Appliances are not immune to rising prices. But with the generalization of the repairability index in 2022, consumers should be able to save money.
The rise in prices that most countries are currently experiencing, including France, is not sparing household appliances. To maintain their purchasing power, consumers tend to adopt new habits that are more economical, but also more ecological. With regard to these devices, the tendency is to have them repaired rather than repurchased. A habit that is favored by new rules in this area.
The Covid crisis has raised awareness about overconsumption. Many households have also taken an interest in do-it-yourself and “do it yourself”, realizing that it was neither necessary nor healthy to throw away in order to buy back at the slightest malfunction. But when it comes to household appliances, dexterity is not always enough. It is often necessary to have spare parts. These can be hard to find or so expensive that buying a new device becomes more attractive.
The repairability of household appliances: a factor in consumer choice
“But the introduction of the repairability index has reshuffled the cards. It has been mandatory to indicate this since January 1, 2021 on the sheets of smartphones, laptops, televisions, lawnmowers and porthole washing machines. In 2022, the breach of this obligation has become profitable for manufacturers. And from November 4, top washing machines, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, high-pressure cleaners will also be concerned. “Between two products of equivalent quality and price, studies have shown that if the repairability indices of these two products differ, in 50% of cases, the customer opts for the item with the best index”indicates to Parisian Geoffrey Malaterre, founder of Spareka, a site specializing in the repair of household appliances.
This is enough to motivate manufacturers whose products have a bad score. According to indicereparabilité.fr, in terms of household appliances, Samsung, Sako and LG are among the good students, while Schneider and Electrolux have room for improvement.