Google's excuses are "wearing thin," repair advocate call for lifting repair ad ban

Repair.org has presented Google with a petition of over 6900 individuals asking that Google restore the opportunity for repair shops to buy advertising on Google in a joint campaign action with U.S. PIRG. 

The ban on adverts has been in place for nearly a year and has dramatically impacted the ability of repair, refurb and even advocacy groups such as ourselves to tell consumers about their services. 

The excuse that they needed to protect consumers from charlatans and cheaters has worn thin. Google has figured out how to differentiate between legitimate providers and charlatans in nearly all other service businesses but has failed to apply their skills to electronics repair.  

Given how critical Google search advertising is, we can only assume that they prefer to stifle the legitimate business of independent repair in support of their own financial interests. We provided the full petition to members of the House Subcommittee on Antitrust and to the FTC. 

Google’s heartless ban on repair ads has already sent some repair shops under. In the middle of a pandemic, when foot traffic is almost nil, how are you supposed to reach customers?