That may no longer be the case if Apple really does start making cars
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Apple's Efforts to Block 'Right to Repair' Laws Highlighted in New Report
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As a Apple fanboy and stock owner, I hope Apple will lose this one big and Tesla next.
Apple is such a scummy company run by a sleazy ceo. Steve would be rolling over in his grave.
I might get hate for this, but sure lets say you have 3rd parties fix the device, but when the device still has issues even after being fixed or it takes a few repairs to get the issue corrected, it'll be Apple that would get attacked not the repair shop. It's Apple's name on the line. I have been to 3rd party repairs and i had nothing but issues after. I go to Apple, pay a bit more, but I get a working device. So I understand Apple's stance.
There have been a number of reports about Right to Repair legislation across the United States, and an equal number of reports about the lengths that Apple has gone to in order to block new repair bills from becoming law.
Bloomberg today shared a new Right to Repair piece that highlights how Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google have worked to put a stop to laws that would require the tech companies to provide genuine repair parts and device schematics to independent repair shops.
In 2021 alone, 27 states have considered Right to Repair bills, but more than half of those have already been voted down or dismissed. Lobbyists and trade groups representing major tech companies have fought hard against them, with Apple specifically arguing that such laws could lead to device damage or consumers harming themselves when attempting to repair their devices.
In Washington, for example, Washington House of Representatives Democrat Mia Gregerson sponsored a Right to Repair measure that was fought by Microsoft, Google, Amazon, along with lobbyists representing Apple. "If you really want to know who was naughty-it was Apple," said Gregerson. Lobbyists said Apple would endorse repair programs at local colleges if the bill was dropped.
Apple has opposed bills in other states that include Colorado and Nevada. Independent repair shop owner Justin Millman said that he has a difficult time sourcing iPad screens, which are repairs that school kids often need. He claims that Apple opposes repair programs to get people to buy new devices.
"That's why Apple doesn't answer my emails," he said. "For them, it's just dollars and cents. They don't think about the person on the other side of the iPad."
As it fights Right to Repair bills, Apple has attempted to provide alternatives. Apple has launched a worldwide Independent Repair Program that's designed to provide repair shops that are not Authorized Apple Service Providers with genuine parts, tools, repair manuals, and diagnostics for performing out-of-warranty repairs on Apple devices.
The program is free, but repair providers must have an Apple-certified technician perform the repairs, which is a barrier to entry for some shops like Millman's. Even with this program, some parts, like iPad displays, are not provided, leaving Apple and AASPs as the only repair option.
Article Link: Apple's Efforts to Block 'Right to Repair' Laws Highlighted in New Report
On the flip side these business are trying to run said business.
Last time I checked you can not run down to the local computer store or Radio Shack and get memory chips, capacitors, resistors, ribbon cables or logic circuits and use a soldering iron with a oscilloscope and replace a part on a logic board. So people want things smaller and portable and when that happens everything gets more difficult to repair.That may no longer be the case if Apple really does start making cars
Still have fond memories of replacing memory chips, processor chips and other things on the logic board.
Look who rushes to Apples defense as usual. Can Apple EVER do wrong in your view?
On second thought don't answer. We all know they can't
Why on earth do you think you don't have the right to modify your device, whether for repairs or for other reasons?
Right to Repair isn't about securing the existing rights you have to do whatever you want (e.g. first sale doctrine). It is about going beyond that and mandating manufacturers provide all equipment necessary to do repairs (OEM parts, schematics and repair procedures, installation tools), and to do so without requiring any certification.
"Right to Repair" was chosen as a manipulative term - it is the right to operate as professional repair technician without certification. This is not a right for end users - the vast majority of modern consumer device repairs are not things normal people are qualified to do or have the specialized equipment necessary to do.
For iPhones, R2R will likely become a moot point as Apple has already started requiring expensive tools as part of repairs (e.g. screen recalibration). Even Apple Stores are about a decade past having it be financially sound to do their own repairs - they swap out for a like unit on-site, or send it off to a dedicated repair facility. My repair facility is ~900 miles away.
Re: house burning down, not sure - but we did hear a lot of press where people blamed Apple because someone died of electrocution after using their phone in a bathroom connected to a cheap/unsound third party charger. It is also not super uncommon to hear of battery issues causing fires (hence the Samsung Note models being banned by all air travel years ago after their battery design defect, and current bans having device with rechargeable batteries in the cargo hold)
You can like the products and still feel ripped off. They’re not mutually exclusive.
