Right to Repair

Today on the RubberInk blog, we’re going to be talking about something that’s a little less nuts and bolts than usual. We’ve touched on the concept of right to repair in passing before, but we think it deserves a thorough explanation, because it has big implications for tire businesses, their customers, and our entire planet.

What is Right to Repair?

Put simply, right to repair is the concept that people who buy things should have the legal right to fix them if they break or modify them to suit their needs, and that manufacturers should make it feasible for them to do so.

That might sound like common sense, and we think it should be. However, the increasing use of computerized technology in products you might not necessarily expect, licensing agreements that restrict consumer rights, and a strategy of “planned obsolescence” used by some manufacturers have undermined the ability of consumers to practically and economically make repairs themselves or hire professionals to make repairs for them. All of this has led to growing momentum behind the right to repair movement, with various right to repair laws being passed or under consideration at both the state and federal level.

The goals of the right to repair movement can be summed up in three principles, explained below.

Principles of Right to Repair

1. Make information available. Manufacturers should provide complete documentation on how to service their products.
    
2. Make parts and tools available. Manufacturers should sell individual replacement parts and tools needed to service their products at fair prices.
    
3. Design with repair in mind. Manufacturers should design products in such a way that they can be easily serviced rather than simply disposed of because repair is impractically difficult.
    

Why Right to Repair Matters

Why is right to repair a big deal? Let’s look at three reasons.

1.     Right to Repair is Good for Your Wallet

The first major advantage of protecting the right to repair is that it saves consumers money. If you can repair things when they break instead of simply having to replace them, you get more use out of them and therefore more value for your money.
 

Right to repair also means that consumers will have a choice in where they go to get things repaired, allowing them to shop around and save money, instead of facing a “take it or leave it” scenario when only the manufacturer offers repair services.
 

2.     Right to Repair is Good for the Environment

When even minor repairs are impractical to make or it costs more to repair something than it does to replace it, the result is a culture of disposability where products that have lots of life left in them prematurely end up in landfills.

By allowing consumers to use the products they buy longer instead of throwing them away and buying replacements, right to repair has a positive impact on the planet.

3.     Right to Repair is Good for Independent Businesses

When repair resources are only available to original manufacturers or their dealers, there’s no place left in the market for smaller, independent repair businesses.
 

If independent repair businesses are forced to close because they don’t have access to repair documentation or because it’s cheaper for consumers to simply replace products than it is to repair them, jobs will be lost, and the economy will suffer.
 

Right to Repair and the Tire Industry 

Although much of the discussion about right to repair has focused on electronic devices like smartphones and computers, it has ramifications in many other areas, including the automotive service industry.
 

According to data from the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association, 70% of vehicles are currently maintained at independent repair facilities, rather than at dealerships. There are currently 273,000 shops in the US, employing 900,000 technicians. Right to repair ensures that consumers have choices and that this important sector of the economy can continue to thrive.
 

One high-profile right to repair issue that is threatening independent automotive maintenance businesses is telematics. Modern cars are equipped with various computerized sensors that monitor things like coolant temperature, fuel flow, and other “vital statistics.” Until now, vehicle owners and repair shops could access this data through physical connections and use it for diagnostic purposes. However, it’s increasingly common for telematics data to be transmitted wirelessly to private servers owned by the vehicle manufacturer and is inaccessible to owners and independent technicians. It’s estimated that by the year 2030, 95% of new vehicles sold globally will have this connectivity. Right to repair advocates are working to make sure that telematics systems use a standardized and open format.
 

Taking Action

Right to repair is a commonsense concept that gives consumers more freedom and helps them save more money, and it’s fundamental to the livelihood of hard-working automotive industry professionals across the country.  

1. We encourage all of our customer shops to learn more about right to repair and become involved in this movement that is so important to the future of our industry. One way you can do so is by letting your legislators know that you support right to repair. It’s easier to make your voice heard than you might think. Click here and in just 30 seconds you can send a pre-written message to your member of Congress.

2. Can't diagnose a vehicle? Report your issue here.

At Rubber-Inc, we have been a trusted partner to tire shops for over 80 years.  We are proud to deliver personalized service and quality tools, equipment, and tire repair materials -- and to stand with them in the fight for the right to repair.

Sources:

https://www.repair.org/history

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/what-is-right-to-repair/

https://www.tirepros.com/right-to-repair

https://www.tirebusiness.com/government-law/state-right-repair-laws-could-propel-federal-bill

https://www.autocare.org/government-relations/current-issues/access-to-and-control-of-vehicle-data