🚀 go-pugleaf

As an electronics technician with a concern for the environment I have
seen another worrying trend.  In recent months I have seen the
following:

1. A manufacturer has located its spare parts warehouse to Australia.

2. Another manufacturer has sent out a directive to minimise local
stocks of spare parts and only give a good level of support for warranty
service.

3. The use of contract warehousing for spare parts instead of keeping it
in-house (this introduces difficulties in administration and technical
backup for the repair trade).

4. Proprietary components are priced at a such level as to make repairs
outside of an appliances warranty to be uneconomic.

These factors combine to make consumer goods an increasing part of our
"throw away society".  This has implications on attempts to minimise the
waste stream.  Electronic equipment contains valuable and hazardous
materials.  Unfortunately these materials are difficult to extract
economically in New Zealand.  Electronic circuit boards are sent
offshore to countries with cheaper labour rates as scrap.

Another issue arising from the third point made above is that
manufacturers are defying the "spirit" of the Fair Trading Act.  Under
the Fair Trading Act manufacturers or importers must supply spare parts
for "a reasonable length of time".  This is very open to interpretation
does not suggest that spare parts must be at a "reasonable" price.

Can I suggest that legislation is enacted to protect the consumer and
the environment by making electronic and computer equipment
manufacturers more responsible for their actions.  Overseas experience
has shown that manufacturers will rarely voluntarily factor
environmental or social ethics into their business models.