Technology
Jacob Mendez
Jacob Mendez

Broken equipment? Don’t buy, repair – new regulations

The older of us remember perfectly well how people dealt with it years ago. Due to the costs and availability of products, it was necessary not only to take special care of utility items, but also to repair them yourself in the event of defects. It is also a good habit that can save a lot of money even today. Repairing a broken washing machine may be cheaper than buying a new one.

Maybe, but it doesn’t have to be. Unfortunately, we know perfectly well what the situation looks like in practice. Often, replacing a damaged element may exceed the limits of profitability. The high cost of parts is often due to their lack, which automatically directs us to store shelves where we can easily buy a new device. The old stuff ends up in the garbage and business continues. However, this is not an optimal situation, even for the natural environment. Therefore, I want to implement some changes. They will be beneficial to us.

Last month, the Council of the European Union and the Parliament reached an agreement on an issue that is intended to improve the situation of consumers in the context of broken and defective devices. In short, we should have more options for repairing our equipment, and the manufacturer should ensure that appropriate elements are available. These will be located on websites that European consumers will be encouraged to use. But that’s not all.

If a defective product is received, the consumer will be able to choose between repair or replacement. Interestingly, information campaigns will be carried out in European Union member states encouraging people to take advantage of the new opportunities. Potential promotional activities include: vouchers for equipment repairs or creation of special funds.

It is estimated that . It is worth noting that it does not mean that only equipment repairs will be carried out. The final decision will rest with the manufacturer, regardless of the option preferred by the customer. If replacement proves to be more cost-effective, replacement will be used for the faulty device.