Have you ever gotten worried / frustrated with the seeming “dispose once malfunctioning” trend for electric appliances and electronic gadgets? Are appliances and gadgets really supposed to be discarded once they start malfunctioning?

One of the more irritating recent trends in electronic gadgets I've noted is the move towards non-user-replaceable batteries — mostly in cellphones and laptops. Manufacturers assume (or hope) that the installed battery will provide a decent / functional user experience, at least until the next model is released (which they again assume or hope will be purchased to replace the aging gadget). But why should we stop using a gadget if it is still functional and meets all of our current needs? Isn't there a way for us to keep using our functional gadgets, and just repair or replace the parts that are failing / breaking down?

In many ways, this is akin to forced obsolescence (although some people in the industry prefer using the term “Planned Obsolescence”), wherein a user is more or less obligated to change / replace gadgets, according to an internal replacement / upgrade plan and timetable defined by the gadget manufacturer.

One of the more irritating recent trends in electronic gadgets I’ve noted is the move towards non-user-replaceable batteries. Once the battery starts draining quickly / charging improperly / failing to keep a charge, the usefulness of that device goes down the drain.

• User does nothing and tolerates the ever-degrading performance of the gadget
• User purchases a new gadget to replace the old degraded gadget (and then starts the cycle anew)
• User checks if the manufacturer has a battery replacement service, and if they do, brings the device to an authorized service provider for a pricey battery change (which, hopefully, will not result in any damage to the device)
• User looks for a gray market battery replacement service provider, and takes their chances having their battery replaced there (while most probably invalidating whatever warranty they have on the device)

Note that this issue could be easily addressed by simply making batteries user-replaceable — like they were before.

This “dispose once malfunctioning” trend also has the effect of needlessly increasing electrical appliance and electronic gadget waste, which just worsens the already overwhelming environmental waste management problems we are facing.

It seems like other people (and countries, as well) have also been struggling with this worrying trend and have decided to establish pertinent “RIGHT TO REPAIR” regulations, to provide gadget and appliance manufacturers with enforceable guidelines regarding gadget and appliance repairs — with the aim to lengthen the usable life of these products and reduce e-waste.

Other Right to Repair Articles

• BBC News Article: 'Right to repair' law to come in this summer
• TECHREPUBLIC Article: Right to repair moves forward for your broken devices. But campaigners want to go much further
• Independent.CO.UK Article: NEW EU ‘RIGHT TO REPAIR’ LAWS REQUIRE TECHNOLOGY TO LAST FOR A DECADE

It seems like there is an separate EU repair movement as well, comprised of various non-government organizations and consumer groups.

Analysis

The introduction of these RIGHT TO REPAIR laws and regulations just seem to be a manifestation of the inevitable pushback by consumers and governments on the current business practice of “encouraging product replacement” according to a schedule defined by the product manufacturer.

Manufacturers should design products not only for utility, but for maintainability as well — especially if the product is expected to last several years. It is unreasonable for product manufacturers to expect / require users to replace gadgets and appliances once components or subsystems need repair.

Hopefully, these regulations will be successful in changing the current forced obsolescence trends, and help ensure that consumers have the right to repair their gadgets and appliances — so that they can get the full value of their purchase through a lengthy (and worry free) functional product life, while reducing their environmental impact at the same time by minimizing needless e-waste.

Related links on RIGHT TO REPAIR

Right to Repair: Where is this going? — Right to Repair laws will definitely have a huge impact on durable products and their operational life. Here are some opinions on these upcoming laws.
Steve WOZNIAK chimes in on Right to Repair — Steve Wozniak, Apple co-founder, shares his views on the Right-to-Repair movement in a very interesting Youtube video.