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Right To Repair - A Hot Issue

576 messages,  Last post on Feb 04, 2013 at 8:06 PM

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Messages Page 55 of 59

#533 of 576 not just a Massachusetts issue by steve_ HOST

Oct 08, 2012 (9:11 am)

"France's antitrust authority fired a warning shot at auto makers on Monday accusing them of partly offsetting losses on car manufacturing with their alleged control of the auto-repair market, the latest in series of rulings and reports from the regulator that have rankled some French businesses.
 
The regulator, Autorité de la Concurrence, recommended the government deregulate the market for car repair parts to make it easier for independent mechanics to service cars. It also warned auto makers that it will probe and sanction specific anticompetitive behavior in the future.
 
The authority also asked car makers to provide independent mechanics with all the information needed to repair a car."
 
French Watchdog Targets Car-Repair Costs (WSJ)

#534 of 576 it's law but still on the ballot by steve_ HOST

Oct 16, 2012 (7:30 am)

Right to Repair is Now Law (MSNBC)
 
"The Tire Industry Association applauds the passage of the Right to Repair law in Massachusetts and strongly urges Congress to pass a comparable federal law to ensure that all American car owners and their trusted repair shops have the same access to safety alerts and repair information as the franchised new car dealer network."
 
Congress should pass right to repair law (somdnews.com)

#535 of 576 Re: it's law but still on the ballot [steve_] by hpmctorque

Oct 16, 2012 (7:38 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Oct 16, 2012 7:30 am)
I hope congress passes that law. It'll level the playing field for independent shops and consumers.

#536 of 576 Re: it's law but still on the ballot [hpmctorque] by steve_ HOST

Oct 16, 2012 (7:43 am)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Oct 16, 2012 7:38 am)
I'm curious about the unintended consequences.

#537 of 576 Re: it's law but still on the ballot [steve_] by hpmctorque

Oct 16, 2012 (8:03 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Oct 16, 2012 7:43 am)
Well, you raise a good point, Steve. It's a multifaceted issue, so I'd be surprised if there weren't some drawbacks that aren't obvious, but my perception is that the tradeoffs would be net positive. It would spur competition, which generally improves value to the consumer.

#538 of 576 Re: it's law but still on the ballot [hpmctorque] by thecardoc3

Oct 16, 2012 (9:23 am)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Oct 16, 2012 8:03 am)
It would spur competition, which generally improves value to the consumer
 
If it was really able to do anything, it might make some unknown tool cheaper, then someone with no additional training could then pretend they are qualfied and capable of taking on much more complictaed work. The race to the bottom would then accelerate and you'll lose the top shops even faster.

#539 of 576 Re: it's law but still on the ballot [thecardoc3] by obyone

Oct 18, 2012 (10:18 am)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (Oct 16, 2012 9:23 am)
then someone with no additional training could then pretend they are qualfied and capable of taking on much more complictaed work.
 
Isn't that what they are doing now?

#540 of 576 Re: it's law but still on the ballot [obyone] by thecardoc3

Oct 18, 2012 (1:18 pm)

Replying to: obyone (Oct 18, 2012 10:18 am)
then someone with no additional training could then pretend they are qualfied and capable of taking on much more complicated work.
 
Isn't that what they are doing now?
 
No, the cost of the equipment and software created a natural barrier that prevented that in most cases. The shops once they found out that specialized equipment was mandatory for specific repairs either stepped up and made the investment, or else called in a mobile specialist or simply shipped the car back to the dealership.
 
Their hope with R2R is that they would suddenly have a way around the cost of the O.E. tools, meanwhile they still wouldn't have the training and experience to go with them. I see that as bad for the consumer.

#541 of 576 Re: it's law but still on the ballot [thecardoc3] by hpmctorque

Oct 24, 2012 (1:38 pm)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (Oct 18, 2012 1:18 pm)
Are you suggesting, then, that the current law is what's best for consumers? If not, what change(s) would you suggest?

#542 of 576 Re: it's law but still on the ballot [hpmctorque] by thecardoc3

Oct 25, 2012 (3:55 am)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Oct 24, 2012 1:38 pm)
Are you suggesting, then, that the current law is what's best for consumers? If not, what change(s) would you suggest?
 
Best for "consumers".
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer
From that article;
 
There is increasing backlash from the public over use of the label "consumer" rather than "customer", with many finding it offensive and derogatory
 
Here is someone who understands an important angle to all of this;
 
http://wanderingjustin.com/2010/11/dont-call-me-a-consumer/
 
If you genuinely want to be a consumer instead of a customer, then I suggest you plan wisely for how your going to afford $40,000 throw away cars every five years. The whole R2R issue is being supported by shops who cannot turn the necessary profits so that they can afford the schools and tools that are already available. The shops are being "consumed" by price wars on one side as their outdated business model dies, and by consumerism that demands perfection without regard for the success of the business, long term.
 
Take just about every consumer advocate article you have ever read, don't they tell you to call around for the cheapest price as if auto repair was as consistent and simple as buying a name brand can of corn off of the shelf? Meanwhile what they have really told you is to avoid a shop (like mine for instance) who has made a much greater investment to be ready to serve your vehicle needs because of what I have been spending on my tools and schools and go to the person (shop) who hasn't spent that kind of money for decades. They are cheaper to do your water pump, not a lot mind you because they will intentionally price right below someone like me. But cheaper enough to get that easy work without doing everything you really need them to be doing.
 
Now that all has seemed to work great for them and consumers for a long time, but today the technology in the cars has finally forced the shops to start to wake up and now they find themselves in trouble. The gap between what they can do, and what their customers really need has widened to the point that they now find themselves failing to be able to completely fix the cars and were looking for someone to blame for that other than themselves. So they blame the manufacturers. They also are looking for someone or something to save them, so they cling onto R2R because that is the promise that it has made.
 
But it won't fix any of that. It won't make the tools any cheaper. It won 't make them go to training. They will hang on until their last day and simply close and dissapear from the trade with no-one available or capable to replace them. Their busineses will be full of outdated and worn out equipment so there will be nothing to sell to even try and have someone else take over.
 
The question for you the consumer is do you want to support them to their grave and only then discover that you also lost shops like mine in the process, or are you going to support the shops like mine now because we have been taking the right approach and reward us for doing so with your business? We can't afford to have consumers coming through our door and stay on top of technology, but customers can help us while we help them.
 
BTW there is something that is happening in every town across the country. How many shops did there used to be in your town? How many shops are there now? How old are the mechanics, and the owners?
 
Of the ones that are there, which ones could repair a theft deterrent system issue that requires programming on your car right now? Was that "none" that I heard you say? Actually there might be one, but you don't know who that is because you have never been told how to find that shop. You've only ever been told to seek out the ones who can't do everything you need.

Messages Page 55 of 59

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