Austrian Consumer Battles Appliance Failures, Highlights ‘Right too Repair‘ Push
Vienna, Austria – Walter krichbaumer is locked in a frustrating cycle familiar to consumers across Europe: repeated, premature breakdowns of household appliances and a difficult fight for replacements. Over the past year, Krichbaumer’s washing machine, tumble dryer, and freezer all failed well before their expected lifespan, forcing him to navigate warranty claims and company offers he deems inadequate. His case underscores a growing consumer backlash against built-in obsolescence and fuels momentum behind the EU’s recently implemented “Right to Repair” directive.
Krichbaumer’s freezer, purchased for just under 800 euros, stopped working, and the company initially informed him a replacement was unavailable until December. A customer service representative then offered a 349 euro credit toward the purchase price, “as a gesture of goodwill, without recognizing a legal obligation,” and valid for only 14 days. Krichbaumer rejected the offer, stating, “349 euros for a device that cost just under 800 euros is too little,” and opted to wait for a replacement in December.
The experience isn’t isolated.Krichbaumer notes the absurdity of a nearly new appliance being discarded, a sentiment echoed by consumer advocates who point to a systemic issue of manufacturers designing products with limited lifespans. this practice, often driven by cost savings and planned upgrades, generates significant electronic waste and financial burden for consumers.
The EU’s “Right to Repair” directive, first published in 2024, aims to combat this trend by requiring manufacturers to make spare parts and repair information more accessible to consumers and self-reliant repair shops. “Fortunately, something has changed in the EU,” Krichbaumer said. “If you think about it, there’s a freezer that’s brand new and is about to be thrown away – that’s crazy!”