Tell Google to end its ban on independent repair shops
How is this fair? Manufacturers can advertise on Google’s search engine, but Google bans independent repair shops from doing the same.
We need to have options when it comes to repairing our devices — it saves us money and reduces electronic waste. Sign our letter to Google asking it to end its ban on independent repair companies.
The ban came out of Google’s attempt to crack down on scammers posing as repair companies. To keep legitimate repair businesses from being shut out, Google said it would create a verification system that would allow them to resume advertising. But Google ultimately just blocked all repair and service companies from running ads.
Manufacturers can still advertise, but the problem with taking your device to the manufacturer for repairs is that the incentive for manufacturers is often to persuade you to replace the device rather than repair it. That’s more money out of your pocket and one more electronic device that’s now waste.
Independent repair services offer an alternative, but people have to be able to actually find them. Google is by far the biggest search platform and most important place for those repair shops to run ads and get noticed.