Fix It, Don’t Toss It: California’s Secret Weapon Against Throwaway Tech
‘LPT: If you live in California, manufacturers of most household electronic goods that sell for more than $100 have to provide spare parts for up to seven years, regardless of warranty status. If they can’t make the parts available to you, they have to buy the product back from you’
This protects you from planned obsolescence, saving money and reducing waste. Here’s why this tip is a game-changer.
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, specifically Section 1793.03, mandates that manufacturers of electronics costing over $100 wholesale, like robot vacuums, laptops, and TVs, must supply repair parts and service literature for seven years after the product’s last manufacturing date, regardless of warranty status.
If they can’t, they’re required to buy back the product at a reasonable depreciated price. This counters manufacturers’ tactics to push new purchases by limiting parts availability, as seen with your Samsung vacuum’s battery issue. It promotes sustainability by encouraging repairs over replacements, reducing e-waste.
For instance, a 2015 Los Angeles Times article highlighted a consumer leveraging this law to resolve a repair issue with Sony, showing its practical impact. Knowing this law empowers you to demand parts or a buyback, saving you from costly replacements and keeping devices functional longer.
This approach offers additional benefits:
- Saves money: Repairing is often cheaper than buying new, especially for high-end devices.
- Eco-friendly: Fewer discarded electronics mean less environmental harm.
- Consumer power: Forces manufacturers to prioritize repairability, challenging planned obsolescence.
Have you ever dealt with a broken device and couldn’t find parts? How would you use California’s Lemon Law to handle a situation like a failing vacuum battery or an outdated laptop?
This Reddit tip is a wake-up call for Californians drowning in e-waste. The OP’s situation—facing a broken device with no parts available—pits consumers against manufacturers who’d rather sell you a new gadget than fix the old one. It’s a classic David vs. Goliath showdown: you want your vacuum’s battery replaced, but the company’s banking on you upgrading instead. This law flips the script, forcing manufacturers to prioritize repairability or face consequences.
The broader issue here is planned obsolescence, where products are designed to fail early, pushing endless replacements. In California alone, 6.4 million tons of e-waste were generated in 2021, per the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. Laws like Song-Beverly aim to curb this, promoting sustainability by keeping devices in use longer. It’s not just about saving money—it’s about reducing the environmental toll of discarded electronics piling up in landfills.
Elizabeth Chamberlain, director of sustainability at iFixit, puts it perfectly: “Right-to-repair laws empower consumers to take control of their devices,” she told Wired in a 2023 article. Her point? Laws like this give you leverage to demand parts, keeping your gadgets alive. For the OP, this means they could insist on a vacuum battery or a buyback, sidestepping the “just buy a new one” trap. It’s a small but mighty step toward a circular economy.
So, what’s the play? If your device breaks, check its wholesale cost (often over $100 for big-ticket items) and contact the manufacturer for parts. If they can’t deliver, cite Section 1793.03 and request a buyback. Document everything—emails, calls, receipts—to strengthen your case. Curious how this law applies to your gadgets? Share your thoughts in the comments—what’s worth repairing in your home?
Here’s how people reacted to the post:
The Reddit community didn’t hold back, serving up a mix of cheers, skepticism, and side-splitting quips about this law. From dreaming of nationwide adoption to debating whether it covers iPhones or Teslas, the comments are a wild ride. Grab some popcorn—here’s what the internet had to say.
![[Reddit User] − What a wonderful law that moves in a more sustainable environmental direction. Everywhere should adopt this law, since manufacturers that used to make great products 20 or 30 years ago now seem to intentionally build them to break in a year or two. Quality is the exception, not the norm anymore.](https://en.aubtu.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/248527cm-05.png)
![[Reddit User] − I'm not a lawyer, but I'm almost 100% certain that this doesn't mean whatever you think it means. For starters, it specifies the *wholesale* cost, which is lower than the retail cost. Your $1,000 iPhone 11 most likely has a wholesale cost of at least $100, but don't expect to be entitled to service for your $109 Black and Decker cordless drill.](https://en.aubtu.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/248527cm-06.png)
These are Reddit’s hot takes, but do they hold up? Is this law a consumer’s dream or a legal maze? Tell us what you think!
California’s repair law is a lifeline for your wallet and the planet, turning the tables on manufacturers who’d rather you toss than fix. Have you ever been stuck with a broken gadget and no parts in sight? How would you use this law to save your favorite device—or would you rather upgrade? Drop your stories below and let’s spark a discussion!
