The repair bonus has not quite met with the expected success. According to initial feedback from the field, only 6% of the budget allocated to this aid was used for the year 2022-2023. Eager to give this measure a chance, the government recently made logistical changes to make this system more attractive.
Among them, we can cite the adoption of the “superbonus” which even better reimburses interventions on certain categories of products, but also the opening of the QualiRépar label to remote repair solutions.
A bill divided by 10
Since February 15, 2024, platforms that offer remote repair solutions (via video) can request the famous label, which then authorizes them to offer the immediate reduction of the bonus on the final invoice. The details are included in a decree of November 10, 2023, which specifies that “remote repair is understood as videoconference support for the consumer by a qualified professional who covers all or part of the repair stages and results in the repair of a broken device.“
For Spareka, specialist in spare parts and first QualiRépar labeled repairer for remote repair, “remote repair could […] make it possible to double the number of cases of use of the bonus from its first year in the system“Another significant advantage is a further reduction in the bill for certain procedures. The company assures this,”remote repair is up to ten times cheaper than at-home intervention“. An intervention costing on average €136, according to the Consumption, Housing and Living Environment association, remote repairs could more widely democratize the use of repairs.
Helped by the QualiRépar label and the financial assistance of the bonus, Spareka now offers a VisioRepar package at €9.99 per device, which offers “rapid and complete support with a video repairer, from one end of the repair to the other“. A lower and less restrictive price than previous subscriptions, which only offered ten minutes of face-to-face time with a repairer or which committed over six months. The price of parts, if necessary, is also borne by the customer, but here too, the repair bonus can be deducted from the purchase price.
Increase the use of the bonus
And for the moment, the solution seems to have found its audience. Asked by The DigitalsSpareka states that “100 to 150 people per day” asked to take advantage of the repair bonus during the first week of availability of the offer. Enough to increase the number of interventions compared to 2022-2023, which amounted to only 165,000.
A success undoubtedly helped by the fact that, according to the Fnac-Darty after-sales service barometer for 2023, 45% of interventions do not require the replacement of a spare part, but simply expertise. A situation where remote repair is therefore particularly relevant. However, there is no question of counting on the contained cost of remote repair to obtain free repairs, since, as the Ministry of the Economy website indicates “if the amount including tax of the invoice for repair is less than the amount of the bonus, it cannot be granted to you.“
Delighted by the expansion of the availability of the QualiRépar label, Spareka nevertheless notes that to truly democratize repair, “other levers, already identified, need to be activated“First, remedy the weak.”awareness of the bonus among the general public“.