Apple Makes Independent Repair Shops Sign Draconian Contracts to Get Official Parts

[TeamMojo]

Despite what iFixIt claims, you don't have a right to repair.
Apple makes these devices. Sometimes it uses glue or other difficult methods to open in the name of saving space or manufacturability. Apple has exacting specs, with big security implications, IP ratings to keep the device free from ingress, and so forth. By allowing shoddy parts in to their ecosystem, it dilutes their brand. They own their brand. So if they want to protect that brand to make sure that all their devices live up to their standards and brand, that's a good thing. They have provided a new way for independent repair shops to get to those standards. If they don't want to participate they don't have to and they can continue to use shoddy parts.

 

[citysnaps]

Makes sense to me.

 

[compwiz1202]

The unannounced audits? Fine, what's the point of an announced audit? If you announce it, any violators will clean up their act for the audit period.

I do have an issue with the rules that can cause a shop to get into trouble if they repair non-Apple devices as well. As well as sharing the customer info.... I am sure that is to put into a database so if they do take their device to an Apple Store, they can go, " Well warranty is now void due to taking it to Joe Repair Shop!" If they want to be able to do that, track the parts, not the customer.

Yea as dumb as pretty much everywhere I've worked having "surprise" inspections, but somehow they know the date and time so everyone cleans and does everything to the tee. but instantly breaks every freaking rule before the big wigs even leave the parking lot.

 

[Jim Lahey]

Two things;

1. If I purchased a used iPhone I would want to know with some certainty that it's unlikely to be full of 3rd party components fitted by an amateur.
2. Apple are possibly tired of opening up iPhones and 3rd party components falling out of them, having previously been fitted by an amateur.

 

[realtuner]

Imagine repairing your own car and then GM fines you for using aftermarket parts.

Horrible analogy. I work in the automotive industry. You better believe that GM (and other companies) perform regular audits on dealers to make sure they're doing everything by the book. And issuing stiff fines for any discrepancies. Including fines based on a percentage of your total invoices if they find a certain pecentage of their sample had discrepancies.

 

[mannyvel]

So if you advertise yourself as an Apple repair partner but you use non-Apple parts to repair, Apple can penalize you. What's the issue?

The only weird thing is that if you go to a third-party repair shop that's Apple-Authorized Apple won't warranty the repair. Isn't the whole point that the repair is just as good as Apple's repair?

The "prohibited parts" section is odd. How are those defined? And what if they use "prohibited parts" for cheaper Apple repairs and the real parts for Apple repairs? That probably means you can't sell "repair #1 using non apple parts" and "repair #2 with apple parts." That's a problem for smaller stores, but probably fine for bigger stores.

 

[laz232]

Imagine you take your GM to an authorized GM repair shop only to find out that they used FORD parts or KIA parts in your automobile. How would that make you feel?

Not a very good analogy considering that almost all car manufacturers get a huge amount of their parts from OEM suppliers (Bosch, conti, etc).

The contract terms surprise me and I'm not sure whether they would be legal in the EU. It goes to show that whatever Tim Cook says about being green and responsible et cetera when it comes to repairs is just basically political BS - My septuagenarian father just fixed an iPhone 6 screen and replace two batteries For my brother and his fiance's phones... Repairing iPhones it's not rocket science and official OEM batteries should be easily available.

(Note, there is not an Apple factory making Apple batteries... Any more than there is a Ford factory making Ford batteries)

 

[Greenmeenie]

Holy crap. I love Apple, but this is like something from a scifi movie. I imagine shattering glass as Apple personnel wearing para military gear rappel from helicopters thru skylights to round up repair technicians Like in a scene from the Tom Cruise movie Minority Report.

 

[CheesePuff]

See for me, I would just create a new business. Operate out of the same location. Put up a drywall, Label one have of the room Suite 1 the other half Suite 2. The new business that only fixes apple products are in Suite 2. There for apple can't take anything in Suite 1. So many loop holes, as well as so what if apple can search 5 years after. close the business down and start a new one, then they aren't entitled to anything

Lol and that's why you're not a corporate lawyer.

 

[macfacts]

Repair shops are required to share information about their customers with Apple, including names, phone numbers, and home addresses.

Privacy my ass.

 

[69Mustang]

Horrible analogy. I work in the automotive industry. You better believe that GM (and other companies) perform regular audits on dealers to make sure they're doing everything by the book. And issuing stiff fines for any discrepancies. Including fines based on a percentage of your total invoices if they find a certain pecentage of their sample had discrepancies.

You're talking about dealers. This is about independent repair shops. Your example has no bearing on independent repair shops. The post you responded to is describing an independent repair.

 

[BeefCake 15]

That's a huge problem in countries without an apple retail/service center, where people depend on authorized service places assuming that "authorized" means they fix gadgets per Apple guidelines. Many of these places make it appear so but turn around and cut corners.

 

[69Mustang]

Draconian? These types of conditions are pretty common in many industries. The 5 years after leaving seems odd, but I haven't see anywhere that’s been confirmed as true.

What industries have conditions like these?

 

[Stromos]

At the end of the day if anything happens to your iPhone expect to pay a fortune to repair legit. End of story. You sign the dotted line you're stuck.

