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

[konqerror]

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?

Just because they took an e-learning course doesn't mean they won't screw up.

If you come up with an online class that guarantees workers would make zero mistakes, the medical, aviation, nuclear power, railroad, trucking, and manufacturing industries would like to have a word with you.

This is no different from an out-of-warranty car or appliance repair. The independent dealer that did the work warrants it, you go back to them if you have problems.

 

[Mike Reed]

Just because they took an e-learning course doesn't mean they won't screw up.

If you come up with an online class that guarantees workers would make zero mistakes, the medical, aviation, nuclear power, railroad, trucking, and manufacturing industries would like to have a word with you.

I didn't mean to suggest they might not screw up, merely that the odds of an Apple technician screwing something up is probably similar to the odds a 3rd party technician given that Apple is the one behind their training and certification materials in both cases. If they do receive the same or functionally equivalent training, the only thing that decides whether a warranty remains valid is who signs their paychecks.

 

[konqerror]

I didn't mean to suggest they might not screw up, merely that the odds of an Apple technician screwing something up is probably similar to the odds a 3rd party technician given that Apple is the one behind their training and certification materials in both cases. If they do receive the same or functionally equivalent training, the only thing that decides whether a warranty remains valid is who signs their paychecks.

I build a house. The homeowner accidentally breaks a window and they hire somebody else to fix it. They do it wrong and it leaks. I should fix the leaking window because I could have repaired it wrong too? Makes no sense.

 

[ctdonath]

Funny, because Apple is known to do bad repairs.

I know. I've had a bad repair. Pointed it out, it got fixed correctly. Anecdotes don't prove a rule. Apple isn't perfect, but vs 3rd parties at large I'll trust Apple.

If you have a repair shop you can trust, great. Most don't interact with repairing iPhones enough to know who's good vs not.

 

[1345873]

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.

Name 5 of your ‘many’ industries?

Samsung, LG, Huawei, oneplus and google have yet not followed suit

increasing profit while crushing the little guy, nice..

 

[now i see it]

not surprising at all. Doing business with  has always been a risky endeavor

 

[Bin Cook]

The desperation of most MR members to defend Apple’s anti-business practices is breathtaking.

 

[konqerror]

Name 5 of your ‘many’ industries?

Cars, airplanes, appliances, fast food, hotels, satellite TV.

One more as a bonus for you.

 

[1345873]

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.

I know how mad I got when a car repair shop failed to screw a bottom cover on sufficiently because "we didn't have enough screws then". I'm suspicious of the replacement bearings installed (didn't have much choice under the circumstances) by some third-party shop. My preferred car repair guy makes very clear when he's using used/non-OEM parts.

I'd be mad if a cracked iPhone
screen were replaced with anything other than Apple-approved Gorilla Glass (or whatever they're using now), etc.

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.

Shoddy parts? Who, what ever gave you that idea or notion? On a ‘shoddy trolltrainingcourse from Apple to influence a macrumorforum’? Ever seen a ‘shoddy’ part? You mean the parts from the same factory where Apple buys them, but then without the Apple numbers on them? And solely because of that 90% cheaper?

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Draconian? These types of conditions are pretty common in many industries.

Nothing seems draconian to me either. It’s essentially “do these things and you can make a nice chunk of change on repairs”. If you don’t want the money, don’t do the stuff.

The new business that only fixes apple products are in Suite 2.

Well, see, that would make you a businessman. And, as long as you keep the books, invoices separate, then you are in the clear.

A lot of these places don’t even keep good enough track of what they’re doing currently, and don’t want to have to step up to “reputable” level.

So, it’s only draconian if you view “normal responsible business practices” as excessively harsh and severe.

 

[1345873]

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.

Just read the book (or ibook for all I care, if you want to pay 30% more on Appletax)

and yes the book is called “1984”!

 

[realtuner]

Cars, airplanes, appliances, fast food, hotels, satellite TV.

One more as a bonus for you.

Someone beat me to it. I'll add insurance and liquor to their list.

