FTC Takes Action Against Weber for Illegally Restricting Customers' Right to Repair
08 July 2022 - 2:52AM
Dow Jones News
By Chris Wack
The Federal Trade Commission said Thursday it is taking action
against grill maker Weber-Stephen Products LLC for illegally
restricting customers' right to repair their purchased
products.
Weber-Stephen Products is a unit of Weber Inc., which is
majority owned by BDT Capital Partners.
The FTC's complaint charges that Weber's warranty included terms
that conveyed that the warranty is void if customers use or install
third-party parts on their grill products.
Last year, the FTC unanimously voted to ramp up law enforcement
against repair restrictions that prevent small businesses, workers,
consumers and even government entities from fixing their own
products.
That policy statement was aimed at manufacturers' practices that
make it extremely difficult for purchasers to repair their products
or shop around for other service providers to do it for them. By
enforcing against restrictions that violate antitrust or consumer
protection laws, the commission said it took important steps to
restore the right to repair.
The policy statement noted that such restrictions on repairs of
devices, equipment, and other products have increased the burden on
consumers and businesses. In addition, manufacturers and sellers
may be restricting competition for repairs in a number of ways that
might violate the law.
Write to Chris Wack at chris.wack@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
July 07, 2022 12:37 ET (16:37 GMT)
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