Who is they? And skip German cars and buy a Tesla Model 3
No one tells you to repair anything. If you will have for example kidney failure i strongly advice you not to get the transplant. You were not design for the repair like that. You should just get replaced!
I'm still concerned about the QC of the Model 3. They = regulators that are pushing the right to repair laws.
While we buy Apple products because of the hardware/software capabilities, you were still screwed when your Apple Care expired with computers, it can get very expensive to deal with shops that want $200 to $400 just to evaluate your Mac. If you know the problem specifically it shouldn’t cost that much, to that end yeah for example computer fan making a bearing noise should be a cheap repair out of warranty but it’s not, plus you have very long time to get it turned around.
I am glad they finally offered extended AppleCare now. It also depend a lot on the particular Apple device how easily it is repairable so we don’t use my example as the norm.
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A) nope not open heart surgery, but a skill none the less. B) like any skill, some can do it some can't. Your generalization is a straw man argument. C) your comment about the person changing your oil tells me all I need to know about the content of your character.
As long as Apple continues to make products in Chinese factories or use components made in China, using Chinese as a derogatory term makes Apple look just as bad.
If the device is wet or the motherboard is damaged, it is impossible to perform a safe repair according to the regulations.
As a former Mac Genius and a Apple Certified Macintosh Technician, I fully support the rights for customers to repair their own devices. Apple really doesn’t spill the beans on how to actually repair broken devices - such as reflow a graphics card, replace an IC, or other “re-solder-able” repair. That would require schematics, and time. Instead, we were instructed to “swap out” parts.
“what’s it doing? No audio and a light out the headphone jack?”
“Why yes.”
“Ok that’s a _________________. It’s going to cost ______________.”
In the current Apple repair conversation, it’s a “Main Logic Board replacement. A MacBook replacement logic board costs $400 plus $85 for labor. Or $280 plus tax for a mail-in repair.” And what I don’t tell them is that they’re ending up with refurbished parts, from some other guys Mac that had a headphone jack or USB port that was busted, or worse. I don’t mention that we paid a third-party vendor to repair (for almost nothing) the board, and now you’re getting a logic board that had a much worse problem than what your computer has been brought in for. You’re also getting a board that someone else treated differently than you might’ve over the course of it’s life.
Apple has the option to and has in the past put the headphone jack on a separate I/O board. That’s a good strategy as well worn parts are easy to replace. We would have said “Thats an I/O board. It’s going to cost $40 plus $85 for labor.” Luckily these are all new parts at that price point usually.
What’s really best for consumers is just replace the Headphone jack. This is what right to repair advocates want the most - The schematics and know how to do board level repairs properly. It’s more complicated and requires more skill than Apple is willing to invest in or pay for in the context of the Genius Bar. If Apple released the knowledge of how to do board repairs, that would mean that a whole lot of customers who’re armed with the knowledge of what’s required to repair + the know how in doing it (but don’t want/feel comfortable doing it themselves) would still go to the Genius Bar for repair, and be disgusted Apple charges $500 for a $95 repair. They would expect Apple to perform board level repairs. Repair becomes too much of a expense for Apple to complete in store. The commitment to re-training Mac Genii would be too expensive. They would have to hire someone trained on board repair or lean heavily on the Depot for all service.
But the conversation would be great for consumers. “Desoldering and replacing the headphone jack. It’s $6 for the part and $85 for labor.” Nice thing is, you get your logic board. Not inheriting someone else’s problem that wasn’t fixed properly by a third-party vendor.
In the current situation, the status quo brings in the most money. It can scale up for every new Apple Store. It is the most wasteful in terms of resources, but not as capital intensive. Investors would wanna Apple to maintain the status quo. This is why regulation is required. I’m surprised that so many people stand with Apple on this. Why anyone would prefer repairs to be more wasteful and expensive is lost on me. I don’t know about you, but I find that I like to have knowledgeable people performing high quality board level repairs at reasonable prices. And that could happen with right to repair.
“what’s it doing? No audio and a light out the headphone jack?”
“Why yes.”
“Ok that’s a _________________. It’s going to cost ______________.”
