(not that we know where to repair it or how much it’d cost, we just throw it)
Edit : I can understand why taking two hours to repair something worth 20€ isn’t worth it though, e.g. a computer mouse, but even in such case we could standardize a minimum and have enterprises specialized in ensuring that spare parts are always available(, each costing a few euros).
Then instead of the longer task of repairing a circuit board, the consumer could easily swap it by h·er·im·self, or leave it to a pro who’d take less than 5mns.
(And the older circuit board would be sent for free and either repaired or stripped for parts)
(Transportation costs will be greatly reduced in the very near future with automation, but warehouses should exist less than 12h away)
That would be ideal, but is not the reality right now, and several things would have to change in order to get there.
As a person that repairs everything I own as a hobby (I would love it to be my job but sadly it pays much less), I can tell confidently the following:
The reason why repairing things nowadays tend to cost equal or more is due to manufacturers actively making products harder to repair.
Soldered parts instead of connectors, glued chassis, glass parts that are imposible to remove without breaking, spare parts that are hard to find, or outright impossible due to being proprietary, and a long list of etc…
Furthermore, manufacturers factor in unit turnover for subsidising unit prices.
Ex. They’d rather charge you 300 for a TV that will last 4 years than 500 than one that will last 10.
Why? Simple math and “Maximising shareholder value”.
300/4 = 75 500/10 = 50
You dont know it but everything you own is a subscription service provided by the manufacturing companies.
This is aggravated by a never ending chain of improvements, new models, new trends that keep you in the loop of consumption.
Why would I try to repair my 3 years old phone when I can buy this new shiny one?
They are getting richer by the minute while the rest of us is digging an early grave for ourselves, by polluting the world and consuming non renewable materials at a insane speed.
Not everything is bad though.
In Europe they introduced a “Right to repair” law, that force manufacturers ensure spare parts for at least 10 years and provide repair service at a reasonable price.
That’s a great measure that should incentivice companies to make products more repairabld!
Possible counterexample: My dishwasher. The drain pump is super easy to replace – unplug it, disconnect the hoses, and pop it off the little metal piece that supports its weight. It takes longer to bail out the water in the pan and wiggle it out from under the counter than it does to replace the faulty pump.
(At the same time, it’s a pretty crap model. We’ve had to replace that drain pump 3 times since 2019)
Granted some appliances are harder to replace and due to that are expected to last longer.
No the case for smaller ones that are full of plastic parts that are imposible to source replacements for.
I think 3D printing will help a lot with that.
True. Dishwasher is one thing, but IDK that I’d be able to swap out any parts on my coffee maker or immersion blender.