Apple’s Right to Repair Policy

Whenever a computer breaks, it’s the job of the owner to decide what to do with it. They either have the choice of outsourcing for a solution, or fixing it themselves. Outsourcing for a solution provides a quick and easy method to fixing the computer, but usually at a steep cost. Fixing the computers themselves may be more difficult for non tech enthusiasts, but it provides a cheaper and sometimes better result compared to the first. 

Macbooks have been the golden staple for consumers who need a fast and reliable machine. Despite this, many stray away from Apple products due to their old restrictions on the consumers’ right to repair forcing them to choose the ladder of the Apple “Genius” Bars’ overpriced repair system.

However, Apple has recently announced their new Self Service policy that allows consumers to repair their own products using parts and tools provided by Apple without voiding their warranty.

Many believe these products to be beneficial as consumers would not have to resort to low quality and expensive solutions to repair their products and be able to have the resources to do it themselves. However, students like junior Prajval Sharma have their own ideas on this new policy.

Said Sharma, “I think it’s a good idea not only for consumers, but for third-party companies as well as they’ll be able to service Apple products with better care and at potentially cheaper costs.”

Some students like Sharma believe that this new policy does not benefit consumers to a large extent because most consumers do not have the knowledge or time to fix their own devices. However, it allows for those consumers to reach out to third-party repair companies that have been largely affected by the change due to the easier access to repair parts.

With these new policies, many people fear that Apple would sell their proprietary parts and tools for a high price, completely neglecting the idea of a cheaper self repairing solution and potentially driving up costs to become higher than going to the genius bar.

Said Sharma, “Apple has always been like this since day one, but even if the parts are overpriced, it’s a small step in the right direction. Apple is stepping away from being a monopoly, controlling what consumers do with their products, and giving a more proper solution for the consumer’s right to repair.”

Despite becoming a potentially worse solution, Sharma believes that the new policies are still aiming towards the right direction and that having something is better than nothing at all. Third party consumers would also be able to potentially mass order these products at a more discounted price allowing them to reduce the prices of their repairs.

Whether or not Apple decides to keep things at a low price, many consumers see improvement among Apple and their company to consumer relationship as they loosen the restrictions of what the consumer has the right to do with their devices. Apple has shown the ability to adapt to the consumer’s opinions and even if there are problems now, they’ve more than likely shown that they’re willing to improve anything.