TED Business Why don’t companies want you to repair your stuff? | Aaron Perzanowski
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Feb 24, 2025 Aaron Perzanowski, a legal scholar focused on the right to repair, sheds light on how companies hinder consumer efforts to fix their products. He discusses the detrimental effects of planned obsolescence and its role in driving waste. The restrictive practice of parts pairing limits repairs, leaving consumers frustrated and reliant on expensive new purchases. Perzanowski also emphasizes the emergence of community repair movements, urging listeners to advocate for transparency and repair-friendly policies in a world dominated by consumerism.
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Hospital Repair Challenges
- During the pandemic, hospitals struggled to repair medical equipment.
- iFixit created a database of repair manuals, but manufacturers like Steris fought to remove them.
John Deere Tractor Repairs
- If a farmer uses an independent shop to repair a John Deere tractor, it won't function.
- A company technician must authenticate the new part, causing delays and potential crop loss.
Planned Obsolescence
- Manufacturers control product lifespans through software and limited repair options.
- This is similar to planned obsolescence, where products are designed to fail and boost profits.