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Comment by Bostonian | Hacker News Reader

If consumers value the ability to repair a device they will avoid buying non-repairable devices. The government need not get involved.

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What if manufacturers collude to all reduce or eliminate the need to repair devices?

The barrier to enter the cell phone market is kinda high.

Or they will vote for laws that encourage repairable devices. Why do you want to reduce citizens to consumers?

When companies act unethically and make decisions that limit consumer choice and harm the environment, the government should most definitely get involved.

I am not so sure it works that way. Sometimes you need evolutionary jump. Like latent/subconscious demand is there but people have no idea they want something. Or the demand is there, but no big player serves it.

Most people don't care about this because mobiles for them are, indeed, throwaways. So, according to some, this should be written into law so we all are forced to care.

Most people can’t afford the unplanned expense of a device should it break. If it’s not repairable, by law, then it will be manufactured to last for a shorter period of time, compounding the problem.

I can’t use plastic utensils in California but I can use a disposable phone. Mind boggling.

> I can’t use plastic utensils in California

It’s not hard to?

The bill in question is just about manufacturers providing parts and manuals to repair shops. People who aren't phone manufacturers and don't repair their phones don't have to care about this at all. It doesn't affect them.

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