U.S. President Joe Biden to Direct FTC to Draft Right to Repair Rules

[goobot]

This is a cellphone or highly specialized electronic device, not a car. There is a world of difference between both.

Cars have tons of electronic in them now a days, it’s why they have a shortage due to the chip shortage.

 

[jonblatho]

What about “Fake replacement parts start causing fires and no one can tell which products have been repaired and which haven’t, so airlines don’t allow Apple products onboard”?

You realize third-party Apple product batteries are already a thing, right?

 

[jk73]

Because Samsung doesn't offer consumers Apple parts?

You're suggesting consumers switch from Apple to Samsung just to get parts? Like if we used this logic to everything why push for better health care in country x if country y that borders it offers better health care already? - Why make auto maker X make their cars safer when auto maker Y already has the best safety rating.

Why make clean drinking water come out of our taps if we can just buy bottled at the store?

When the real question should be, why are we letting companies create a culture of disposability become the norm when we could just tweak laws to force them to make available replacement parts to whomever wishes to purchase them.

At current I know some repair stores are having to buy already assembled phones and computers just to harvest the parts for repairs. Why should this be necessary? - Just let them buy the parts, Apple already sells entire computers to anyone with money, why not do the same with the individual components so we and repair shops can easily make repairs ourselves.

You answered your own questions. If Apple is a bad actor, the solution is to give your money to other companies.

 

[ouimetnick]

I see this "righttorepair.org" and looking at the things they and followers are harping about should be interesting....not being negative here, but, There are limits to the possibility of reparability, parts, liability, insurance, PR reputation and cost affectivity for manufacturers. Also, it amazes me that in some of the tech areas that "tech people" don't get about "technology"

There are people complaining that the manufacturer no longer makes parts for a 15 year old car.....I mean really? There gets to a point where they just can't financially justify a production run of specific parts that may only sell 10. Or why does the radio from a 2008 car not fit into a 2019 of the same model.

You can still easily get parts for a 15 year old car. Some parts may be aftermarket, some may be new, some might be pulled from a wrecked vehicle.

 

[jav6454]

Cars have tons of electronic in them now a days, it’s why they have a shortage due to the chip shortage.

Which is why certain components of a car are usually not found outside OEM parts. Now try finding an iPhone's mainboard as non-OEM.

 

[jk73]

You realize third-party Apple product batteries are already a thing, right?

Then why is new legislation needed?

 

[Stewie]

And a la Apple

FAA Bans Recalled Apple Macbook Pros From Planes Over Battery-Fire Risk

The FAA warns travelers about the dangers of bringing recalled Apple Macbook Pro computers on an airplane. Consumer Reports tells you how to stay safe, when traveling or at home.

www.consumerreports.org

Apple recalls 432,000 MacBook Pro laptops for fire and burn risks

Batteries in the 15-inch laptop computers can overheat, Apple reports, and should be returned for free repairs

www.cbsnews.com

How many after-market battery recalls have you seen?

 

[GoodWheaties]

So, I took my wife's old iPhone in for a repair. Broken screen and a battery, very simple. Didn't go to the Apple shop, but to a cellphone repair shop in a mall. "Fix It Here" or something like that. While I was there several people came in with screen repairs. Ok, come back in two days. A couple of days later the "new" battery expanded, trashing the phone. We aren't even talking about maintaining the same level of waterproof protection that you would get from an Apple Store repair. The phone was sitting in a drawer as a backup. This was plain and simple shoddy repair job by an independent repair company. So, I would be opposed to the new FTC rules on right to repair. Making the warranty longer, that's a terrific idea, but that's not the real tradeoff. The real tradeoff is your new phones, constrained to be easy to repair by the small person who has easily just started his own repair shop (like there's no other way to create value?), are just not going to be as good as they could be.

The expanding battery problem would be much less prevalent if we could actually buy an OEM battery for our iPhones.

 

[zorinlynx]

What about “Fake replacement parts start causing fires and no one can tell which products have been repaired and which haven’t, so airlines don’t allow Apple products onboard”?

This can happen with any company and any device that uses a battery, already. Also, people have been replacing batteries in iPhones with third party versions for over a decade and this hasn't become a problem.

 

[jonblatho]

Then why is new legislation needed?

Because there’s no reason genuine Apple batteries shouldn’t be offered for those willing to install them.

 

[Khedron]

This is a cellphone or highly specialized electronic device, not a car. There is a world of difference between both.

Exactly. I’d never repair my car myself in case it put the lives of myself or my family at risk. I’ve repaired my iPhone screens and batteries myself though knowing worst case I break it and have to buy a new phone.

 

[jk73]

Because there’s no reason genuine Apple batteries shouldn’t be offered for those willing to install them.

There are quite a few reasons. Just not any that you like.

 

[Quu]

You answered your own questions. If Apple is a bad actor, the solution is to give your money to other companies.

No, the solution is to bring into law to force ALL companies to provide replacement parts. Not just Apple but car manufacturers, appliance makers (washing machines, fridges etc).

