If you’ve ever replaced your smartphone because the screen was cracked or put a relatively new flat-screen TV out for trash pickup, you know how difficult it is to get consumer products repaired.
That’s changing. Legislation enacted or introduced in more than two dozen states requires manufacturers of everything from smartphones to farm equipment to make it easier for consumers to take damaged products to an independent repair shop — or fix the products themselves. Some state bills would provide “right to repair” protections for all consumer products, while others are limited to smartphones and laptops.
Aaron Perzanowski, a law professor at the University of Michigan and author of The Right to Repair: Reclaiming the Things We Own, says many of the products we buy are inextricably tied to the manufacturer, leading to what he calls the tethered economy. Forcing consumers to go back to the manufacturer to get their products repaired means “we’re not free of that relationship once we make a purchase and bring it home,” he says.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Opponents of right-to-repair legislation say it would jeopardize consumers’ safety and force manufacturers to share proprietary information. “Most consumer-technology products are composed of complex electronics, which require specialized training and sophisticated test instruments to repair safely,” Dusty Brighton, representing the industry-funded Repair Done Right Coalition, said in testimony at a Minnesota House Judiciary Committee hearing in February.
Despite those concerns, several states have moved forward with right-to-repair bills. In May, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed legislation that requires manufacturers of smartphones, laptops, appliances and other equipment to provide independent shops and consumers with the tools and instructions needed to fix their products. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed similar legislation in December. In April, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill that requires manufacturers to give farmers the tools, manuals and software they need to fix their tractors. Farmers who supported the bill said they were frequently forced to wait days for a manufacturer’s representative to repair their equipment, which hurt their profits.
California lawmakers are considering legislation that would require manufacturers of appliances and consumer electronics to make their repair manuals publicly available, sell parts to consumers, and provide consumers with the ability to open digital locks that prevent them from fixing their products. The legislation is significant because California is the nation’s most populous state and home to many large technology manufacturers.
Right-to-repair advocates say the cost of replacing damaged products costs consumers billions of dollars a year. A survey by U.S. PIRG, a consumer advocacy group, found that the average household spent $1,767 to buy electronic products in 2021, up 19% since 2019.
The right-to-repair movement is popular “because it’s common sense,” says Nathan Proctor, a senior director for U.S. PIRG. “People want to be able to fix stuff, and they’re sick of the excuses they get from manufacturers about why they can’t.”
Note: This item first appeared in Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine, a monthly, trustworthy source of advice and guidance. Subscribe to help you make more money and keep more of the money you make here.
Related Content
-
Best 529 Plans of 2024Check out the best 529 plans of 2024 and find the best plan for your child or grandchild’s college savings.
-
Harris vs Trump on Medicare Drug Price Negotiations: Fact CheckA fact check of what the Trump and Biden-Harris administrations did around Medicare drug price negotiations.
-
Farewell Paper I-Bonds: Savings Bonds Are Going Online-OnlyThe last remaining way to buy a paper savings bond in the U.S. (with your income tax refund) won't be available from January 2025. Tax filers will still be able to buy I-bonds online, however.
-
50 Years Ago, Women Won Equal Access to CreditUntil U.S. women won equal access to credit, they often couldn't buy a home or own a credit card without a male cosigner.
-
Why Financial Literacy Starts at Home and SchoolFinancial literacy is lower among women and young people. The right education in school can help level the playing field, but good money habits start at home.
-
Why You Should Expect a Lower Social Security COLA for 2025Avoid the COLA social security dip in 2025 with a Health Savings Account
-
High-Yield Bonds and Savings Ideas as The Fed Weighs a Rate CutAs the Federal Reserve mulls another rate cut, there is much to consider in order to maximize your gains.
-
Want to Quit? Check Your 401(k) Employer Match FirstHere are some factors to consider if you want to quick, but don't want to lose gains on retirement funds.
-
How to Make a Wedding Budget With Your FamilyTo avoid misunderstandings and sticker shock, it's worth sitting down and making a wedding budget with the whole family.
-
Is Leasing a Car Cheaper Than Buying? Know the CostsBuying a new car is far more expensive than it was just a few years ago, but as long as you lease, your car payments never end. Here's how to navigate the decision-making process.
