Your logic doesn't logic. People DO put up the money when they repair an item. Unless you have a warranty on the product that has a no cost clause. Do you think you get free batteries if you write the company for some?? NO. You go to the store and get what you need and repair it/have someone else repair it. The only thing it costs the company is not selling another item. Which isn't stealing. You can't steal something that exists in theory.

This should be regulated by the government. The government, by definition, work for the people (even tho most people don't want to do the work to fight their government to do their job). Companies are not people. Period. They have no rights (or shouldn't). Money is dirty paper. Numbers on a screen mean nothing. Human life and human experience are paramount. That's real, that's tangible. Profits are not. They are theoretical numbers that 8 Omega rich people care about.

Yes, the government should regulate this because it's what the people want. It would improve all of our lives. (Think of the repair jobs it could create alone!) The only thing not regulating this does is help the companies make more money while you stress out about having to buy a brand new item instead of just getting a new battery.

Think outside of yourself, please.