The new European directives aim to extend warranties, ensure accessibility to spare parts and promote the repairability of devices.
When discussing technology, especially the world of smartphones, we often find ourselves considering two types of users: those who prefer to regularly change their devices to keep up with new things, and those who opt for keep them for a longer periodtrying to prolong its duration as much as possible.
The latter category often finds itself facing problems that gradually become more serious as time passes, especially once the warranty has expiredwith the risk of having to face significant costs and inconveniences.
However, a new perspective from the European Union could change this dynamic.
Recently, the Council and the European Parliament reached a preliminary agreement regarding a directive promoting the right to repair.
The goal is clear: encourage the repair of damaged or defective products rather than their replacement.
After the initial approval last November, we are now approaching the definition of a text that seems to be almost definitive.
More guarantee for those who repair
Currently the European Union already provides a two-year guarantee on products.
The new directive aims to extend this period to three years, but only in certain circumstances.
Consumers will be given the choice between repair and replacement, provided the product is still under warranty: the provision will require sellers to extend the latter by an additional calendar year in case the product has been repaired.
In addition to this, the legislation will require manufacturers to provide detailed information on available spare parts on their websites, making them accessible to independent repairers at prices that are fair to consumers.
Additionally, the EU will ensure that Android device manufacturers and others do not use second-hand or 3D-printed replacement parts.
The agreement also ensures that repairs are carried out within a reasonable time and at a reasonable price. Furthermore, the new legislation will introduce a standardized repair information form, which will be used by both repairers and consumers at no additional cost. However, repairers may charge a premium for diagnostic services on devices.
To run for cover
The agreement reached is certainly positive, especially considering that currently the main obstacle to repairs is represented by the difficulty in finding and accessing spare parts, often sold at disproportionate prices compared to the cost of the new product.
In recent years, the European Union has significantly streamlined the experience of owning smartphones: people no longer have to worry about problems with their devices, knowing that they can be repaired more easily than in the past.
However, some consumers may not be thrilled with some aspects of the new legislation.
For example, those who opt for the repair of a product still under warranty will receive an additional 12 months of coverage, but these will not be added to those already existing; instead, they will start from the date of the repair.
Accordingly, the warranty period will expire at the end of the twelfth month after the repair.
We wonder whether this extension will be sufficient to convince consumers to prefer repairing rather than replacing a defective product, especially if we do without considering the environmental aspect, which should be the focus of the issue.
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