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Comment by runeks | Hacker News Reader

> Consumers should not have to fight for their right to repair, it should be assumed.

Shouldn't my right to purchase an electronic device without replaceable parts also be assumed?

The problem with creating rules is that you don't really fix anything, you just force those who disagree to accept your preference (e.g. replaceable parts, at the higher cost this incurs). Most people purchase devices with non-replaceable parts because they prefer the low price that comes with mass-production versus being able to repair it. Why take away this ability?

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There is no "right to purchase an electronic device without replaceable parts". You just made that up. But I'll answer your question anyway.

Because it's a giant waste that is destroying the planet, and is economically irresponsible and noncompetitive?

Why should the arseholes who produce things that break in one year have a competitive advantage over companies that do the right thing by their customers and by the planet?

There is also no right to have companies build products that are easy to repair. The EU and a bunch of internet activists made this up.

You have the right to try to repair something. If it was built so that it was hard to repair, well you shouldn't have bought it in the first place.

Almost all rights are "made up". Anyway, I really hope this law passes because it will fuck up even more small businesses in the EU and drive them to the US.

>There is no "right to purchase an electronic device without replaceable parts".

It's part of living in a free society, which means you have the right to do what you want by default.

So by default, yes, you have that right to free exchange of goods and services.

People have (or should have) the right to manufacture whatever products they want, and other people should have the right to buy whatever products they want. The only restrictions should be to prevent fraud (product has to work as advertised) and protect consumer safety (product shouldn't blow up).

You already have the right to pay extra for an extended warranty, or go shopping around for a version of X product that is user-maintainable. You also have the right to pay less for a shorter warranty, or buy a compact, tightly-integrated, non-repairable product. The EU's "right of repair" is merely a ban on the second category of product.

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