Once upon a time, repairing your gadgets and appliances was simple—replacement parts were standardized, accessible, and affordable. Today, companies are making repairs harder than ever, locking consumers out with glued components, limited manuals, and software restrictions.

From pairing parts with unique serial numbers to disabling features when repairs aren’t “authorized,” these tactics leave us throwing away perfectly fixable items and buying new ones. The result? Mountains of e-waste and billions in wasted resources.

While companies argue that limiting repair options helps maintain security or ensures safety, such as preventing dangerous malfunctions in medical devices, these claims are often questioned. Reports from organizations like the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the Food and Drug Administration have found little evidence to support these concerns. Instead, it’s becoming clearer that these tactics are a way to keep consumers locked into a cycle of constant purchasing.

So, what can you do? Support the Right to Repair movement by educating yourself, supporting businesses that offer repair services, and advocating for laws that protect consumers’ ability to fix their own stuff. It’s time to take a stand and push back against a system that benefits from your broken devices.