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Apple Makes Independent Repair Shops Sign Draconian Contracts to Get Official Parts
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Very simple. If you replaced the battery in 1,000 iPhones over a year, then you should have invoices showing those 1,000 customers paying for a battery replacement. You should also have ordered 1,000 genuine batteries from Apple. If you only ordered 800 batteries from Apple, then where did the other 200 come from?
This is the type of information that comes out during an audit.
Much as I hate to admit it, sometimes I think Louis Rossmann probably has a point about Apple and service.
What? What article did you read? Or what article did I mis-read? Where does it ever mention that the independent repair shops were advertising Apple authorized repairs?
This is absolutely untrue. Where are you getting this stuff?
You are very confused. This whole article is about Apple's new program to have authorized independent repair shops for mobile devices. Start over and read the articles from the very beginning.
Apple to Allow Independent Repair Shops to Service Out-of-Warranty iPhones With Genuine Parts
Apple today announced it is launching a new Independent Repair Provider Program that will provide independent repair businesses with the same Apple...
www.macrumors.com
You also don't know anything about cars if you think there's authorized non-dealership car repair shops. That is fundamental to how dealers work: the bulk of profits come from non-warranty service, not on the cars they sell.
Don't blame Apple, blame the counterfeiters.
Apple has every right to have these requirements and consumers deserve to know whether they are receiving genuine Apple parts or not, and how those parts will be warranted. Apple has minimum standards, too bad many of you don't like that.
Apple has every right to have these requirements and consumers deserve to know whether they are receiving genuine Apple parts or not, and how those parts will be warranted. Apple has minimum standards, too bad many of you don't like that.
I work in one, we are authorized for VAG, Toyota, Ford and Peugeot/Citroen we are not a dealership we are independent.
You're not in the US. In the US they have them for specialty vehicles, trucks, and sometimes fleets, but not for the public.
Imagine someone stole your phone, open up the phone and fried the memory . They take the phone to this repair shop to fix. Since this repair shop is apple authorized repair shop, they have all the tools, parts and software needed to fix one for small fee ( assume this phone is under applecare+ ) without worrying this shop provide the contact infos to apple . This guy will walk away with cheap brand new iphone without any consequences .
This is why i understand why Apple put information sharing clause in this case.
I have no problems with this... The name, number and address seems a little weird but I have no issues with Apple making use people know they are receiving work that isn’t covered by Apple. I’d do the same if it were my company. The unofficial work does not represent my work.. well done Apple.
So you can do full warranty work on a vehicle the same as an actual dealer?
For dealers over here the process for doing a warranty claim are typically:
- Identify the problem.
- Some repairs may require an authorization (like for a complete engine) before the dealer can go ahead with the repairs.
- Order the necessary parts from the supplier (GM, Toyota or whoever the manufacturer is). These parts are sold to the dealer at a wholesale price.
- Replace the parts and complete the repair.
- Warranty clerk submits a claim to the manufacturer listing all parts used and the labor time spent.
- Manufacturer reimburses dealer for the value of the parts/labor. For parts the dealer is reimbursed at the retail price.
Is this how it works for you, or are there any differences?
Edited: Forgot one more thing. Some parts may need to be returned to the manufacturer as cores while other parts may need to be retained for a period of time in case engineering wants them back to inspect.
There's nothing in that article that backs your claim. You claimed: These are independent repair shops that are advertising Apple authorized repairs. Nothing in that article states anything like that. You're taking liberties and misrepresenting what's actually in the article.
https://www.bodyshopatl.com/certified-ford-body-shop-atlanta/
This shop is not a dealership and is certified to work on Fords and other brands. Ford has a Ford Certified Collision Network. You don't have to be a dealer to participate.
How is that? All my 1980s Apple II gear are easily repairable with off the shelf components unlike the invasive and oppressive Apple practices today.
Again you are dead wrong and refuse to admit it. You are very confused by the name. The program is called "Independent Repair Provider".
It is "Independent" in that they do not have to offer sales, warranty service, Macs or have a fancy showroom (like Apple Premium Resellers or Apple Premier Partners) or have some affiliation (college bookstore).
They are not talking about shops outside this program.
The capitalization of "Independent Repair Provider" means it is a proper noun. It is different from "an independent" repair provider.
Independent Repair Provider Program - Official Apple Support
Independent Repair Provider Program
support.apple.com
You were proven to be wrong because you can't find an authorized repair shop, only body shops. Body shops are funny, dealers may or may not do collision, but they are required to offer other types of repair. Again, you were wrong.
It may be different in North America but there are tons of places without official Apple Stores.
I understood everything you wrote. What you wrote has nothing to do with the topic. Ford didn't sue manufacturers. They sued one company. Regardless, that has nothing to do with independent repair shops getting OEM parts. Independent repair shops can easily get OEM parts. Heck individuals can easily get OEM parts.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.