Apple is not unique, far from it.

 

[jonblatho]

There are quite a few reasons. Just not any that you like.

Sure, Apple’s Services revenue. That’s about it. That number does not impact my daily life, but being able to obtain a battery, install it myself, and save $30 does impact my life.

 

[ouimetnick]

What about “Fake replacement parts start causing fires and no one can tell which products have been repaired and which haven’t, so airlines don’t allow Apple products onboard”?

We already have “fake replacement parts” I can buy an aftermarket screen or battery RIGHT NOW for any iPhone. If Apple would sell me a genuine battery or genuine screen, I’d much rather install that part instead.

 

[JPack]

So, I took my wife's old iPhone in for a repair. Broken screen and a battery, very simple. Didn't go to the Apple shop, but to a cellphone repair shop in a mall. "Fix It Here" or something like that. While I was there several people came in with screen repairs. Ok, come back in two days. A couple of days later the "new" battery expanded, trashing the phone. We aren't even talking about maintaining the same level of waterproof protection that you would get from an Apple Store repair. The phone was sitting in a drawer as a backup. This was plain and simple shoddy repair job by an independent repair company. So, I would be opposed to the new FTC rules on right to repair. Making the warranty longer, that's a terrific idea, but that's not the real tradeoff. The real tradeoff is your new phones, constrained to be easy to repair by the small person who has easily just started his own repair shop (like there's no other way to create value?), are just not going to be as good as they could be.

RTR would have allowed that repair shop to order an Apple original battery along with an OEM display seal. You would have a choice. Right now, you don't and were forced to settle for a crappy part.

Not sure I understand your logic.

 

[jav6454]

We already have “fake replacement parts” I can buy an aftermarket screen or battery RIGHT NOW for any iPhone. If Apple would sell me a genuine battery or genuine screen, I’d much rather install that part instead.

Even with OEM parts available, people always go cheapest route possible when it comes to repair. It's not usual for your average user to request OEM part only. They usually shop around for the cheapest solution.

 

[sw1tcher]

This is a cellphone or highly specialized electronic device, not a car. There is a world of difference between both.

A cellphone shouldn't require an OEM battery.

Then again, even if an OEM battery is used, you'll still get a warning message which is B.S.

Apple explains why iPhones now show an ominous warning after “unauthorized” battery replacements

The company claims it’s all about keeping customers safe

www.theverge.com

Responding to criticism that it's trying to steer consumers toward more expensive battery replacements, Apple today claimed that the “important battery message” added to iOS is there in the name of customer safety. It was recently discovered that when an iPhone’s battery is swapped out by a third-party repair shop that isn't one of Apple's authorized partners, the device’s battery health menu will show an ominous warning about being “unable to verify this iPhone has a genuine iPhone battery.”

This can happen even if a genuine Apple battery is used; the warning stems from a micro-controller that only authorized technicians can properly configure. If iOS doesn’t detect the right micro-controller, it hides the usual battery health stats and displays the warning.



I've replaced the battery on old iPods and iphones with 3rd party batteries. No problems. None.

 

[jonblatho]

We already have “fake replacement parts” I can buy an aftermarket screen or battery RIGHT NOW for any iPhone. If Apple would sell me a genuine battery or genuine screen, I’d much rather install that part instead.

Yep. Apple could even make a profit on selling these genuine parts to those willing to install them, for those staying up at night worried about Apple’s ability to profit on aftermarket repairs.

 

[Analog Kid]

This is why more education regarding right to repair is needed. Above is the average person’s reasonable assumptions. This video is the reality.

Not sure who that guy is, but he looks like a genius in the process of presenting rational, well reasoned arguments...

 

[mikethemartian]

If right to repair laws start going through Tim Cook will become the new Iron Eyes Cody.

 

[GermanSuplex]

I get nervous anytime I see Washington involved in tech, because many of the members have no idea how any of it works. I'm not against the legislation in principle, I just hope they don't have a bunch of partisan hacks masquerading as experts chiming in on how things should work. We need neutral third-parties, if such a thing even exists anymore. I don't want a bunch of people in there pro-Apple because of their social stances or anti-Facebook and Twitter because they removed Lardo from their platforms. Such legislation should be carefully drafted so we don't have to revisit it in six months.

 

[Psychicbob]

I guess it’s like cars. Use a non-franchised dealer whilst in the warranty period, and you void the warranty. It’s up to the customer what they do. Do they want to take the risk? Having said that, even non-franchise dealers have certifications that they have to attain.

 

[mngdew]

I'm pretty sure he's going to take a magnifying glass to the fine print and find the bazillion exceptions that will make it worthless.

He already has

 

[Stevez67]

RTR would have allowed that repair shop to order an Apple original battery along with an OEM display seal. You would have a choice. Right now, you don't and were forced to settle for a crappy part.

Not sure I understand your logic.

Not likely. Fixit shops specialize in lower-cost repair bills and the higher cost of OEM parts eats into that advantage.