If you have gone through life without cracking your phone, spilling something on your laptop or dropping a device in a body of water of sorts, you are a rarity.
Most of us have had something go awry with an electronic and have figured it’s a quick fix. Next thing you know, you’re picking it apart for three hours and are 20 Google pages deep trying to find the solution.
The frustration boots in and you realize you’re forced to take it in. Then you either have to pay a questionable amount to get it fixed or swap out for a new device entirely.
Are things made to last?
In the early-to-mid 20th century, before commodity culture boomed, products from waffle irons to car engines were built to last as one-time purchases.
From the 1920s and 70s, products were made with durable materials, repairable designs, and a cultural mindset that valued longevity over replacing, upgrading and disposing.
However, with the rise of mass consumerism and big box stores in the 80s, companies began cashing in on the benefits of anti-repair design.
And people are getting fed up with being forced to pay extra for services, software and parts that are increasingly inaccessible.
For example, Apple has received a lot of backlash for preventing third-party repairs, denying part swapping, as well as removing and creating original (and often more costly) ports to upsell Apple products.
Here are 5 anti-repair tactics that companies use:
1. Refusing to sell spare parts
Manufacturers may restrict the type and range of spare parts readily available to customers. In turn, independent repair shops are limited in their services, which forces people to depend on corporate repair centers — and typically pay more in the end.
Specific components of Apple devices, like displays and batteries, are paired with a unique serial number. Replacing those parts with products outside of Apple can cause functionality problems, such as disabling Face ID and a weakened battery.
2. Lockouts
Some devices are programmed with software or hardware that prevents third-party repair shops from accessing diagnostic tools or conducting repairs.
Apple uses pentalobe screws that require a screwdriver not easily found. They are known to glue batteries in as well, making them more difficult to remove and likely to damage other parts in the process.
3. Contractual restrictions
Manufacturers may void warranties if a device is repaired by a business or facility outside of corporate authorized service centers.
4. Limited repair info
Apple is known for not providing repair manuals or schematics to customers upon purchasing devices.
This stunts the process of tackling it independently and, again, encourages reliance on corporate repairs versus third-party support.
5. Designed to fail
Unfortunately, it’s common for manufacturers to intentionally design products with short lifespans, frail parts and unreliable software. This prompts consumers to purchase more products sooner.
Apple has been accused of releasing software updates that older iPhones can’t handle, making the devices slower, quicker to die and utilize less storage space to the point of becoming unusable.
The anger around this triggered multiple Right to Repair movements in the US and other parts of the world. It fights for complete ownership of a product once purchased. The goal is to reshape pro-repair policies, guidelines, and regulations.
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