In the current Apple repair conversation, it’s a “Main Logic Board replacement. A MacBook replacement logic board costs $400 plus $85 for labor. Or $280 plus tax for a mail-in repair.” And what I don’t tell them is that they’re ending up with refurbished parts, from some other guys Mac that had a headphone jack or USB port that was busted, or worse. I don’t mention that we paid a third-party vendor to repair (for almost nothing) the board, and now you’re getting a logic board that had a much worse problem than what your computer has been brought in for. You’re also getting a board that someone else treated differently than you might’ve over the course of it’s life.
Apple has the option to and has in the past put the headphone jack on a separate I/O board. That’s a good strategy as well worn parts are easy to replace. We would have said “Thats an I/O board. It’s going to cost $40 plus $85 for labor.” Luckily these are all new parts at that price point usually.
What’s really best for consumers is just replace the Headphone jack. This is what right to repair advocates want the most - The schematics and know how to do board level repairs properly. It’s more complicated and requires more skill than Apple is willing to invest in or pay for in the context of the Genius Bar. If Apple released the knowledge of how to do board repairs, that would mean that a whole lot of customers who’re armed with the knowledge of what’s required to repair + the know how in doing it (but don’t want/feel comfortable doing it themselves) would still go to the Genius Bar for repair, and be disgusted Apple charges $500 for a $95 repair. They would expect Apple to perform board level repairs. Repair becomes too much of a expense for Apple to complete in store. The commitment to re-training Mac Genii would be too expensive. They would have to hire someone trained on board repair or lean heavily on the Depot for all service.
But the conversation would be great for consumers. “Desoldering and replacing the headphone jack. It’s $6 for the part and $85 for labor.” Nice thing is, you get your logic board. Not inheriting someone else’s problem that wasn’t fixed properly by a third-party vendor.
In the current situation, the status quo brings in the most money. It can scale up for every new Apple Store. It is the most wasteful in terms of resources, but not as capital intensive. Investors would wanna Apple to maintain the status quo. This is why regulation is required. I’m surprised that so many people stand with Apple on this. Why anyone would prefer repairs to be more wasteful and expensive is lost on me. I don’t know about you, but I find that I like to have knowledgeable people performing high quality board level repairs at reasonable prices. And that could happen with right to repair.
Why should I? Do your own research, because even if I did it, you wouldn't believe me.
Edit:
Let me show you how it's done. It's simple:
what has Apple done for the environment at DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.duckduckgo.com
And just skip any pages pointing at Apple.com if you don't trust them
Right to repair does not imply doing so without requiring any certification.
Yes, I thought no example of a house burning down. Just another exaggeration.
AAPL's position is total BS !
AAPL now relies-upon Trade Ins to maintain iPhone Unit Sales.
If that weren't the case, they wouldn't care one-bit about who repairs what.
In other words, they ONLY care because 50% OR more of iPhones are traded-in to AAPL !
It is my personal opinion that AAPL should be required to offer a Service Manual to ALL End Users, much like Auto Manufacturers do !
AAPL now relies-upon Trade Ins to maintain iPhone Unit Sales.
If that weren't the case, they wouldn't care one-bit about who repairs what.
In other words, they ONLY care because 50% OR more of iPhones are traded-in to AAPL !
It is my personal opinion that AAPL should be required to offer a Service Manual to ALL End Users, much like Auto Manufacturers do !
I think all the bad press surrounding apple releasing software updates that purposefully nerfs a phone, and then refusing to replace the battery, but suggesting the person buy a new phone, is 100% the reason why at the very least, batteries need to be user serviceable. I don’t think that’s asking too much.
Don't think batteries will be user serviceable on most modern slim-line phones. The rest reads like a conspiracy theory...at least in my opinion.
Think International. You probably have an Apple Store or Authorized retailer around you but 9/10 the majority of iphones worlwide don't even have an Apple Store or Applecare + is not covered under their country, then what happens to your device? you are stuck with it because no one can fix it.
I get Apple's stance on why shady customers would literally pay third party retailers to fix an item and go back to apple and say it's defective but I can attest to the notion that not everyone has an Apple store or authorized retailer within miles of where they live and even then they only have one in their country so Iddk, a massive first world problem but still not everyone has the cash to fork and train their employees to get certified especially in some random off the wall shop outside the US for example