FTC Warns Gaming Companies Over Warranty Stickers:
The Federal Trade Commission has sent letters to eight companies, including leading makers of PC gaming rigs, warning them that their warranty language is a violation of the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (MMWA).
In a statement July 3rd, the Federal Trade Commission staff said statements that customers were required use authorized service providers or manufacturer supplied parts or risk voiding their warranty "may be standing in the way of consumers' right to repair products they have purchased." These "warning letters put companies on notice that restricting consumers' right to repair violates the law," said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection in a published statement on the FTC website. "The Commission will continue our efforts to protect consumers' right to repair and independent dealers' right to compete."
Requiring consumers to use specified parts or service providers to keep their warranties intact is prohibited under the MMWA, unless warrantors provide the parts or services for free or receive a waiver from the FTC. The agency also warned that such statements may be considered deceptive business practices under the FTC Act. Letters issued to gaming hardware makers ASRock, Zotac, and Gigabyte,which market and sell gaming PCs, graphics chips, motherboards, and other accessories, specifically warned about the use of stickers stating that warranties are "void if removed."
In recent years the FTC has increased its scrutiny of companies warranty-related practices and re-exerted its authority to enforce laws like MMWA and other federal laws. It issued similar warnings to six companies in 2018 regarding MMWA violations. A study by PIRG of 50 home appliance makers that same year found that "the overwhelming majority (45) would void warranties due to independent or self-repair." Then, in 2022, the Commission issued orders requiring motorcycle maker Harley Davidson and grill maker Weber to take multiple steps to correct violations of the MMWA including to cease telling consumers that their warranties will be void if they use third-party services or parts, or that they should only use branded parts or authorized service providers. The FTC said it would seek civil penalties of up to $46,517 per violation in federal court.
The agency has also appealed to the public and businesses for stories of manufacturers forcing consumers to use authorized repair providers and threatening to void warranties for those that don't. The Commission has set up a special link for warranty or repair stories and said it wants to hear about consumer experiences across a wide range of products – from cars, kitchen appliances, and cell phones to grills and generators.
(Score: 2) by DrkShadow on Friday July 19 2024, @10:07AM (1 child)
It's pretty decently hard to repair a graphics chip, even if you have a proper hot-air rework station (with board pre heater). It's odd that they'd say graphics chips..
The old nVidia thing where you'd put a tin can on top of the chip with the heatsink removed, pour some gas in and light it on fire to reflow the balls on the chip really isn't a proper repair! ;-D (I tried with a heat gut once. Actually ended up boiling the board around the chip. Oops. Even for proper BGA rework, you can only thermal-cycle the board like five times, right?)
(Score: 3, Interesting) by looorg on Friday July 19 2024, @11:33AM
SMD is always a pain, if you don't have the right equipment it's even more of a pain. Then add that you want to "repair" (or replace) components on a board that have been wave-soldered or machine-soldered (or similar) by hand. The components are mashed so tight, there are no legs beyond the surface or if there are they are cut short. It's very different to repair these boards compared to say a hobby board that requires SMD soldering of a handful of components, that can have been spaced out cause you have the room.
So things are just compounding in difficulty rating. To "repair" is probably out of the question for the most part. At best it's replacement. I guess we can't hope that they once again start to socket common failure components. That just won't be a thing. After all it would add height to the device and it won't be paper thin anymore, I'm sure a few mm of extra space counts. But perhaps they will be forced to redesign their boards so they don't just pack it in and really go out of their way to make it near impossible to fix unless you have robot like precision, perfectly steady hands and perfect vision.
Then you have to find the exact component and if you buy them in singles they are probably super expensive, relatively speaking.
But the sticker telling you that you void the warranty is just as stupid. Reading the article I can't really tell if they are more upset about the sticker or that they require that you use special repair shops, that have the special screwdriver and all that. Perhaps it's both.
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Friday July 19 2024, @03:00PM
When I see "gaming companies", I think software, not basic computer hardware! Sure, a graphics card may be designed for gaming. Yet, without a display-output, the average user would not call that a functional computer. The average user is probably confused as to why they can't always plug-in their HDMI to the motherboard and have to plug it into the Graphics Card.
Still, "warranty void, if removed" stickers should not be included, if it's not enforceable. Most people will just assume that whatever the sticker on the product says is true and the FTC is definitely right for going after the manufacturers.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by mcgrew on Friday July 19 2024, @09:57PM
The Terminator Decoupling
Sheldon doesn't want the illegality of removing the "do not remove" sticker to put in a bigger drive or something. Oh, IIRC its warranty was already expired.
Impeach Donald Saruman and his sidekick Elon Sauron