Apple Announces Self Service Repair Program, Starting With iPhone 12 and 13

[827538]

I am shocked. If the prices are reasonable then I'll be especially impressed. Display, port, and battery replacements would cover 90% of my expected repair needs.

I was never impressed when Apple made 'environmental' claims as they never made the move that actually contributes to lower ewaste. This changes that. I'd love for them to work with iFxitit.

 

[CarAnalogy]

I respect your views but I honestly don’t buy it, phones are still gonna be made no matter what I do with mine etc, and eco waste in my honest view isn’t a thing; it doesn’t damage the planet or world in any way, but I respect your views

Just take a trip down to your local landfill. Most people have never been there. Take one look at that and tell me that waste of all kinds isn’t a problem.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Lawsuits filed against Apple when untrained users try to fix their phones and destroy phones/kitchen tables incoming in 3...2....

So you broke your iPhone trying to fix it?

'Yes. Apple shouldn't trust that kind of task to mortals!'

And you are suing Apple?

'Yes! They are clearly at fault here because they think that normal people can fix their own stuff'


And that will happen, sadly... #TooManyAttorneys

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Just take a trip down to your local landfill. Most people have never been there. Take one look at that and tell me that waste of all kinds isn’t a problem.

I was crushed, a few years ago, when I went to recycle a bunch of aluminum I had acquired, and a large truck backed up to the 'steel pile', and started tossing full size computer racks off the back. Beautiful, and obviously used, computer racks. And the heavy duty ones too. I so wanted to grab a few, but the recycling place does not want people taking things out of there. The consider it theft. But I was so shocked, and so wanted to grab-and-go. They would make fantastic shelves, and audio equipment stands, and so much else. I've seen so much stuff end up there that could be reused as is. It's shocking... People have no imagination, and would rather just throw stuff away. Sad...

 

[medazinol]

Hell has frozen over!

 

[cuiver]

They know this will only cater to a small niche... the majority of users will fall into the Apple Store for support and will be hard steered to the idea that it is cheaper to buy a new one (I don't see anywhere that the repairs at the Apple Store will be per component now, so a single issue may continue to require the complete substitution of the motherboard/screen+top chassis/keyboard+bottom chassis, thus continuing to be really expensive). On the same line, I can only imagine the prices of those parts in a sell to end-user model (win-win for Apple).

In the end the aim is clear, shut down any ongoing right to repair movement and any change of class actions about this matter.

 

[knappeduivel]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.

Any else skeptical?

No. I asked around a bit but it is just you.

 

[bobcomer]

Take it to the store, swollen batteries and the damage they caused are covered for a certain time. Outside of warranty, a top case replacement under a battery fee should be 199.

No store close by, but my MBP wasn't one of the ones covered by the expanded battery warrantee unfortunately. Might be worth getting someone else to fix it now that you mention it! It'd definitely worth the 199 + batteries cost!

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

They know this will only cater to a small niche... the majority of users will fall into the Apple Store for support and will be hard steered to the idea that it is cheaper to buy a new one (I don't see anywhere that the repairs at the Apple Store will be per component now, so a single issue may continue to require the complete substitution of the motherboard/screen+top chassis/keyboard+bottom chassis, thus continuing to be really expensive). On the same line, I can only imagine the prices of those parts in a sell to end-user model (win-win for Apple).

In the end the aim is clear, shut down any ongoing right to repair movement and any change of class actions about this matter.

They also know this will allow near idiots to attempt to fix their own devices, and result in more repair sales, potentially.

Will they give people that can't get it done a discount on dropping it off for a traditional repair? Probably not, but I'm sure there will be people who will try to do that...

 

[jlc1978]

Would be cool if they gave free/discounted parts to people with AppleCare+. Surely it’s cheaper for Apple to send a free screen with zero labor costs rather than fixing a screen in store for $29.

warranty coverage. People are likely to be upset if they do a repair, botch it and Apple says "No mor eAppleCare+ for you." Better to just do it the current way.

 

[grantew1]

This was not on my Apple bingo card.

(but RIP poor iFixit. Getting Sherlocked suuuucks)

You still need tools to fix it...

 

[robotica]

I genuinely can't believe what I have just read This is the best news ever! What is not to love about this? I guess the prices but we will need to wait and see just how bad that will be. This should have been done from the very beginning but good on them for understanding repair is super important for people.

