“A complex file”, “indirect policing”… the QualiRépar label is not popular in the Thau basin

Rudy Moreso affiche les flyers du label pour communiquer les réductions auprès de ses clients. Midi Libre – Kelman Marti

Peu de réparateurs sont, ici, labellisés QualiRépar. Au grand dam de clients qui ne bénéficient pas de réductions tarifaires.

In December 2022, the State launched the repair bonus as part of the anti-waste law. The objective is to have household appliances repaired as much as possible instead of replacing them.

How it works ?

At checkout, in stores approved by the QualiRépar label, customers benefit from a reduction, sometimes from a certain threshold depending on the device concerned . As for repairers, they must request a reimbursement of the amount deducted from consumers from one of the two companies managing the label, namely Ecosystem or Ecologic.

If the model seems to work like clockwork on paper, this is not the case in the Thau basin. Only two computer and telephone merchants have the label. As for other repairers, they don't have it for various reasons.

Administrative, the main problem

"The file is so long and complex to put together that it quickly discourages you. I am short of staff, so I devote myself first to repairs,” explains Cyril Audiot, manager of the Pro & Cie in Sète, which thought about making the request before changing its mind. Éric Briard of Proxi Confort Balaruc shares this opinion.

"It has a good intention, but there are too many documents to provide. It was done by European technocrats,” points the finger at the one who was unable to label his store subcontracting the repairs.

The problems don’t just stop at the administrative level. They are also financial. For repairers, count between 447 and 724 euros for three years of labeling. "With such a sum and in this period of inflation, I prefer to pay for several months of electricity", sighs Cyril Audiot.

"This label is indirect surveillance to monitor consumers and traders. The data provided could allow the State to know the consumption habits of customers, in order to carry out targeted advertising, and to know if repairers are doing 'black'" , thinks Grégory Scher of SOS Greg.

Mixed approvals

Despite these problems pointed out by some, other repairers have taken the step. "Having QualiRépar is an investment. It gives a good image and it’s good for the environment. Consumers, nine out of ten of whom do not know that they can benefit from the repair bonus, are satisfied, reveals Rudy Moreso, head of Phonéo in Balaruc. However, we waste more than 1.5 hours per day compiling files to get reimbursed for the amount that the customer does not pay. And, one time in twenty the request is refused."

To avoid this waste of time, Pietra Rodant, manager of Appel un geek in Sète, designed software himself to do "the paperwork automatically". "The customer data goes into the repair bonus file by itself, then I just have to send", smiles the computer scientist wishing, like everyone else, rapid improvements to make the model simpler.

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