In its services and repair terms and conditions, Google says it will keep devices sent in for repair if they have a non-OEM part.
  • FuglyDuck@lemmy.worldEnglish
    121·
    5 months ago

    this seems illegal.

    Assuming somebody other than google owns the phone (The individual, the carrier.) that now becomes theft.

    • Kairos@lemmy.today
      437·
      5 months ago

      I don’t think it is because TOS. It would become illegal if they insinuate otherwise (such as stating they will send back your phone once they’re done such as in advertising.)

      Edit: oh right warranty restrictions/regulations never mind.

      • FuglyDuck@lemmy.worldEnglish
        71·
        5 months ago

        Do you really not send your phone off for repair without the expectation that it’s returned when the repairs are complete?

        Refusing to service modified hardware is one thing. Keeping the device is theft, and no ToS has the power to change that.

        • hoshikarakitaridia@lemmy.world
          21·
          5 months ago

          Reminds me a bit of ASUS’ current bold strategy to hold customers ransom over their graphics cards through pressure and deception.

          Sounds pretty unenforceable to me.

          • bluGill@kbin.run
            27·
            5 months ago

            Magnuson-Moss comes to mind. non oem parts cannot be used to deny warranty coveragi

          • seathru@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
            11·
            5 months ago

            The same ones preventing me from opening “Joe Bob’s Pet Grooming and Laptop Repair Emporium” and then stipulating on the 3rd page of the TOS that I get to take ownership of anything that arrives on a Thursday.

  • brbposting@sh.itjust.works
    30·
    5 months ago

    This behavior isn’t unique to Google either; Samsung and Apple also engage in similar anti-consumer conduct. For example, in the report about Samsung mentioned earlier, it was found that Samsung requires independent repair stores to disassemble a customer’s product if it has a non-OEM part.

    wat

    Give me a break OEMs wtf

  • Aurenkin@sh.itjust.works
    311·
    5 months ago

    This is one of the many reasons why I advise people never to buy anything directly from Google and always go through a retailer. You basically have zero recourse with Google. If a retailer screws you over you can at least charge back as a last resort but Google has your account hostage. What can you do if they just decide to pull some bullshit like this?

    • wreckedcarzz@lemmy.worldEnglish
      16·
      5 months ago

      This was the straw that broke yada yada, and why I moved my data out of G a few years ago. If I pulled a cb and they axed my account, I’d lose some gift card info in gPay (that I have backed up in bitwarden), some YT uploads, and the general account, but nothing of value.

      But most people aren’t in my situation, unfortunately.

  • jordanlund@lemmy.world
    721·
    5 months ago

    I can’t see anyone using non-OEM parts sending their device back to Google, they’ll just use their shady local fix it shop.

        • pivot_root@lemmy.world
          91·
          5 months ago

          I wouldn’t call the repair sweatshops used by OEM manufacturers any better. Fix it yourself.

          • AlligatorBlizzard@sh.itjust.works
            5·
            5 months ago

            Yeah, but they fucking glued the battery to the screen!

            On that note, anyone know any good repair shops in the Twin Cities? My LG G8 needs a new battery.

            • pivot_root@lemmy.world
              2·
              5 months ago

              “This thing is shit, but something exists that is worse~~, therefore this thing is good now!~~ Fuck the system, I’ll do it myself.”

              FTFY.

    • Farid@startrek.website
      91·
      5 months ago

      I think you got downvoted because the way you said it implies that all 3rd party repair shops are shady. But it’s true, that the vast majority of repair shops are shady in places that I have lived.