Now you can have your electronic devices repaired at local workshops without harming the warranty
The government of India has launched the Right to Repair initiative to protect the warranty of your electronic items and automobiles when you get them repaired at a third-party workshop or have them self-repaired. The portal is currently live and smartphone manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, and Oppo have enrolled into the program.
Companies like Imagine Marketing Limited (Boat), HP, LG, and Panasonic have also registered on the portal.
The companies enrolled in govt’s #RightToRepair program include:
Apple
Samsung
Boat
OppoHP
LG
PanasonicKent
Honda
HeroHavells
Luminous
Panasonic
MicrotekSSP Computers
RDP Workstations
TAFE Motors and TractorsThe list is expected to increase…
— Faisal (@itsmeFSL) May 1, 2023
The Right to Repair portal aims to serve as a “single platform to provide easy access to necessary information on repair and maintenance of products to consumers.”
What does it cover?
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs said that the Right to Repair will give consumers a chance to repair their products at an optimal cost instead of buying new products altogether. It currently covers four sections, which include the following:
- Farming Equipment
- Mobile and Electronics
- Consumer Durables
- Automobile Equipment
The portal will aggregate all the public information related to the product service, warranty, terms and conditions, and more to give users “a simpler and more practical approach to fixing their products”. It will also include a consolidated list of consumer care contact details of product manufacturers and allow users to search companies by name or product name.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs said that the portal will let users access a variety of services like product repair and maintenance, replacement parts, and warranty information in addition to access information about maintenance and repair.
The portal seems to be missing the grievance redressal system where consumers can raise complaints against brands for violating the Right to Repair program or the after-sales service in general. Consumers often complain about repair centres, where the most common grievances include asking money for parts for a product under warranty, not acknowledging the fault in the product, and not providing satisfactory service.
Currently, the portal seems to be under maintenance itself as a lot of links aren’t working, including the Contact Us page, Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimer.
The Right to Repair initiative covers mobiles, tablets, wireless headphones, earbuds, laptops, universal charging ports, universal charging cables, batteries, servers and data storage, printers, and more. The consumer durables covered under the program include water purifiers, washing machines, refrigerators, televisions, integrated/universal remotes, dishwashers, microwaves, air conditioners, geysers, electric kettles, induction cooktops, mixer grinders, and electric chimneys.