‘Failing the Fix’ scorecard grades Apple, Google, Dell, others on how fixable their devices are

Arizona PIRG Education Fund

According to the Arizona PIRG Education Fund, consumers often don’t know which products will last and they’ll be able to fix, or which manufacturers make fixable devices and support Right to Repair. A new scorecard by the organization, “Failing the Fix,” ranks the most popular cell phone and laptop makers for consumers who seek to purchase easily repairable products – especially those from companies who do not fight to prevent Right to Repair.

“No one walks into the store and thinks ‘I’m wanting to buy something unfixable,’” said Nathan Proctor, author of the report and Arizona PIRG Education Fund’s senior Right to Repair campaign director. “Arizonans should be able to buy products that will last, be repairable when they break, and which are made by companies that respect our Right to Repair.”

Over the last year, France has required manufacturers to publish a repair score, from 0 to 10, with their products. “Failing to Fix” collected the French repair scores of 187 devices from 10 popular manufacturers, weighed a few additional factors related to how repair-friendly the manufacturers and products were, and came up with a final score.

“Americans want products that are built to last. In fact, a new Consumer Reports survey shows that Americans value repairability, and want more and better options when it comes to repair,” said Maureen Mahoney, Senior Policy Analyst with Consumer Reports. “PIRG’s important new report evaluating the repairability of laptop and cell phone manufacturers shows that some companies still have a long way to go.”

The report concludes that there are large disparities in device repairability, and it can be difficult for consumers to assess that when they shop — if they don’t know where to look.

“iFixit has been raising the alarm around hard to repair products for over a decade. From glued in batteries to proprietary tools, so many new product designs systematically stymie repair. That’s a shame, because longer lasting products are better for the environment and better for consumers,” said Dr. Elizabeth Chamberlain, Director of Sustainability for iFixit. “Despite those obstacles, we’ve helped millions of people repair their own gadgets—and become better informed about which products to support. When consumers prefer repairable products, it sends a powerful market signal.”

The Right to Repair coalition, which includes PIRG, iFixit and Repair.org, has been calling for better access to parts, tools, and information needed to repair modern devices.

The Failing the Fix scorecard is part of Arizona PIRG Education Fund’s work to recognizeNational Consumer Protection Week 2022 by putting actionable consumer protection information in the hands of Arizonans. To see other Arizona PIRG Education Fund resources for consumers, go to: https://arizonapirgedfund.org/blogs/blog/usf/national-consumer-protection-week-2022