsman tools, buy a Dell from 1999. No one is stopping you from living in the past.

Sorry, Mr. Cool, but if I decide to buy a Mercedes and want to repair it myself after the warranty because it cost a fraction of what the dealership will charge or even take it to Joe Bob around the corner why shouldn't I be able to do what I want with my property. For all I care Apple can keep its OEM parts, I am sure that there is always a manufacturer out who is making that same part for a fraction of the price. This is not living in the past but the future. As gadgets get smaller and more complicated, there will always be the garage mechanic or entrepreneur who has the skills and technical know how to make the repair. Don't assume that just because it seem complicated to you, that it is the same for everyone else. I cannot keep tabs on the number of times that I have gone online to look up some repair information on some technical that was outside my field of study and was able to make a repair by just following a list of simple directions and common sense.

 

[maflynn]

Wow, so much for Apple being consumer friendly

 

[H2SO4]

Who is forced to buy/use Apple products? Don't like it then buy a product that is user serviceable. Apple doesn't have a monopoly on the smartphone market and no one has to use iOS.

You ain’t forced to buy any products at all. You weren't forced to use Internet Explorer either but that was a problem wasn't it?
Apple monopolises the money in the smartphone market which puts them in an advantageous position due to buying power. It ain’t just about numbers of units sold, the govt are looking at what’s best for the consumer.

 

[MikeLW]

Something to think about. Just imagine if the car industry was able to get away with what electronic companies, and especially apple, have been.

So to all the negative commenters, just think about this the next time you are getting your car fixed someplace other than the dealer.

Electronics shouldn't be any different. If I have the skill to open my phone (I do) and make a repair (I have) then I should easily be able to with genuine parts.

I don't accept the comparison. Should intel have to redesign their chips so you can repair them if they fail? Should Intel be prohibited from putting the video controller on the motherboard because you can't separately replace them? I don't want innovation stifled.

There's a big, practical difference in Car or a Refrigerator vs a smart phone. You can make a part in an appliance a little bigger and no one may notice, but start changing what's inside your phone to meet some arbitrary regulation and you have a very different device. Please keep the government out of my phone innards - I like it just the way it is and the bureaucracy isn't going to make it better. BTW, The car dealers won't sell you OEM chips so you can repair the motherboard of the entertainment system controller...they'll just sell you the new controller.

And thanks for the reminder... I need to get to the car dealer so they can fix the stuff some smaller shop screwed up.

 

[H2SO4]

buy a random battery, change it urself and let it explode in ur face and then cry like a baby and if u r in america, start a lawsuit? sorry but this is just one of many scenarios. how about touch id? what about casings? poor quality displays are already being used in many countries and i have seen how this can cripple/dead an apple device. u can argue its ur choice but how about the bad press apple gets from this if you originally thought "u got a genuine part?"

No different from the car industry, they seem to survive with the ‘bad press’. Buy a random tyre/brake pad/battery/etc. etc. ……….