Repair bonus: windfall effect, inflation, complexity of repairs… why the prices of the device have increased ?

Le prix des réparations des appareils électriques et électroniques a augmenté en moyenne de 10 à 15% depuis un an. oonal/Getty Images

Le prix des réparations des appareils électriques et électroniques a augmenté en moyenne de 10 à 15% depuis un an et la mise en place d'aides destinées à inciter à faire réparer, selon l'association de défense des consommateurs CLCV.

The organization analyzed the some 160,000 repairs of televisions, dishwashers and other refrigerators carried out in 2023 with the support of the "repair bonus".

This "bonus", created by law in 2020 and implemented in December 2022, covers part of the cost of the work, to encourage consumers to repair rather than redeem. But according to CLCV's report, "price increases are to be noted during the implementation of the repair bonus", with "an upward trend in the average cost of repair".

Several factors explain it

Between January and November 2023, the average bill to repair washing machines, built-in ovens or cookers increased by 12%. The increase was 14% for televisions. For mobile phones, it’s +18%. The average bill, however, fell by 4% for potable computers.

Several factors combine: the windfall effect, but also the increase in costs due to inflation, the complexity of certain repairs, underlines the report, which recommends that customers “play with competition”.

"Constant monitoring of rates (…) is essential to guarantee the long-term effectiveness of the repair fund", adds CLCV at the address public authorities.

The repair bonus got off to a rocky start, with a gradual labeling of repairers, today numbering 4,700 but still unevenly distributed across the territory (the North, Paris and Bouches-du-Rhône being the least well served by number of inhabitants).

Its amount increased by 5 euros since January 1st

The list of eligible products has been gradually expanded, from 14 when the fund opened at the end of 2022 to 75 today.

Since January 1, its amount has been increased by 5 euros for 21 products such as hobs, hoods, cookers, toasters, irons, and doubled for 5 others among the most frequently used repaired (televisions, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, dishwashers, dryers). Now this support ranges from 15 to 60 euros depending on the device, financed by the '"eco-contribution" included in the price of new devices.

However, the growth in the number of repairers labeled "QualiRépar" remains "below initial expectations", adds CLCV, which mentions in particular the administrative constraints and costs of the process, particularly for small businesses. The eco-organizations Ecosystem and Ecologic, which manage the end of life of electrical appliances, have planned to reduce the cost of labeling from 447 to 200 euros for three years.

The electrical and electronic equipment sector produces some 1.8 million tonnes of waste annually, according to a study by the Sofies council.