A large majority of German consumers are in favor of swift improvements in the repairability of technical devices. This is revealed by a Forsa survey commissioned by the Consumer Center Federation of Germany (VZBV), which was reported by the newspapers of the Funke Media Group (Tuesday editions). According to the survey, 89 percent of Germans consider it rather or very important that the federal government introduces a right to repair.
The survey also shows that a significant majority of Germans are in favor of manufacturers making statements in the future about the repairability and lifespan of technical devices, and providing binding information about the lifespan of a device. The majority of consumers (90 percent) would consider binding manufacturer statements about the lifespan of an electrical product rather or very important when making a purchase. Similarly, 87 percent of respondents would find it important if a device is repairable, meaning that spare parts or software updates are available.
According to the survey, 77 percent of Germans say that repairing a device is currently too expensive. Half of the respondents (50 percent) consider a repair too complicated, 42 percent say they were discouraged from having a device repaired by a professional, and 30 percent claim that a suitable spare part was missing.
Looking at the costs of repairing a defective device, a majority of Germans are also in favor of state support. More than three-quarters of the respondents (78 percent) would have a device repaired if they received a subsidy from the state for it. There have already been positive experiences with regional pilot projects in Germany, according to the consumer center.
“A repair must also pay off financially” said Keo Sasha Rigorth, Team Mobility and Resource Protection at the VZBV, to the newspapers of the Funke Media Group. “A nationwide repair bonus would not only prevent a lot of waste, but also strengthen a new repair culture. Countries like Austria or France are setting an example.”
The European directive on the right to repair stipulates that repairs must be offered at a reasonable price even after the statutory warranty period has expired for certain product groups. The EU member states, including Germany, must implement the requirement by July 2026.