Show me your proof that neither of the companies you listed don't have similar terms (like audits). I tried finding out for Samsung, but none of their terms were posted online anywhere I looked.

 

[1345873]

Nothing seems draconian to me either. It’s essentially “do these things and you can make a nice chunk of change on repairs”. If you don’t want the money, don’t do the stuff.

Well, see, that would make you a businessman. And, as long as you keep the books, invoices separate, then you are in the clear.

A lot of these places don’t even keep good enough track of what they’re doing currently, and don’t want to have to step up to “reputable” level.

So, it’s only draconian if you view “normal responsible business practices” as excessively harsh and severe.

so you’ve been to a lot of these ‘places’?

it’s draconian because they hinder my freedom of choice in order to increase profit.

 

[TeamMojo]

Shoddy parts? Who, what ever gave you that idea or notion? On a ‘shoddy trolltrainingcourse from Apple to influence a macrumorforum’? Ever seen a ‘shoddy’ part? You mean the parts from the same factory where Apple buys them, but then without the Apple numbers on them? And solely because of that 90% cheaper?

I've repaired many iPhones over the years. Some parts are shoddy, some are not.
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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).

Yes, and yes, you can do whatever you want with the device after you own it and by the same token yes Apple can do whatever it wants with parts and authorized repair certifications which they own.

 

[az431]

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.

Exactly. All typical boilerplate language you would find when signing a franchise agreement with McDonalds.

This is an article about nothing.

 

[1345873]

Cars, airplanes, appliances, fast food, hotels, satellite TV.

One more as a bonus for you.

not true, I can buy nuts and bolts anywere to repair the lot.. except for the burger from fastfood(?). Apple is about proprietary only, not about meeting/using/creating open standards. (Except for homekit now apparently)

I know where to have my phone repaired, it’s my choice, not Apple’s. In my experience the repairs are as good, never had one issue. Besides Apple throttling...

 

[femike]

Apple behaviour is appalling. A few of the measures are reasonable but the rest puts all the power in Apple's hands. Yes there would loop holes that you could use but many being small businesses leaves little room to manoeuvre.

 

[konqerror]

not true, I can buy nuts and bolts anywere to repair the lot.. except for the burger from fastfood(?). Apple is about proprietary only, not about meeting/using/creating open standards. (Except for homekit now apparently)

I know where to have my phone repaired, it’s my choice, not Apple’s. In my experience the repairs are as good, never had one issue. Besides Apple throttling...

Completely wrong. If you are an authorized appliance repairman, car dealer, airplane repair, satellite TV installer or hotel, you must buy all your supplies from authorized distributors, and there are regular audits to make sure you do.

You are probably like 69Mustang above and are confused about the word "independent". Again, "Independent" here means a Apple-authorized agent who only does public repairs, that is, does not sell new units or is attached to a university. Independent does NOT mean that it is unsanctioned by Apple.

 

[1345873]

Completely wrong. If you are an authorized appliance repairman, car dealer, airplane repair, satellite TV installer or hotel, you must buy all your supplies from authorized distributors, and there are regular audits to make sure you do.

You are probably like 69Mustang above and are confused about the word "independent". Again, "Independent" here means a Apple-authorized agent who does not sell new units or is attached to a university, NOT that it is unsanctioned by Apple.

sorry mate ‘even’ boeing has a list of nuts and bolts they advise you to buy elsewhere. If quality standards are met, they do not care. Apple has no public safety standards, they say they comply with standards and regulations, but no one can check.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

they hinder my freedom of choice in order to increase profit.

Doesn’t hinder your freedom of choice for non-Apple repairs, though. You should show Apple how silly they’re being by just stopping doing repairs for their devices! I think you’ll bring Apple to their knees.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

Don't like it then don't become an Apple repair service provider. Move along.
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sorry mate ‘even’ boeing has a list of nuts and bolts they advise you to buy elsewhere. If quality standards are met, they do not care. Apple has no public safety standards, they say they comply with standards and regulations, but no one can check.

