Table A1.

Template of the online survey

IndexDescription/questionAnswer options
Past experience 1These questions relate to the time before you applied for the repair voucher.
How often have you made use of the following options in the event of a faulty electronic or electrical appliance?
1. I have ordered the repair of defective electrical appliances from repair companies without the repair voucher
1. Very often
2. Often
3. Rarely
4. Never
5. I cannot say
2. I have repaired defective electrical appliances in repair cafés myself or under supervision without the repair voucher
3. I have repaired faulty electrical appliances at home or at a friend’s home myself or under supervision
4. I have replaced faulty electrical appliances with new ones
5. I have replaced defective electrical appliances with service appliances from work
6. I have replaced defective electrical appliances with second-hand appliances
Past experience 2These questions relate to the time before you applied for the repair voucher
To what extent do you agree with the following statements?
1. I had a positive experience when I tried to repair electrical appliances myself
1. Strongly agree
2. Somewhat agree
3. Somewhat disagree
4. Strongly disagree
5. I cannot say
2. I had a positive experience with getting my devices repaired by repair companies
3. I did not take care of my electrical appliances
Past experience 3How important were the following factors in your decision to replace defective electronic devices instead of repairing them or having them repaired?
1. Unrepairable design (e.g. parts could not be opened)
1. Very important
2. Rather important
3. Rather unimportant
4. Not important at all
5. I cannot say
2. Low-quality device already at the time of the purchase
3. No repair shops or repair cafés in the proximity
4. No pick-up service or on-site repair is offered by the repair service
5. High repair costs compared to the price of new devices
6. Cheap original purchase price of the defective device
7. Compared to a new model, poorer performance (e.g. slower device, shorter battery life and small memory storage)
8. I wanted a new model with a different design (e.g. larger screen)
9. Too time-consuming to take the device to the repair shop or repair café
10. Waiting time for the device during repair
11. No tools were available for the repair
12. No repair manuals were available
13. No suitable spare parts were available
14. I did not consider repair at that time as a possibility
15. I wanted to buy a new device anyway
16. Getting a new device was easier than repairing the old one
17. The device was not important to me
Repair vouchers – informationHow did you find out about the repair voucher? (multiple answers are possible)1. Recommendations from acquaintances
2. Learned about it in the repair workshop/repair café
3. Online media (such as online news and social media)
4. Newspaper articles
5. Television or radio programmes
6. Other
Repair vouchers – year of applicationWhen did you apply for the repair voucher?
(multiple answers are possible)
1. This year (2023)
2. 2022
3. 2021
Repair vouchers – devices repairedWhich appliances have you got repaired by a repair workshop or repaired yourself using the repair voucher? Please list the devicesOpen space
Rebound effects 1Have you bought new consumer goods with the money saved through the repair voucher?1. Yes
2. No
3. I do not know
How did you spend or how are you planning to spend the reimbursed money?Open space
Rebound effects 2Do you still own all the electrical appliances that you have had repaired with the help of the repair voucher? (multiple answers are possible)1. Yes
2. No (I have sold some)
3. No (I have given some away)
4. No (some were lost or stolen)
5. I do not know
 Are all appliances that you have had repaired using the repair voucher still functional since the repair?1. Yes
2. Partially
3. No
4. I do not know
 Are the appliances in active use (regularly used) in your household that you have had repaired using the repair voucher?1. Yes
2. Partially
3. No
4. I do not know
Societal settingTo what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
1. In our society, it is acceptable to replace old but still functioning electronic or electrical appliances
1. Strongly agree
2. Somewhat agree
3. Somewhat disagree
4. Strongly disagree
5. I cannot say
2. In our society, it is acceptable to replace defective appliances instead of repairing them
3. Most people around me think that I should try to repair my appliances before I buy new ones
4. Most people around me expect me to have the latest electrical appliances
