“My desk lamp was thoroughly checked over. Now it’s working again,” say the Weningers, a couple from Waldzell, with great enthusiasm. What a great start to my visit to the Repair Café in Ried. It was their first time there, and they assure me they’re “very satisfied.” I would hear statements like that many more times that day.
It’s barely nine o’clock, and the place is already a hive of activity. People have brought in broken sewing machines, cordless screwdrivers that smell like they’ve been overheated, and computers that are having trouble booting up. “We received nearly 100 requests for this Repair Café event,” co-organizer Bernhard Pointecker tells me.
The procedure
After the first visitors have taken their seats with their “patients” next to the repair volunteers, I take a moment to look around. It’s a large, open space with many individual tables where people work together. The concept behind the Repair Café is“helping people help themselves.” So you can’t just drop off your broken device and pick it up later, all fixed. Here, you have to roll up your sleeves and get to work yourself. But don’t worry—the repair volunteers are there to offer advice and a helping hand.
The free Repair Café has been operating in the Ried district since 2021. Every two months, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., tech-savvy volunteers lend a hand here. “As an environmental and waste consultant at the district waste management association, I see how many electronic devices get thrown away. Many of them might still work if just a small part were repaired,” says co-organizer Sonja Glatzel. According to her annual statistics, two out of three devices work again after being repaired, explains the trained ecologist, visibly proud.
A cheerful attitude is included with this free service ...
One of the volunteers is Hildegard Pötzinger. A trained seamstress, she is one of the older volunteers here, at over 70 years old. She comes regularly from Raab to tackle holes in clothing with her sewing machine. The cheerful retiree has a contagious laugh and spreads good cheer throughout the room.
All the way to the table at the other end, where Cedric, a passionate amateur radio operator and computer specialist, is sitting. The 22-year-old explains that it’s not just the repair volunteers who are highly motivated. “When I was there in Gurten, the people there had already started the repairs before any of us even had a chance to get started.”
“Repair Café – On Tour”is a joint project with various communities. Volunteers grab their tools and set up shop in places where there isn’t a Repair Café. As part of this, a bicycle Repair Café is also offered there as an optional feature. “We were in Gurten the last few times; next year it’s Ort im Innkreis’s turn,” Bernhard reveals.
Why aren't there more cafes like this?
This question comes to mind when I look at the volume of requests. “All that effort probably puts some people off,” Bernhard speculates. He receives countless repair requests via text message, email, WhatsApp, or even by phone. “On top of that, I have to figure out how many volunteers I have available and take care of a lot of other organizational tasks,” he says, describing his responsibilities. Anyone who thinks Bernhard is taking it easy (and deservedly so) while the café runs is mistaken. He keeps records and also takes photos and videos. After all, you can’t afford to neglect your social media presence these days.
Social media is often criticized because it can cause people to lose their social skills. At the Repair Café, it’s a completely different story. “I enjoy talking to people, and it’s not just important to me that an item isn’t thrown away. The social and educational aspects are also reasons why I’m involved,” says Kristina, who has a background in social work, explaining her motivation for being part of the organizing team.
The social aspect is important
I’ve noticed that even at work, people often exchange a few kind words. That’s important, because “even people who don’t have anyone to turn to or a strong social support network come to us with their broken devices,” Sonja explains, with a slightly sad undertone in her voice.
While the roughly ten repair volunteers work alongside their visitors, wielding wrenches or soldering irons, the next group is already waiting for help. When you sign up, you’re given an approximate time frame for when it will be your turn. It’s impossible to schedule a specific appointment because the duration of the repair often isn’t clear until the work begins.
Veronika Hein is one of those who waits patiently. Although there’s a café just one floor below, she prefers to sit on one of the blue sofas with her broken cordless screwdriver. “It smells like it’s burning,” explains the visitor from St. Martin, describing the problem. But she doesn’t want to throw it away and buy a new one, as her husband advised her to do. “We throw away too much.”
Repair Instead of Throwing Away
The Repair Bonus has been in place since April 2022 and has been very well received by the public. This raises the question: Isn’t the Repair Café seen as competition by repair shops? “We’ve contacted the shops and explained to them that the Repair Café is run by volunteers and that we help people help themselves,” says Sonja. If a replacement part is needed, it’s sourced locally by the people here, if available. Live and let live—that’s the motto.
After a few exciting hours, the morning is drawing to a close. The last few devices are secured with screws, and the tools are put away. After a brief feedback session, everyone heads out for lunch together. Some of the volunteers have been part of the team for years. You can really feel that sense of familiarity—the way they interact with one another is almost like family. They chat about this and that. And they’re already making plans for the next Repair Café.
Addendum:
So what happened to the devices? The lamp mentioned at the beginning was successfully repaired (it was just the light bulb that was broken); the sewing machine needed to have its bobbin thread tension readjusted; unfortunately, the Bosch cordless screwdriver didn’t make it. The update was successfully installed on the twelve-year-old Apple computer. However, it no longer runs smoothly on such an old device. It was recommended that I purchase a new computer.
For more information and to sign up for a Repair Café, just click the button.
Sources:
Repair Cafe Homepage
Interviews with the visitors and volunteers mentioned above at the Repair Cafe Ried im Innkreis
Copyright:
All photos – Ingrid Müller
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