That are certified for Boeing designs. In short, comply with the Mechanical Engineering Specs for Boeing contracts. Next.

 

[LuciusWrong]

...
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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?

What if you are a mechanic who services both VW and Audi vehicles...and you find out that both models share the exact same parts? You then find out that the version of the part that says "Audi" on it is only different in that it says "Audi", so you only order the "VW" branded part, since it is cheaper.

Under a contract like this, you would be at risk to be sued/ fined/ have your parts inventory seized if they catch you putting the VW part in an Audi, even if the parts are identical in every respect.


Electronics are made from parts that are mostly generic and interchangeable. Is Apple going to demand these people use "apple" brand resistors? Or are any old resistors with the right values okay? That's a legitimate problem. There are lots of sources for the "basic" components used in these devices that are not the problematic parts like screens, batteries, and home keys. Apple would likely argue that their supplier is somehow better, because of their requirements they impose on the manufacturer...so therefore even a tiny resister has to come from their approved supply chain to ensure reliability of the device.

So no, this contract is not cool!

 

[MauiPa]

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

if you are a really crappy businessman, I'm sure, spending more time cheating your customers than doing it right. so lets put this aside, the contract is not "Draconian", certifications for Apple repairs do not trickle over to non-apple products, so your entire post is chasing a non-existent tail.

 

[realtuner]

Exactly. All typical boilerplate language you would find when signing a franchise agreement with McDonalds.

This is an article about nothing.

I forgot about franchises/restaurants.

A high school friend of mine had a fast food/bakery franchise and he had a strict agreement as well. Unfortunately they stripped him of his franchise after an audit. He was obligated to buy his baking supplies from the company but started substituting some ingredients from other suppliers who were cheaper. He got caught and lost a very profitable business.

 

[MauiPa]

Someone needs to take a course in contract law.

"Customers who receive service from an independent repair shop have to sign an acknowledgement that they understand they're not receiving repairs from an Apple Authorized shop and that Apple won't warranty the repair, which as right to repair advocate Nathan Proctor told Motherboard, is essentially requiring them to advertise against themselves". I call BS on this. if you are not providing services that are warranted by Apple and telling your customers such is just, well - honesty!

"Shops that partner with Apple for supplies must avoid all "prohibited products," which includes both counterfeit parts and "products or service parts that infringe on Apple's intellectual property," which legal experts believe is ambiguous wording. Apple is also able to seize any prohibited products, which is a potential problem because many repair shops also repair non-Apple devices" not really a problem unless the shop is providing really crappy parts such that the reputation of the shop would cause real repair shops to suffer. so lets just say, that a shop using reasonable quality parts on non-apple products does not have any issue whatsoever.

"and that shops who sign Apple's repair notice and then do repairs on non-Apple devices do so at their own peril." Only if they acquire crappy, or illegal parts. Otherwise - no problem

Finally, on the right to repair front, here're a few links:

https://diymobilerepair.com/iphone-x?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8_yAzqK-5wIVDvDACh2fwQ9jEAAYASAAEgKZEPD_BwE.
https://www.ifixit.com/Store/iPhone/iPhone-X.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=iphone+x...172395&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_9lwn30rrug_e.

From amazon, fixit and DIYmobile - wow took me 1 google search to come up with this! Someone needs to do some homework. so, if you want to "right to repair" your iPhone X (these parts were mostly equivalent to those available for the Google Pixel 4, BTW), then go for it! Myself, I'll pay $69 for a real battery replaced by a real professional, but hey, to some the $30 potential savings and DIY is a big deal. Just please, don't try to sell me your old self-repaired phone!
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I forgot about franchises/restaurants.

A high school friend of mine had a fast food/bakery franchise and he had a strict agreement as well. Unfortunately they stripped him of his franchise after an audit. He was obligated to buy his baking supplies from the company but started substituting some ingredients from other suppliers who were cheaper. He got caught and lost a very profitable business.

So umm, he like got caught cheating and delivering inferior product and damaged the value of the brand. No pity for that.