FTC Probes John Deere's Repair Policies Amid Legal Concerns
FTC Investigates John Deere's Repair Policies
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is examining whether John Deere has engaged in **unfair practices** concerning the repair of its agricultural equipment, which may breach the FTC Act. This inquiry was unveiled by data analytics firm Hargrove & Associates, Inc. (HAI), as it faces a civil investigative demand (CID) from the FTC to provide sales data.
John Deere's Response to the FTC Inquiry
As reported by Reuters, John Deere expresses apprehensions that disclosing the information requested by the FTC might jeopardize its business relationships. During an ongoing investigation, John Deere spokesperson Jen Hartmann stated, “We are cooperating with the FTC, at this time we cannot comment any further.”
Legislative Concerns and Customer Rights
Recently, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) cautioned John Deere regarding possible violations of the Clean Air Act, stemming from omissions in their manuals about customers' rights to select a repair shop for servicing their emission control devices.
The Right-to-Repair Movement
John Deere has emerged as a prominent target in the right-to-repair movement, which, alongside companies like Apple, advocates for enhanced customer choices in equipment maintenance through third-party services. However, companies resisting such trends often cite security concerns.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.