Samsung Reportedly Asks Independent Repair Shops to Report Customers Using Replacement Parts

If You take In your Samsung device has A independent shop For repair, Samsung requires THE store has send your name, contact information, device identifier, And THE nature of your complaint has THE mothership. Worse, if THE repair store detects that your device has has been previously repaired with A secondary market Or A non-Samsung part, Samsung requires THE establishment has "immediately disassemble" your device And "immediately warn " THE company.

These details were revealed THANKS has 404 Media, which got A contract that Samsung requires all independent repair stores has sign In exchange For sale them authentic repair rooms. Here is THE relevant section Since THE contract: "Business duty immediately disassemble all some products that are created Or assembled out of, Understood of, Or that contain any of them Service rooms not bought Since Samsung. He adds that THE store "duty immediately notify Samsung In in writing of THE details And circumstances of any of them unauthorized to use Or diversion of any of them Service Part For any of them aim other that in accordance has This Agreement. Samsung can end This Agreement if these terms are violated. » Samsung did not answer has A request For comment Since Engadget.

Samsung contract East disturbing — clients WHO take their devices has independent repair stores TO DO not necessarily to wait for their staff information has THE sent has THE device maker. And if they have previously repaired their devices by using third party rooms that are often enormously cheaper that official those (And just as GOOD In a lot case), they certainly TO DO not to wait for A repair store has snitch on them has THE maker And to have their device rendered unusable.

Experts WHO spoke has 404 Media said that consumers are In their rights has to use third party rooms has repair devices they own below THE Magnuson Mousse guarantee Act, A federal law that governs consumer product guarantees In THE UNITED STATES. SO far, RIGHT has Repair legislation exist In 30 States In THE country according to has THE Public Interest Research Band (PIRG), A consumer advocacy organization. But In States as New York, Minnesota And California Or This legislation go In effect This year, contracts as THE A Samsung makes repair stores sign would be be illegal, 404 Media sharp outside.

"This East Exactly THE kind of heavy, unilateral 'agreement' that need THE right to compensation,” Kit Walsh, A staff lawyer has THE Electronic Freedom Foundation said THE publication. "In addition has THE arrangement You mentioned about dismantling devices with third party Components, these create additional dissuasive measures has get devices repaired, which can harm both device security And THE environment as reparable devices wind up In discharges. »

This is not it THE only incident around device repair that Samsung has find himself In hot water. Hours Before THE report Since 404 Media, repair Blog And rooms retailer I fix it announcement that he was END It is collaboration with Samsung has launch A "Repair Hub" less that two years In THE Partnership. “Samsung approach has repairability do not align with OUR assignment," I fix it said In A Blog job, quoting THE high prices of Samsung rooms And THE irreparable nature of Samsung devices that "stay frustrating glue together" as the reasons For pulling THE sheet.