Now tell me how easy it is to switch to Android and buy thousands in apps all over again and forget any form of privacy.

Choice in most these markets is an illusion. You pick what you like and once you are rooted they can charge anything they want and change the rules at will. Saying you can replace an entire familys phone ecosystem because you don't agree is completely unrealistic. Saying use something else is unrealistic.

 

[Attirex]

Solution: just buy a new one.

 

[rjp1]

Imagine you take your GM to an authorized GM repair shop only to find out that they used FORD parts or KIA parts in your automobile. How would that make you feel?

I’d be completely fine with that and you would be, too, because you’d likely never know. A lot of car companies share technology with each other. I owned a Ford truck made by Mazda and I’ve owned a Mazda truck made by Ford. Popping the hood was funny, because inside you’d see the name of the other on everything and didn’t match what was on the exterior.

 

[konqerror]

You're talking about dealers. This is about independent repair shops. Your example has no bearing on independent repair shops. The post you responded to is describing an independent repair.

These are independent repair shops that are advertising Apple authorized repairs. This is the same as a dealer, which is, by law, a franchise independent from the automaker. Automakers do not have authorized repair shops that aren't dealers (at least for cars).

It has nothing to do with truly independent shops using aftermarket parts.

 

[larrylaffer]

Imagine you take your GM to an authorized GM repair shop only to find out that they used FORD parts or KIA parts in your automobile. How would that make you feel?

I'd feel better knowing they used the more reliable Ford or Kia parts

 

[rjp1]

... you don't have a right to repair.

As soon as you purchase the device, it is yours. You have the right to do with it whatever you want.

 

[realtuner]

You're talking about dealers. This is about independent repair shops. Your example has no bearing on independent repair shops. The post you responded to is describing an independent repair.

They might be independent shops, but they are repairing Apple devices using official Apple components. Apple has every right to ensure that all devices are being repaired correctly (and the shop isn't substituting lower-priced 3rd party components for genuine Apple components).

 

[jelloshotsrule]

See for me, I would just create a new business. Operate out of the same location. Put up a drywall, Label one have of the room Suite 1 the other half Suite 2. The new business that only fixes apple products are in Suite 2. There for apple can't take anything in Suite 1. So many loop holes, as well as so what if apple can search 5 years after. close the business down and start a new one, then they aren't entitled to anything

yes, all that sounds easy and cheap for any small business to do on a whim.

 

[rjp1]

Can't blame 'em. It's such a high-profile brand, with a well-established litany of 3rd-party vendors trying to edge into the cash flow with crappy parts & bad services. Get your $1000 phone fixed by somewhere other than Apple, and if it starts acting subtly wonky Apple doesn't want you blaming them for it.

Funny, because Apple is known to do bad repairs. If you get the iPhone 7 Audio IC issue and have your phone repaired at Apple, then it is not fixed properly and will fail again. 3rd parties do a fix for the original issue so that the phone is truly repaired.

Apple needs to step on these widespread issues.

 

[69Mustang]

I'm not really sure where you gathered your information, but nearly everything you wrote is incorrect.

The fact is nowadays, many parts are not available aftermarket due to patent and trademark protection (e.g. Mustang bumpers where they stamped the brand into it).

You can get nearly any OEM Mustang part you desire with a mouse click. Here's one of several companies that sell OEM parts. https://www.bluespringsfordparts.com/auto-parts/ford/mustang

The issue is the automotive industry doesn't have (as many) Chinese factories churning out unlicensed and counterfeit parts, like the electronics industry does. A lot of complex aftermarket parts today are actually from the OEM made the original part and retained rights.

You can type almost any brand and part into Alibaba and get a return. https://www.alibaba.com/showroom/ford-mustang-bumper.html Almost all available aftermarket OEM parts don't come from the auto makers. They come from companies like Firestone, Goodyear, Bosch, and a whole host of other companies.

On top of that, there's strict regulation of car parts via DoT/NHTSA for safety reasons, fake parts are often stopped at the border.

Someone can use the alibaba link I posted above and order to their hearts content. People do it all the time. You don't even have to order from overseas to get Chinese made parts. They are readily available here in the US.

I wish we didn't use the automotive industry as a parallel for this discussion. It derails the focus.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Why does it have to be so difficult? If I take my car to a local shop, I would NEVER expect the manufacturer to be responsible whatsoever for anything the local shop does! Do people really think taking their car to "Jones Auto Shop" is the same as driving it to the dealer? Why does Apple feel it would "tarnish" their name? Most of the terms are crap if you ask me, and just add to the already long list of reasons I don't buy Apple computers.

 

[konqerror]

You can get nearly any OEM Mustang part you desire with a mouse click. Here's one of several companies that sell OEM parts. https://www.bluespringsfordparts.com/auto-parts/ford/mustang

You didn't understand what I wrote. Ford sued aftermarket parts manufacturers and they ended up paying for a license for the patents and trademarks. That is, those aftermarket parts have been approved by Ford. It started with the 99-04 Mustang bumper that has the trademarked brand name on it which gave Ford a very strong case. And unlike patents, trademarks don't expire.

Ford Global Technologies LLC Files Complaint for Design Patent Infringement Against United Commerce Centers, Inc.

www.protectingdesigns.com