In article ,
Roger Hayter wrote:
On 10 Mar 2021 at 11:21:04 GMT, ""Dave Plowman" News)"
wrote:

In article ,
Jeff Layman wrote:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56340077

Will this make any practical difference? If an SMD integrated circuit
goes wrong in a TV, will making the SMD itself available make the TV
"more repairable"? How much will it cost? How much would the complete
circuit board with SMD already fitted cost? Isn't the latter what's done
at present? It seems to me the manufacturers will just charge what they
see fit for the replacement part, no doubt with an exorbitant P&P to
cover "administrative costs".

I had an interesting one with an after market starter motor for the old
car. Basically a modern Denso unit adapted to fit my car by making an
custom adaptor plate. Two companies do much the same - PowerLite and WOSP.
I had a PowerLite, and a small thrust washer broke inside the pinion drive
- allowing the pinion to move freely on its splines, and only engage when
it felt like it. PowerLite don't supply any spares, and the best they
could offer was an new unit at a slightly reduced price. WOSP - who are
slightly more expensive, carry a full range of spare parts. And a fitting
kit for the pinion, which includes this washer (it's a one off - not a
standard washer) cost a couple of quid.

But PowerLite, being cheaper for much the same thing, have the biggest
share of this market. And not supplying spares likely keeps down costs.

Which likely means the average customer wants the cheapest price, not the
availability of spares.

Or perhaps the average customer only finds this out too late?

In my case, yes. The PowerLite website suggests they have UK factories
making the things. Very impressive. But my guess is they are simply a
re-seller of something made elsewhere.

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*Do paediatricians play miniature golf on Wednesdays?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.