Jim Hightower Happy Hour & The 'Right To Repair' Consumer Movement

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3. I think we understand that one; repair is still a serious, costly issue

Motorbiscuit. .. The practice of upgrading software and then forbidding owners from repairing their tractors means farmers have to buy new equipment or new software. These costs can reach up to $600,000. In 2018, the Equipment Dealers Association (EDA) entered into a signed agreement with John Deere making private repairs easier for farmers. By making things like software guides, diagnostic equipment, repair tools available to farmers. This was supposed to begin on January 1st of this year.

However, Extreme Tech reports that John Deere “isn’t keeping up its end of the bargain.” The “increasingly onerous software lockouts” that John Deere “baked into its tractors” aren’t yet in the past. The deal with the EDA made many states considering adding Right to Repair legislation ease off on the movement. But now, that’s looking like a mistake.

John Deere owners are now dealing with problems with their John Deere tractors. Replacements and small repairs are more and more difficult. Owners have to keep heading into John Deere dealerships for what Extreme Tech calls “trivial repairs.” Certain details like fair pricing and other moving parts of the deal haven’t been attended to. In fact, John Deere doesn’t seem to be implementing any of the necessary changes. These changes must take place in order to make this deal actually better for farmers.

Another John Deere lawsuit could be on the horizon...