mastodon.social is one of the many independent Mastodon servers you can use to participate in the fediverse.
The original server operated by the Mastodon gGmbH non-profit

Administered by:

Server stats:

353K
active users

#repairshops

1 post1 participant0 posts today

A lot of my friends have used #MaineShoeRepair services to repair well-worn shoes and boots!

#Maine: #Cobblers and #RepairShops see shift in consumer habits to fix what's broken

Story by Caroline LeCour, March 22, 2025

"While modern consumer habits may drive a lot of people to simply replace things that have fallen into disrepair, there are many in Maine who are instead choosing to fix items that are broken.

"Steven Foss, owner of Maine Shoe Repair in #SouthPortlandME, said he has noticed a change in quality of materials of shoes over the past 38 years he's been in business.

"'Back in the day, all of the shoes were sewn on. Glued and sewn on. Now, the majority of them are just glued,' Foss said.

"He said the change in manufacturing highlights a shift in quality that has altered both his work and the shoe industry at large. Foss is one of only a few cobblers left in Maine, and he is committed offering affordable repair services, despite rising supply and equipment costs."

Source:
msn.com/en-us/money/personalfi
#RepairShops #RightToRepair #ReuseRepairRecycle #SolarPunkSunday #ShoeRepair

www.msn.comMSN

"#Repair vouchers, which give people 50% off the cost of repairing broken electrical items, will be available from next month in a trial across #NorthLondon. If it is successful, advocates hope it will be rolled out nationwide...A similar scheme in Austria, initiated by the climate ministry, has had a huge impact, with 1.5m repair vouchers used at 3,000 #RepairShops since ... 2022. Experts estimate it has saved about 4,000 tonnes of #EWaste."

londonrepairvouchers.co.uk/

theguardian.com/environment/20

London RecyclesGet 50% Off Electrical RepairsWe’re offering anyone living in North London 50% off electrical repairs April to September 2025.

What is '#RightToRepair,' and why are #MaineVoters being asked to weigh in on it?

Maine Public | By Steve Mistler
Published September 21, 2023

"#Question4 asks #Maine voters: 'Do you want to require vehicle manufacturers to standardize on-board diagnostic systems and provide remote access to those systems and mechanical data to owners and independent repair facilities?'

"Maine would become the second state in the nation to require automakers to make onboard repair and diagnostic information available to independent mechanics if voters approve Question 4 in November.

"The concept is relatively straightforward and the legislation closely mirrors a law in #Massachusetts that 75% of voters approved in 2020. However, implementation of the Bay State law is mired in a legal battle pitting #AutoManufacturers against #consumers and #RepairShops. Meanwhile, the federal government is sending mixed signals about whether it’s safe to share a car’s telematics data, which increasingly includes information about people’s driving behavior in addition to vehicle repair diagnostics.

"The Maine initiative is part of a burgeoning right-to-repair movement in the U.S. that hinges on the idea that consumers should have the ability to fix the products that they purchase, or at least have a choice in who does the repair for them.

"At least 25 states have considered right-to-repair legislation in recent years, but the proposals are not always specific to cars. #Colorado enacted a law this year centering on the repair of #FarmingEquipment. #NewYork recently enacted a right-to-repair law for #electronic devices such as #smartphones, #tablets or #laptop computers. #Minnesota passed a law similar to New York’s, and Maine may do the same next year if lawmakers enact an #electronics proposal introduced in April."

Full article:
mainepublic.org/politics/2023-
#DIY #SolarPunk

WMEH · What is 'right to repair,' and why are Maine voters being asked to weigh in on it?By Steve Mistler

Thinking about taking your computer to the repair shop? Be very afraid! Not surprisingly, female customers bear the brunt of the privacy violations

Stock photo showing someone with a screwdriver repairing a computer circuit board Researchers at University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, recovered logs from laptops after receiving overnight repairs from 12 commercial shops. The logs showed that technicians from six of the locations had accessed personal data and […]

gadgeteer.co.za/thinking-about

gadgeteer.co.za/thinking-about

FTC Approves ‘Right To Repair’ Policy in Huge Win for the Movement

In a colossal win for the Right to Repair movement, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has published a statement where it unanimously approved the prioritization of aggressive action against manufacturers who impose unfair repair restrictions on individuals and independent repair shops.

The statement follows an executive order from President Joe Biden that asked the FTC to review new regulations that would empower customers. For those unfamiliar, the short video below explains the concept of Right to Repair in less than 60 seconds.

As noted in previous coverage, the Right to Repair movement has been championed by tech advocates, many media groups, and outlets like iFixit. In particular, iFixit has been one of the loudest voices in the movement and believes that everyone who owns a product has the right to repair it. The movement does not just encompass the right to repair owned products but expands to preventing companies from making access to equipment or resources proprietary. iFixit notes that the automobile industry tried to block the independent repair of vehicles, but that motion failed in 2012. Similarly, the idea of a “locked” cell phone to a particular carrier was overturned and made legal in 2018.

The FTC's statement today notes that the government agency agrees with tech advocates and repair houses and says that the idea of restricting customers and businesses from choosing how they repair products can substantially increase the total cost of repairs, generate harmful electronic waste, and unnecessarily increase wait times for repairs.

"In contrast, providing more choice in repairs can lead to lower costs, reduce e-waste by extending the useful lifespan of products, enable more timely repairs, and provide economic opportunities for entrepreneurs and local businesses," the FTC writes.

One of the major ways that manufacturers like Apple prevent independent repair of devices is by restricting access to the parts necessary to make those repairs. The FTC specifically has called out this action as one that it finds disagreeable.

"The Commission uncovered evidence that manufacturers and sellers may, without reasonable justification, be restricting competition for repair services in numerous ways including: …asserting patent rights and enforcement of trademarks in an unlawful, overbroad manner; disparaging non-OEM parts and independent repair; using unjustified software locks, digital rights management, and technical protection measures; and imposing restrictive end user license agreements."

In a blog post summarizing the announcement, iFixit writes that the FTC's statement should send a clear signal that the tide has turned against anti-repair manufacturers. Despite the considerable lobbying force of these billion-dollar corporations, the FTC has found the actions to be in violation of its policies.

"If manufacturers continue to restrict independent repair, they could find themselves on the wrong end of an FTC enforcement action, and on the hook for sizable penalties," iFixit writes.

iFixit plans to continue to urge the FTC to take more action against anti-repair manufacturers and create new rules that prohibit unfair and deceptive repair restrictions that it says hurt device owners and stifle competition in the repair market.

The FTC admits that in the past, focusing on unlawful repair restrictions has not been a priority for them, but that changes today.

"The Commission has determined that it will devote more enforcement resources to combat these practices. Accordingly, the Commission will now prioritize investigations into unlawful repair restrictions under relevant statutes such as the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and Section of the Federal Trade Commission Act."

Image credits: Header photo licensed via Depositphotos.