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Insurance Giant Allstate Buys Independent Phone Repair Company, Joins Right To Repair Movement (vice.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Motherboard: Allstate, one of the largest insurance companies in the United States, just made a curious purchase. Through its subsidiary SquareTrade, the insurance giant bought iCracked, one of the largest independent smartphone repair companies in the country. The acquisition means that Allstate has become one of the most powerful proponents of right to repair legislation in the United States. According to Gay Gordon-Byrne, executive director of Repair.org, which is pushing for the legislation, the company has already loaned a lobbyist to the effort in New Hampshire.
This is potentially big news for the right to repair movement, which is trying to get laws passed in 15 states this year that would make it easier for independent repair professionals to get repair tools and parts for consumer electronics. Thus far, it's been largely a grassroots effort from organizations like Repair.org and iFixit. Companies such as Apple, John Deere, Facebook, Microsoft, and trade organizations that represent huge tech companies have used their considerable political power to lobby against these bills. But Allstate's purchase of iCracked is a potential gamechanger. iCracked is a giant chain that does a lot of third party repairs. A change in the laws would benefit it, and now Allstate, as much as the average consumer. "iCracked has been a major supporter of right to repair, and we really appreciate their valuable contribution to the fight for freedom," Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit, told Motherboard in an email. "I'm optimistic that this partnership will elevate the visibility of the work that we're doing together."
"SquareTrade continues to work with manufacturers as well as the independent repair community," Jason Siciliano, VP and Global Creative Director of SquareTrade told me in an email. "As this issue evolves, we will maintain good relationships and continue to listen to the key players on all sides of the debate and will work towards sensible solutions whether they are led by the industry or regulators."
This is potentially big news for the right to repair movement, which is trying to get laws passed in 15 states this year that would make it easier for independent repair professionals to get repair tools and parts for consumer electronics. Thus far, it's been largely a grassroots effort from organizations like Repair.org and iFixit. Companies such as Apple, John Deere, Facebook, Microsoft, and trade organizations that represent huge tech companies have used their considerable political power to lobby against these bills. But Allstate's purchase of iCracked is a potential gamechanger. iCracked is a giant chain that does a lot of third party repairs. A change in the laws would benefit it, and now Allstate, as much as the average consumer. "iCracked has been a major supporter of right to repair, and we really appreciate their valuable contribution to the fight for freedom," Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit, told Motherboard in an email. "I'm optimistic that this partnership will elevate the visibility of the work that we're doing together."
"SquareTrade continues to work with manufacturers as well as the independent repair community," Jason Siciliano, VP and Global Creative Director of SquareTrade told me in an email. "As this issue evolves, we will maintain good relationships and continue to listen to the key players on all sides of the debate and will work towards sensible solutions whether they are led by the industry or regulators."
News at 11
...Allstate got tired of buying people entire new phones when they cracked a screen...
Things like materials to repair expensive handbags, watches, other status products. They'll have to hand it over since it'll be cold day in hell before they'll give up on the US market.
"Through its subsidiary SquareTrade"
You mean the folks who charge for warranties and make 98% profit off of it.
Yeah. Ok.
Allstate is regularly on the hook for the costs of auto repair. The right to repair would lower those costs significantly.
According to Gay Gordon-Byrne
Look, there's no need to resort to name-calling.
They might... but I think its mainly a backdoor to auto or other heavier equipment repair. With makers like tesla not providing any repair info and other manufacturers pushing that route, the writing is on the wall. Much easier to get the public stoked about gadgets and gain some good will.
Only 2 shops in an area being able to replace/reset blown airbags in a new vehicle causing Allstate to total the car isn't much of a motivator since the claimants still get paid.
You can be sure that Allstate has a crapton of lawyers on salary and they almost certainly have a plan for getting the Right to Repair through or they wouldn't have made this play. I see this as the biggest win yet for RTR!
Why would they be on the hook for a lot since the customer's the one paying for the extended warranty (after the manufacturer's warranty expires)?
Then why are so many being dropped on the ground and broken? Sounds more like butter fingers to me.
would make it easier for independent repair professionals to get repair tools and parts for consumer electronics
(My bold)
That's not enough, although it's a start. These parts need to be available to consumers too.
Delusion.
If they do keeping the tractors operating might be important as well.
Looking at the last 40 years of history one would wonder what the insurance company's Real Motive was.
It is not to help Right To Repair, and it Has Never been to help You.
Please stop being Sheeple. Look at the past to get an idea of the future.
And now they can install a tracker and in know location, time spent, speed; inferring all kinds of habits and activities that might have a direct impact on your risk as an insurance customer.