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It looks like the UK has decided to adopt the new EU Eco-design standards:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56340077
Not that it’ll change much, as parts availability for mainstream brands has always been pretty good. I suspect this is mainly relevant to some poorly supported retailer owned brands made in China or Turkey that no-one is particularly enthusiastic about repairing anyway.
Read more into it.
What they are trying to do is stop the sealed tank, bonded seals, programmed boards that nobody but OEM can replace and so on. Pick an example of anything the hampers repair, that’s what they want to prevent.
In short, trying to make things more repairable and, more cost-effective to repair. This is the first baby step. It will progress.
It applies (or will) to all sold within the EU. It does not apply to any other territory though the EU often leads the field in this sort of thing.
For the industry at large (ignoring makers for a sec) there is no downside to this. It is to be applauded.
It is not specifically aimed at whitegoods, the aim is way wider than that.
K.
Surely it’s the affordability of repairs that’s important. Used to do an awful lot of reconditioning (and enjoy it) back in the day when it was worthwhile stripping a machine down to the cabinet and rebuilding from the floor up.
Phil
I applaud the need for change through some form of legislation but the current retail price point of these products will limit its effect. Turning the clock back to a time when electrical goods could be easily and cheaply fixed have long since passed. Cheap as chips, built to dump is where we find ourselves today. The 3 to 5 years useful lifespan is now established consumer mindset.
Looking at the environmental effect of all this and the statistics are staggering. The carbon footprint created through the manufacturing process, distribution, product lifetime usage, disposal and recyclability mind boggling.
Even the slightest change in creating a product that can be effectively and economically repaired is the only chance of slowing this problem down. The sealed drum is a classic example of manufacturing wrongdoing and it’s hard to imagine how that could revert back to how they used to be made. Programmable PCB’s fairly easy to resolve. Better access for the DIY’er to access tech info direct from manufacturers. Dramatic cut in VAT on spare parts and repairers labour charges. As well as the obligatory energy rating labels perhaps a ‘build quality rating’ could be established?
As Ken mentioned small (baby) steps are the way forward here. It’s not too late but if something isn’t done now the situation will get worse year on year.
Came across this interesting website and article, suggesting that there is some way to go:
The only real benefits for professional repairers compared to the status quo appear to be a maximum 15 working day lead time for parts and access to technical information – but who qualifies as a professional repairer is apparently open to interpretation by the manufacturer. And presumably this will not be free of charge to the repairer. There are no limits on price or requirement to provide sub-assemblies. So sealed drums are here to stay. And it doesn’t apply to products already in the market.
I think you may find specific examples like sealed units of all nature, programmable modules and so on all coming directly into focus.
I have advised on it so I am well aware these are points that have been raised and look set to be addressed and, also major points of concern from end-users in fact, part of the very reason this is happening.
End-users and legislators do not share your view on sealed units as they are proven to be a major reason for early write-off of many an appliance, it simply makes repair uneconomical. So that is a major element of this.
What the repair industry and manufacturers think is secondary as they will act in their best interest, the legislators are acting in the interest of consumers, not traders.
The legislation will evolve over time.
K
I am intrigued on what the new law actually means? The general gist of it that spare parts “should” be available for “up to” ten years and that only professional repairers can do this which I certainly hope this applies to us indies.
Does the law applies specifically to appliances that are bought on 1st of July 2021 onwards not prior to 1st July 2021? I am just trying to gauge on what customers are trying to do especially if attempting to use the new law on their side saying “I bought this tumble dryer in 2018 and you are telling me that I can’t get parts for it and it’s obsolete?”.
I think the law does not even touch on the build quality especially on certain brand of ovens like CDA that tends to crumble after a year or two or is the law is meant to promote better build quality?
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