Fix What’s Broke

A while back I ran across an organization in Holland that helps folks repair devices rather than throw them away. I like that idea, and have thought of trying to get such a thing started here. You need a space and some benches and perhaps access to coffee, other drinks and sandwiches, whatever, so people can drop in with a broken device or to help out those who have broken devices. And a good internet connection with laptops or their equivalent. Sure, its out there on the web, all you have to do is search. But you are still alone and perhaps your skills are not the same as others or there are some specialized tools that you need. The website of the one in Holland is repaircafe.org.

Then yesterday while waiting to get my haircut I saw an article in The Wall Street Journal, http://www.wsj.com/articles/we-need-the-right-to-repair-our-gadgets-1441737868. It hits on the same theme. I don’t buy into the manufacturer bashing quite as much as this article does, but it is true that fixing most devices today is more expensive than buying a new one. And that might not be as good as the old one. Operating repair depots is expensive, and a lot of what needs to be in the manuals is proprietary, and if you publish it, you have to live by it. Things change. Lots of our products are made in runs. They make 10,000 units and the production line is gone. But there are lots of clever folks out there that reverse engineer anything and find easy ways to repair what looks to be very complex things. But they assume no liability for it. You try it, and if it works, you are back in business. If it does not work you are no worse off that you were before. Take it to the dump knowing you tried and get a new one.