5. I find it is important to use my devices as long as possible
6. I grew up in a household where it was normal to replace electronics instead of repairing them
7. No matter what other people do, my own values tell me that it is right not to throw away appliances unnecessarily
Repair competencesWhich of the following statements are most likely to apply to you?
1. I can consult relatives and acquaintances when a device breaks
1. It completely applies to me
2. Somewhat applies to me
3. It does not completely apply to me
4. It does not apply at all to me
5. I cannot say
2. I know how to take care of my electrical appliances so that they last longer
3. I understand how my electrical appliances are constructed and work
4. I know repair stores/repair cafés where I can have electrical appliances repaired
5. I find it easy to repair my devices
6. Repairing electrical appliances is a good opportunity for social interaction
Purchasing electronicsNext, we would like to ask you a few questions about your experiences when buying new electrical appliances.
Which of the following statements are most likely to apply to you?
1. It completely applies to me
2. Somewhat applies to me
3. It does not completely apply to me
4. It does not apply at all to me
5. I cannot say
1. There are enough suppliers in my area where I can buy new electrical appliances
2. I find it easy to buy new electrical appliances
3. I have enough time to buy new electrical appliances
4. I can afford to buy new electrical appliances
5. I know where I can buy electrical appliances
6. I know what to look out for when buying an electrical appliance
7. I can consult relatives and acquaintances when I want to buy a new device
8. Buying electrical appliances is a good opportunity for social interaction
Practices after repair vouchersThis question refers to the time after your first application for the repair voucher.
To what extent do you agree with the following statements?
1. Since the repair voucher, I have become more attentive to device care
1. Strongly agree
2. Somewhat agree
3. Somewhat disagree
4. Strongly disagree
5. I cannot say
2. Since the repair voucher, I repair my defective appliances more often
3. Since the repair voucher, I buy fewer new electrical appliances
Repair decision and the voucher1. Without the voucher, I would not have been able to afford to repair my device(s)
2. The repair(s) would not have paid off without the voucher
3. I would not have repaired the device(s) without the voucher
Satisfaction with the programmeHow satisfied are you overall with the repair voucher programme?1. Very satisfied
2. Rather satisfied
3. Rather dissatisfied
4. Very dissatisfied
5. I do not know
How likely is it that you will take part in the repair voucher programme again in the future?1. Very likely
2. Rather likely
3. Rather unlikely
4. Very unlikely
4. I cannot say
Comments/suggestions for improving the repair voucher programmeOpen space
Satisfaction with the repair sectorHow satisfied are you with the repair services in Thuringia?1. Very satisfied
2. Rather satisfied
3. Rather dissatisfied
4. Very dissatisfied
5. I do not know
Comments/suggestions for improving the repair services in ThuringiaOpen space
GenderWhat is your gender?1. Female
2. Male
3. Diverse
4. I prefer not to say
AgeHow old are you?1. 18–30
2. 31–40
3. 41–50
4. 51–60
5. 61–70
6. Over 70
7. I prefer not to say
EducationWhat is your highest level of education to date?1. No qualification
2. Special school certificate (Förderschulabschluss)
3. Hauptschul-/Volksschule (primary school)
4. Realschule/Mittlere reife or similar qualification (secondary school)
5. Polytechnic secondary school
6. University degree (e.g. bachelor, master, diploma, magister)
7. Doctorate, post doc
8. I prefer not to say
CitizenshipDo you have a German citizenship?1. Yes
2. No
3. I prefer not to say
Net household incomeWhat is your monthly net household income?*
*This refers to the sum resulting from wages, salary, income from self-employment, pension or annuity, in each case after deduction of taxes and social security contributions. Please also include income from public benefits, income from letting, leasing, housing benefit, child benefit and other income
1. Below €1,000
2. €1,000 to under €2,000
3. €2,000 to under €3,000
4. €3,000 to under €4,000
5. €4,000 to under €5,000
6. €5,000 and above
7. I prefer not to say
InterviewCan we contact you for a follow-up interview in the next weeks?Yes, my email address is: …
No

Source(s): Authors’ own work. The original questionnaire was in the German language

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