If you take your Samsung device to an independent store for repair, Samsung requires the store to send your name, contact information, device ID, and the nature of your complaint to the parent ship. Worse, if the repair shop discovers that your device was previously repaired with an aftermarket or non-Samsung part, Samsung requires the facility to “immediately disassemble” your device and “immediately notify” the company.
It was revealed thanks to these details 404 Mediawhich has been obtained A contract that Samsung requires all independent repair shops to sign in exchange for selling genuine repair parts. The relevant section of the agreement reads: “Company shall immediately dismantle all products created or assembled from, consisting of, or containing any Part of the Service not purchased from Samsung.” It adds that the store must “immediately notify Samsung in writing of the details and circumstances of any unauthorized use or appropriation of any Part of the Service for any purpose inconsistent with this Agreement. If these terms are violated, Samsung may terminate this Agreement.” Samsung did not respond to Engadget’s request for comment.
Samsung’s deal raises concerns — customers who take their devices to independent repair shops don’t necessarily expect their personal data to be sent to the device maker. If they have previously repaired their devices using third-party parts that are much cheaper (and in many cases better) than official parts, they certainly don’t expect a repair shop to hand them over to the manufacturer. their device has been disabled.
Speaking experts 404 Media said consumers are within their rights to use third-party parts to repair their devices under the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act, a federal law governing consumer product warranties in the United States. So far, Right to Repair legislation exists in 30 states. country according to Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), a consumer advocacy organization. But in states like New York, Minnesota and California, where the legislation went into effect this year, contracts such as those signed by Samsung to repair shops would be illegal. 404 Media shown.
Keith Walsh of the Electronic Freedom Foundation told the publication that “this is a one-sided, one-sided, one-sided contract that requires the right to repair.” “In addition to the provision you mentioned about disassembling devices with third-party components, these create additional barriers to device repair, which can harm both device safety and the environment, as repairable devices end up in landfills.”
This isn’t the only case of device repair that has found Samsung in hot water. Hours before the news 404 Mediarepair blog and parts retailer iFixit announced less than two years later, it said it was ending its partnership with Samsung to launch a “Repair Center.” “Samsung’s approach to repairs doesn’t align with our mission,” iFixit said in a blog post, citing high prices for Samsung parts and the “frustratingly patchy” nature of Samsung devices as reasons for pulling the plug.