Again, dead wrong
Hoofbeats - Ford Protecting Mustang Trademark
How does Ford pursuing legal action to protect their Mustang trademark affect the aftermarket industry and the hobby as a whole - Mustang Monthly Magazine Online
Non-OEM Parts Industry’s Fight Over Ford Patents Reaches Federal Appeals Court
Both sides of the Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA) lawsuit challenging Ford Motor Company’s design patents on replacement crash parts laid out their arguments this summer to a federal appeals court.
www.autobodynews.com
Exactly that except ALL warranty work has to be authorised first and all warranty labour times are set by the manufacturer (if you do the job in less time it's good for you if you take more time then tough that's your loss) All parts are supplied by the manufacturer via the local dealer at no outlay cost to us.
Actually, this bothers me most of all. It allows Apple to send sub-standard components without reprisal. Additionally, I've seen Apple deny coverage to entire products due to a portion of the product not being under warranty.
Apple could send a cooling fan with a substandard motor, said motor fails, and then use that as an excuse to not repair a screen. Something similar happened to me, so this isn't a pie-in-the-sky situation. In the end I replaced my damaged part (on my own dime) so that Apple would honor their own warranty.
I think what TeamMojo was getting at was iFixIt shouldn't be able to dictate how repairable a device's design should be to the original designer/manufacturer - not that an end user doesn't have a right to do as they please with a device once purchased. I personally agree with both points (provided my understanding was correct of the first post).
I worked at an Apple dealer that was also authorized back in the 80's. They were always having problems getting parts. The owner was constantly complaining about Apple and that if it wasn't for their contracts with several schools to fix their Apple ]['s, they would drop Apple flat. They were waiting a really long time for a 'profile(?)' external hard drive. Another shop I worked at in college sold the Lisa's, and then the original Macintosh's, and getting parts was again a real long drawn out process. They had a Lisa sitting on a back bench that was waiting for months for a part that Apple kept promising was going to be there 'soon'. I wonder if it ever showed up. I worked there for almost 6 months.
There were many parts that were not in the 'spares' kit that they ended up needing, that would sometimes take MONTHS to get.
There were many parts that were not in the 'spares' kit that they ended up needing, that would sometimes take MONTHS to get.
Labor times here are also set by the manufacturer. Dealers can do most repairs without an authorization. This streamlines the process and allows customer vehicles to be repaired faster.
However, the potential for fraud is high. Dealers could make claims for work that wasn’t even done, and there’s no way to verify it. This is why audits are done to spot fraud or other issues.
When you say all repairs need to be authorized, is this done via a phone call or do you have actual estimators come out to inspect the vehicle in person? Are you subject to any sort of audit?
Since you say all parts are supplied to you, does that mean you only make money on the labor?
They also supplied all the schematics with the Apple ][. I'd actually suspect that a lot of components are hard to get these days. You can pick up a 6502 on amazon for only $7, but for other things who knows. You can buy generic components off of eBay all day long, just like you can buy random parts for the Apple ][. The problem isn't getting parts, the problem is figuring out the quality of those parts.
I've replaced a couple of iPhone screens. Most of the time the colors are fine; occasionally the screen is wonky. You can't really tell the difference until it's too late. Would I like an Apple part option? Sure. But at how much? I can buy 5-7 different screens for the price Apple charges ($149 for an iPhone 7).
On Apple's site for the Independent Repair Program, under What are the Requirements, it lists the following:
"Technician Certification
Participating service companies using iPhone genuine parts are required to have Apple-certified technicians perform the repairs.
Becoming certified to repair Apple products requires passing exams through an online Authorized Testing Center. Certifications are updated on a per product basis annually. The certification exam fees are waived for businesses that have been approved to be an Independent Repair Provider."
Given that Apple controls the components they are providing to the repair shop, the training and certification the repair technicians are receiving, and disallows the use of any non-genuine/unauthorized parts in device repair - why exactly should this be out of warranty?
It seems to me Apple is trying to benefit from a level of control they would get if they owned these shops while ignoring all of the downsides that would rightfully earn them that control.
"Technician Certification
Participating service companies using iPhone genuine parts are required to have Apple-certified technicians perform the repairs.
Becoming certified to repair Apple products requires passing exams through an online Authorized Testing Center. Certifications are updated on a per product basis annually. The certification exam fees are waived for businesses that have been approved to be an Independent Repair Provider."
Given that Apple controls the components they are providing to the repair shop, the training and certification the repair technicians are receiving, and disallows the use of any non-genuine/unauthorized parts in device repair - why exactly should this be out of warranty?
It seems to me Apple is trying to benefit from a level of control they would get if they owned these shops while ignoring all of the downsides that would rightfully earn them that control.