John Deere, a global leader in agricultural machinery renowned for its innovation and iconic green tractors, is costing American farmers $4.2 billion annually by imposing restrictions that prevent them from repairing their own equipment. This practice forces farmers to rely on authorized dealers for maintenance, significantly inflating costs and limiting timely repairs during critical farming seasons.
Similar tactics are employed by tech giant Apple, known for its sleek devices and proprietary systems, e-commerce powerhouse Amazon, famous for its vast marketplace, and major automakers, who integrate software locks and restrictions on vehicle diagnostics. These strategies are not only detrimental to consumers and independent mechanics, undermining their ability to save costs and sustain local businesses, but also boost corporate profits by keeping control over repair services and parts firmly in-house. This growing trend raises concerns about consumer rights, affordability, and the future of independent repair industries.
NEW: John Deere is costing American farmers $4.2 billion a year by restricting them from fixing their own tractors.
— More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) November 18, 2024
Apple, Amazon and major automakers use the same strategies on everything you own.
It's bad for consumers and local mechanics, but excellent for corporate profits. pic.twitter.com/w7dVvWBcI4
