Agruments against Right to Repair?

[GigabitXe]

I am working on an assignment for my speech class, and I have to write a persuasive speech. The topic I have chosen is the right to repair movement, and while I personally support this, for the purposes of the assignment I must argue for the other side. That means I have to write a speech persuading people NOT to support the right to repair movement. Do you have any arguments against right to repair? Please note that I am not trying to slack on my research. I just want to gather the personal opinions of other people to better understand my target audience.

[Fasauceome]

manufacturers are more capable of providing maintenance services in a very closed ecosystem. It's far simpler to have no chance of user interference, requiring more in depth repairs or potentially replacing more parts than otherwise needed (although this isn't always true, e.g. apple replacing a whole motherboard for a broken video cable)

[GigabitXe]

2 minutes ago, Fasauceome said:

manufacturers are more capable of providing maintenance services in a very closed ecosystem. It's far simpler to have no chance of user interference, requiring more in depth repairs or potentially replacing more parts than otherwise needed (although this isn't always true, e.g. apple replacing a whole motherboard for a broken video cable)

So you are basically saying that it is logistically easier for manufactures to make repairs, since there would be no chance of users messing things up?

[dizmo]

Wouldn't they have to provide the diagram for the device, thus making it easier to copy?

[Fasauceome]

1 minute ago, GigabitXe said:

So you are basically saying that it is logistically easier for manufactures to make repairs, since there would be no chance of users messing things up?

More or less. 

[amdorintel]

arguments against right to repair for whom?

the business ?

or the consumer ?

[TheGlenlivet]

In order to make a device "repairable" engineering shortcuts and sacrifices have to be made.

It's a little thin, I know, but it's something.

[Enderman]

Yeah schematics are intellectual property which manufacturers don't want to release, if it's public the competition can copy it easily.

Also yeah users can screw up repairs and then give more work to the manufacturer to fix it, or even blame it on them.

 

The amount of people capable of repairing advanced circuitry inside modern compact devices is also very low, like 0.0001% of the population.

A lot of legal trouble for little benefit.

[Eigenvektor]

- Less sales, because users able to repair their devices might keep them around longer, instead of buying new.

- Repairing devices past a certain age might not be worth it to a company, because buying new might be cheaper, but a user isn't going to value their time the same way

- Less money from repairs, if users can just do it on their own

- The need to provide more in depth information about devices that you might not want to have public

- Users f*** up the repair, resulting in an image loss for the company, even though it's not their fault

- Users hurting or even killing themselves because stuff inside a machine isn't user friendly but suddenly has to be or at least should be

[amdorintel]

Just now, Enderman said:

competition

china

[GigabitXe]

3 minutes ago, amdorintel said:

arguments against right to repair for whom?

the business ?

or the consumer ?

The consumer. Sorry I didn't mention that before. The speech will be targeted towards consumers to try and convince them to not support the movement.

[amdorintel]

1 minute ago, GigabitXe said:

The consumer. Sorry I didn't mention that before. The speech will be target towards consumers to try and convince them to not support the movement.

tesla

john deere

 

who else ?

those are the two that come to mind right away.

there are ways around it though, tesla fixers just buy scrapped cars, and people hack jd software

[Eigenvektor]

Just now, amdorintel said:

tesla

john deere

 

who else ?

those are the two that come to mind right away.

Apple

[amdorintel]

Just now, Eigenvektor said:

Apple

ya that came to mind right after i posted because i watched that ny laptop repair guy, whats his name?

[Eigenvektor]

2 minutes ago, GigabitXe said:

The consumer. Sorry I didn't mention that before. The speech will be target towards consumers to try and convince them to not support the movement.

That's difficult. Why would I, as a consumer, not want more rights? It's not like I'm forced to do repairs on my own from now on, but at least I have the option.

 

You could maybe make the argument that repairs and devices become more costly, because manufacturers now have to take steps to make devices user repairable. Plus they have to make their plans public, which requires additional work by lawyers yadayada to ensure no proprietary stuff is exposed etc.

[amdorintel]

Just now, Eigenvektor said:

forced

you have the choice to buy what you want to buy

[Eigenvektor]

2 minutes ago, amdorintel said:

ya that came to mind right after i posted because i watched that ny laptop repair guy, whats his name?

You're talking about Louis Rossman, I think

[Eigenvektor]

Just now, amdorintel said:

you have the choice to buy what you want to buy

I think you misunderstood my argument. I'm saying consumers aren't forced to repair their devices, so having the right to do it isn't a negative.

[GigabitXe]

1 minute ago, Eigenvektor said:

That's difficult. Why would I, as a consumer, not want more rights? It's not like I'm forced to do repairs on my own from now on, but at least I have the option.

 

You could maybe make the argument that repairs and devices become more costly, because manufacturers now have to take steps to make devices user repairable. Plus they have to make their plans public, which requires additional work by lawyers yadayada to ensure no proprietary stuff is exposed etc.

That is a very good point and I will definitely take it into account as I continue to work.

 

Thanks to everyone for your input. It is all very helpful!

[Mira Yurizaki]

14 minutes ago, GigabitXe said:

Do you have any arguments against right to repair?

From the perspective of the manufacturer, right to repair seems feels like it should come with some other "baggage" that is not plainly stated. For example, honoring warranties. If a user wants to attempt to repair their own product or take it to some "expert," and the repair is botched up, should they be allowed to still send it to the manufacturer for a warranty replacement?

 

My worry with "right to repair" is in the age of the internet, it's easy for anyone to think they're an expert when they're really not.

[amdorintel]

Just now, Eigenvektor said:

consumers

true dat, but there will always be a segment of a consumer base that wants to tinker for the sake of tinkering, another segment that is handy and wants to fix and learn.

 

what sux about john deere is, well a lot sux, but if any little thing breaks down they have to take it back 100's or 1000's of distance to stealership to get fixed. farmers cant afford, thats why big farm is winning

[amdorintel]

Just now, Mira Yurizaki said:

My worry with "right to repair" is in the age of the internet, it's easy for anyone to think they're an expert when they're really not.

how would you know or anyone know if they are an "expert" and how do you define an "expert"

 

because group knowledge is a powerful thing, especially with the internet age and forums where people can get together and exchange notes, info, exchange ideas.

 

 

[Eigenvektor]

2 minutes ago, GigabitXe said:

That is a very good point and I will definitely take it into account as I continue to work.

 

Thanks to everyone for your input. It is all very helpful!

Another point (mainly Apple's, I think): Devices become thicker and more costly, because a device filled with glue isn't repairable, but thinner and/or cheaper to manufacture.

[Bitter]

I mean the bottom line is that it cuts into potential profits in several ways. Reduced revenue stream from in house repairs, reduced revenue because devices can have extended life, and reduced revenue as it possibly might make it easier to copy products, that's a weaker argument because reverse engineering devices isn't a huge endeavor when they're 99% off the shelf components with stuff printed on them. Watch Big Clive reverse engineer a diagram for a device he's never seen before, it's not voodoo magic.

[Mira Yurizaki]

5 minutes ago, amdorintel said:

how would you know or anyone know if they are an "expert" and how do you define an "expert"

If I were to use a canned response, someone who has years (if you need a figure, I'd say 5+) of practical experience (by practical, they're constantly doing it) and knowledge regarding some subject.

 

Quote

because group knowledge is a powerful thing, especially with the internet age and forums where people can get together and exchange notes, info, exchange ideas.

The internet however, is full of misleading information and people who have little to no practical experience, despite appearing to be book smart. The internet is a powerful tool, when used correctly.