81–90 of 336 posts
Correct me if I am wrong, but under ISDS rules (a la TPP/TTIP), companies could now sue Sweden for potential lost profits as a result of this legislation, right? (Assuming Sweden is signed onto an ISDS treaty, which it probably is not).
Correct me if I am wrong, but under ISDS rules (a la TPP/TTIP), companies could now sue Sweden for potential lost profits as a result of this legislation, right? (Assuming Sweden is signed onto an ISDS treaty, which it probably is not).
Tax breaks on repairs would not adversely and unfairly impact companies possibility to sell in Sweden.
What we really need is financial penalties on companies that make stuff deliberately hard to repair. Set up a department of the Consumer Rights Bureau (or whatever it's called) where people can report devices the've been unable to fix due to deliberate obfuscation/etc., and that forces manufacturers to refund the consumer the entire purchase sum of that device no matter how old it is. Anecdote: my washing machine rec…
Could a company hypothetically create an extremely solid phone with interchangeable parts when upgrades become available, and it's not done just because they profit more with the current model? Or is this just not feasible?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's not "only" to screw consumers over. IMEstimation, vanishingly few consumers would repair a washer with a bearing failure, most because they assume the service call and repair would be $400+ and the new machine only about double that, so might as well just buy a new one. And the failure mode either sounds dramatic (like a jet engine coming apart in the spin cycle) and/or the machine starts putting brown grease on…
>>And the failure mode either sounds dramatic (like a jet engine coming apart in the spin cycle) and/or the machine starts putting brown grease onto the clothes, making people believe the problem is not a simple one. Great insight. I wonder how far we (as in general society) have come from the science/technology aspects of our day to day life. Even repairing simple machines like a washing machine is almost beyond the…
>... even with the availability of all the tools needed.
This is often a first problem, actually. I've had a few times in my life where I've been completely without handtools. Upon first moving out, for example, upon moving out again: After splitting with my ex, and moving to to a new country.
So if I would sit here and start looking at a washing machine that is broken, I have to buy parts, hope it is user-serviceable, plus make sure I have the handtools or buy them. Afterwards, I know there is a bit of risk that I've repaired this badly or that the source for the instructions were wrong. In addition, if I had to replace a large part, I also have to deal with disposal (not all places will take large items often).
If I'm limited on money, there are generally other choices. A used washer from a dealer or a new, bottom-of-the-line washer on clearance or something sometimes runs the same money - plus I get some sort of promise it'll work or be replaced. It might be possible to repair it if there is a repairman in the area, but I'm gonna balance that out with the cost of the other options.
In addition, with something like a washing machine, I have to figure out if I can wait 2-3 weeks on a part. Do I have time to go to the laundry place? Can I afford both the part and to pay to do laundry? Can I do it over at a friends house for a few weeks? If this doesn't fix the machine, can I afford to try again with a another part? (this last statement is often a sore point when folks are fixing their own vehicles).
And this is assuming someone is mechanically inclined enough to do it or try it, if they think it is a reasonable risk (don't want the washer catching fire) and other things I'm sure I'm missing.
Correct me if I am wrong, but under ISDS rules (a la TPP/TTIP), companies could now sue Sweden for potential lost profits as a result of this legislation, right? (Assuming Sweden is signed onto an ISDS treaty, which it probably is not).
They will be once the EU signs CETA next month.
I believe current trade deals already include them so CETA would not materially change that.
ISDS is a red herring
Could a company hypothetically create an extremely solid phone with interchangeable parts when upgrades become available, and it's not done just because they profit more with the current model? Or is this just not feasible?
I fail to understand why Scandinavian politics always manage to make sense. Is that cultural, historical, economical, or does the tough climate force people to think a little bit more about how they manage their society?
I see why you and many others living outside of the region would think that. Sweden is very good at only extolling her perceived "virtues" and sweeping the rest under the rug. Waaaay under the rug. There is a real moral and intellectual superiority among many Swedes that I find deeply distasteful. From environment to politics to how to bag your groceries, and yes--even close a door properly, the "Swedish way" is alwa…
[1] http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/jun/...
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not a rumour. When asked what profession he would have had he not gone into politics, he answered "priest".
That's true. Just proves the point that it was controversial that somebody with religious tendencies has the lever of power. I should also add Swedish newspapers are somewhat more responsible/rational than Anglo Saxon newspapers (Expressen/Aftonbladet excluded, of course). DN, DI, Dagbladet are all pretty fair to the 'other side'.
This idea seems so sensible it's a no-brainer. (I'm almost dreading the comments explaining why I'm wrong!) The human race is producing unprecedented quantities of non-recyclable "stuff". It's pumped out of the ground as oil, converted into plastics, and after a short life, buried in the ground again. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad if much of it didn't also end up floating in the ocean, being eaten by animals and cont…
Non-petroleum based plastics are a thing, but lag behind in many areas like strength, injection molding quality, UV resistance etc. Recently Lego decided on moving to plant-based plastics, but they expect to need more than a decade of R&D by a team of 100 people, costing $150 million, before these materials are up to Lego's quality standards. http://cen.acs.org/articles/93/i26/Lego-Replace-Oil-Based-Pl...