WashPIRG Foundation releases updated “Failing the Fix” report grading electronic device manufacturers on repairability

On Thursday, WashPIRG Foundation released its updated “Failing the Fix” report grading manufacturers like Google, Samsung, Dell, and Apple on the repairability of their devices.

At an event across from the Google Park View building in Fremont, Zero Waste Associate Dax Tate spoke with media about the report and its significance for consumers, as well as the importance of repair more generally.

Our cellphones and laptops have become central to our ability to do work, go to school, or just socialize with family and friends. As devices become more important, so too does the ability to repair them when they break. This report breaks down some of the most popular electronics manufacturers and scores them according to five categories, resulting in an overall repairability score that consumers can use at the point of purchase.

Previous reports have found that Washington consumers could save over $960 million per year if they had the ability to extend the lifespan of their devices by 50% through repair. This report will help to educate consumers on the repairability of their devices, but we also need Right to Repair reforms to increase the affordability and accessibility of repair. The Fair Repair Act (HB 1392), which passed the House Committee on Consumer Protection and Business Wednesday afternoon, would establish Right to Repair reforms in Washington by requiring manufacturers of personal electronics to provide consumers and independent repair shops with the parts, tools, and information necessary to fix our devices.