 

[SBlue1]

There will be a photo "hall of horrors" of botched DIY iPhone repairs!

People should be more conscious - if they really aren't comfortable, let Apple fix it. It's a consumer choice, which is great to have the option, but just because you can, doesn't mean you should!

I don’t think this is different to cars. Those who can fix broken parts themselves. Everybody else lets a shop fix it.

 

[b656]

Brilliant move, Apple! I think Apple will make more money with this move. Think about all the failed attempts to fix their phones. If you are not successful, you spend more to fix the phone in the end. First you buy parts from Apple. $$$. And you are not going to get a refund on the parts you bought and failed to install. $$$. So the poor guy will just sell the parts on the 2nd hand market. So the poor guy takes his damaged phone to Genius and he will be charged extra for damaging the phone. $$$. Poor guy gives up and buys a new one instead. $$$. Haha, absolutely brilliant.

 

[DinkThifferent]

So this happened today!

 

[SBlue1]

I’m sure the planet wouldnt damage chucking a phone away, it just makes people feel self gaining, in the real world it doesn’t make any difference

That’s the kind of thinking that hurts our planet. Throwing an empty plastic bottle into the nearest river thinking that one small bottle won’t harm anything. And millions of people thinking the same way are eating tuna sandwiches filled with nano plastics.

It’s the numbers dude. Millions and billions of throw away things.

 

[DailySlow]

Start setting aside a few egg cartons, get a magnet.

 

[timber]

This is great for everybody even those that don't intend on using this possibility. It helps to keep professional repairs honest.

But it is particularly great in countries like mine were there are no Apple stores.

It does help to keep devices going. For exemple I have an older iPad Air that is great at a lot of stuff but whose battery has obviously seen better days. I won't pay an 3rd party to replace it but I will risk replacing it, I'm an handy guy, I still build my PCs.

 

[Sedulous]

If I had to guess, the prices of parts will be as high as cost of an Apple repair.

 

[DailySlow]

My take is that a STRONG, CLEAR disclaimer will be in your face before you can hit the submit button when you order parts. You pbly will be voiding Applecare if you still have it in effect (but WHY?????- if you still do - are you going all surgical on your phone/pad/mac?). And Apple will not be in anyway responsible for what you break or data loss.

 

[lepidotós]

This was not on my Apple bingo card.

(but RIP poor iFixit. Getting Sherlocked suuuucks)

iFixit still has a niche in all of the products Apple won't sell parts for, like my iPod classic or any of the Macs in my sig.

 

[DailySlow]

Apply with a toothpick - that or try some WD40 you’ve puddled in a cup and toothpick that on screw.

 

[nicolas_s]

I guess all the independent repair shops will be happy to see this news, since they're here to defend the customer and the right to repair, no?

 

[huge_apple_fangirl]

Wow. Just wow. I wonder if this means Louis Rossman will finally stop ranting about Apple.

Really makes their whole attempt to stop screen repairs on iPhone 13 strange though, if now they are doing a complete u-turn.

There has to be some catch to all this. I just can’t believe it.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

But we can take those official parts and get our friendly repair shop to do the hard work. This is great.

That's up to the shop. Most shops are going to turn away that kind of business (try bringing containers of motor oil and an oil filter to your local auto shop) - it's simply not as profitable as supplying (and marking-up) both parts and labor. Given a preference for what jobs to take on, they're not likely to accept a job that is substantially less profitable.

Now, I've done plenty of "skilled amateur" repairs for friends and family - typical home handyman stuff, as well as some computer repair. I'm not in it to make a profit, so whether someone hands me the parts or I buy them and get reimbursed, there's no mark-up on that cost.

I was also hungry enough, in my youth, to do freelance, labor-only repair/installation work in various recording studios - I charged for the time I spent on purchasing, but my client paid the suppliers directly. I didn't have the money to pay the suppliers in advance and then wait for my client to pay me at the end of the job. I also didn't do a sufficient volume in parts and electronics gear to qualify for a contractors discount.

But basically, once the enterprise scales up from "skilled individual working from home" to "friendly repair shop," the economics necessarily change. Rent, insurance, salaries, etc. take the "labor rate" paid from "100% profit" to a substantially lower percentage. Without the sale and markup of parts, the typical repair shop would quickly go out of business.