One of the topics I have covered on the show for years has been Right to Repair. Despite the passage of numerous state laws promoting the right to repair, many industries continue to resist meaningful change. A report by U.S. Public Interest Research Group found that among 25 products evaluated across categories such as dishwashers, phones, and gaming devices, nearly 40 percent received a grade of D or F, indicating a lack of accessible repair materials. The report highlights that 48 percent of the products lacked repair manuals, and 44 percent did not have spare parts available. While states like Washington have enacted right to repair legislation with broad public support, enforcement remains a significant issue. Most companies have not adjusted their practices, and there have been no notable repercussions for violations, undermining the potential impact of these new laws.
Why do we care?
The persistence of manufacturer resistance signals that right to repair will remain a long-term structural issue, not a near-term fix. For IT services firms, the strategic play is to bake repairability considerations into procurement guidance and asset lifecycle management services. Helping clients choose vendors who support repairability—or negotiating service-level agreements that account for these risks—can differentiate MSPs. On the advocacy front, this is also an opportunity to align with client values around sustainability and cost control. But be realistic: until enforcement mechanisms gain teeth, service providers should plan for ongoing workarounds and factor the lack of repairability into total cost of ownership calculations for client devices.