Apple's Parts Store for Do-It-Yourself Repairs Will Be Operated By a Third Party

[MacRumors]

Last week, Apple announced a new self-service repair program that will provide customers with access to Apple genuine parts, tools, and manuals for completing their own repairs of select devices, starting with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups and later Macs with M1 chips. Apple said the program will be available starting early next year in the United States and expand to additional countries throughout 2022.

In an internal memo obtained by MacRumors, Apple provided a few more details about the program, including that repair manuals will be made available on the Apple Support website, confirming the location of where customers will be able to review this information prior to ordering parts for a self-service repair.

Apple's memo also said that its online parts store will be operated by an unspecified third party. While no official reason was provided, it would certainly be logistically easier for Apple to outsource shipping and receiving of parts to and from customers. A similar system is already in place for Apple Authorized Service Providers.

When announcing the program last week, Apple said self-service repairs are intended for "individual technicians with the knowledge and experience to repair electronic devices," adding that the initial phase of the program will focus on common repairs, such as replacing an iPhone's display, battery, or camera.

Apple's self-service repair program announcement has received praise from supporters of the "Right to Repair" movement, but there are still some question marks. In its memo, Apple said more details will be shared as the program's launch approaches.

Article Link: Apple's Parts Store for Do-It-Yourself Repairs Will Be Operated By a Third Party

 

[ghostface147]

Just waiting for parts costs and equipment requirements. I don't think the average techie has a display calibration unit at home, assuming they're still needed.

 

[zorinlynx]

Apple should partner with ifixit. They always have the infrastructure in place to sell parts and tools and are a trusted member of the DIY repair world.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Why not partner up with iFixit?

Who knows how much these little parts are going to costs.

iFixit already sells the tools and stuff. Why waste the time, Apple?

iPhone Parts | iFixit

Diagnose and repair your iPhone yourself. iFixit has free tips and techniques for repairing Macs, iPods, and iPhones. We sell iPhone parts and we'll show you how to install them.

www.ifixit.com

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Forget the manual. We want repair videos, please. Step by step.

 

[TheOldChevy]

Forget the manual. We want repair videos, please. Step by step.

I may be a bit old fashion, but I by far prefer a good manual to most repair videos.

 

[macduke]

Ahh yes, the box of "SAND", crucial for all iPhone repairs.

Hopefully that's supposed to be sandpaper or something.

 

[JPack]

Hope it isn't Phobio...

 

[rpmurray]

Apple's memo also said that its online parts store will be operated by an unspecified third party.

I guess this is to give Apple deniability and someone to throw under the bus once we find out what the onerous terms are.

 

[IlluminatedSage]

As nice as it is in thought, Apple first and formost needs to build devices easier for repairs. also, third party repair centers need to get access to genuine parts.

this doing it for the end user is a nice bait and switch from the reality that most people want to hire someone to do this.

 

[JPack]

Apple should partner with ifixit. They always have the infrastructure in place to sell parts and tools and are a trusted member of the DIY repair world.

It wouldn't make any business sense. iFixit makes most of their money by selling and hugely marking up non-OEM parts. They don't make any money by being an Apple warehouse and slapping labels on a box.

 

[johnsc3]

I may be a bit old fashion, but I by far prefer a good manual to most repair videos.

I agree; Sadly, the quality if technical writing isn’t what it used to be.

 

[Mousse]

I may be a bit old fashion, but I by far prefer a good manual to most repair videos.

Yarp. I don't trust repair videos, since it gets some folks thinking that looks easy enough. Someone with a lot of experience makes doing anything look easy. I speak as a guy who tried to do tile work because pros in a video made it look effortless and ended up with crooked tiles. That was en expensive lesson.
Gimme a good manual that tells me the torque specs and proper order. If I can't figure it out from that, I ain't qualified to tackle the problem.

 

[alpi123]

Just waiting for parts costs and equipment requirements. I don't think the average techie has a display calibration unit at home, assuming they're still needed.

It's such an easy fix via software update.

 

[erikkfi]

I'm certain Apple sees iFixit as an unfriendly entity. Driving iFixit out of business is probably not the point of this move but would be a happy side-effect as far as Apple is concerned.

 

[TriBruin]

Ahh yes, the box of "SAND", crucial for all iPhone repairs.

Hopefully that's supposed to be sandpaper or something.

Nope, when working with Li-Ion batteries, the potential for a "thermal event" (i.e. fire) is a possibility. You need to pour sand on the battery to stop the event. Water does not work.

 

[eas]

Apple's current repair costs seem designed to push people to buy a new device and junk the old one.

I doubt their part prices will break from that pattern. Still, I'm sure a college student with a cracked display on their M1 MacBook due to an errant fingernail clipping will welcome savings on an hour or two of heavily marked-up labor costs.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Nope, when working with Li-Ion batteries, the potential for a "thermal event" (i.e. fire) is a possibility. You need to pour sand on the battery to stop the event. Water does not work.

And this, kids, is exactly why Apple was so reluctant to offer you the parts to do it yourself in the first place.
So much ignorance.
Oh and money, Apple also likes your money. Don’t forget about that

 

[AirunJae]

Dang, was really hoping for an Apple-run parts store so I could pick up an "exquisitely crafted" chest of Apple-branded tools ?

 

[now i see it]

iPhone 12 and 13 won’t need repairs for a few years, so that fixed that

 

[hans1972]

Why not partner up with iFixit?

Wouldn't that be anti-competitive? If iFixit has monopoly power in this market it might even raise antitrust issues.

So it's best for iFixit and customers that Apple as a new entrant into this market remain independent and can fiercely compete wit iFixit and others.

 

[dwaltwhit]

Dang, was really hoping for an Apple-run parts store so I could pick up an "exquisitely crafted" chest of Apple-branded tools ?

Like snap on but smaller and more expensive

 

[cjamescook]

Wish I could get parts for my 17" Macbook Pro.

 

[BWhaler]

Lots of good suggestions to partner with iFixIt.

I suspect the reason why is because iFixIt continally empbarrased Apple after every launch with their videos and ranking them low on repairability.

Not that they were wrong in their assessments; that’s beside the point. If you want to partner with Apple, best not make them the target of your marketing.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

A surface mount soldering kit with a microscope will come in handy too. Those ribbon cable connectors have a habit of disintegrating.