Broken Hinges - What action can be taken?
I joined the queue of people with broken hinges last week. A Chromebook that is still in warranty, still perfect condition (except the hinge!) with only light use at home. As many have found mechanical defects are not covered by the warranty (I wonder how that would stand up to a legal challenge based on "fit for purpose" and consumer rights, but I'm not about to get involved in that).
In these days in which most are acutely area aware of the need to reduce electronic waste. manufacturing, reducing plastic it is deeply concerning that products full of valuable resources are being thrown away as a result of what is clearly a very common problem. I might expect this of an unknown-brand but not from Acer who should be leading the way on this. Of course Acer are a business, who want to sell products, and consumers expect Chromebooks to be cheap so there's not an easy fix.
To the questions:
What can we, those with broken hinges and a wish to reduce electronic waste do about this?
Acer representatives, what is Acer as a company doing about this? Recycling is good, in Acer's own words:
The problem of treating the waste of electronic and electrical products has already become among the most pressing international environmental protection issues. It is also a major environmental concern at Acer.
The right to repair movement is also good although I don't know if it will have any impact on broken hinges
But what about preventing the need to recycle in the first place? Acer reps - is this an issue that you as a company are even aware of? Or do sales still rule, and cheap-and-disposable leading the way?
Are there any major campaigns that address this? I didn't find one.
Does anyone know of a computer related magazine that has addressed this topic and I can write to try and build some pressure - for example encouraging product reviewers to heavily promote 'sturdy'?
Or is the only way to change this to ask everyone with a broken hinge or similar to start a consumer rights complaint?
Acer reps and fellow broken-hingers, your feedback please.
