Here's the Massive Kit Apple Will Send to Your House So You Can Fix Your iPhone

[Gamewave]

Please post in the forums about your experience ??

Will do, no shipping confirmation yet.

 

[Gamewave]

There are a lot of people that don't live near an Apple store. For example, I have family in Iowa. For the longest time there was not an Apple store in the whole state. Now there is one in Des Moines, but that is well over an hour away.
Being able to get authentic parts at a price point that is near Apple is great!

I live in Vermont and we have never had an Apple store and probably won't for a long time. Apple actually had an agreement with a local authorized reseller for a couple years until they found out they were using aftermarket parts and claiming that they were OEM. A woman got a new screen while she was on vacation here, went back to CA and was having issues. Brought it to an Apple store and they said it was done by a 3rd party repair shop. She showed them the receipt and they did an investigation. Their repair agreement was terminated and they almost lost their resale license. For some time they were afraid to ask to get it back.

The closest Apple store is either NH or Montreal and Montreal will not touch US phones. It has been great for my business not having a store around.

 

[planteater]

I would not be surprised if the $49 covers shipping costs, given the volume they move through their shippers on an annual basis. When you're filling planes with Macs and iPones, a few heavy boxes is rounding error in cost to ship.



The point, however was valid - the tools needed to repair current technology can be very specialized to ensure it can be done right by someone with some basic mechanical skills. Apple is not asking for someone who has he skill to do board level repairs, nut is able to follow directions so the tools must incorporate the needed capabilities to allow succesful repair.

There is anothe driver of defense spare part costs - Mil Spec and pedigree. We had bolts that easily cost $100 but looked, on the surface, like a $.99 one from a hardware store. Why the cost? You could trace back the metal to the mine, so any problems if it failed certification could be identified as to the cause, and we knew the bolt would hold to certain torque and then sheer off, as required by the specification. If it didn't a lot of expensive equipment and lives could be lost.



I know. It transmits your WiFi signal and manages access for devices.

I just can’t see $49 covering 4 heavy shipments, 2 in each direction. Somebody is eating the cost, perhaps UPS in order to retain Apples business.

 

[jlc1978]

I just can’t see $49 covering 4 heavy shipments, 2 in each direction. Somebody is eating the cost, perhaps UPS in order to retain Apples business.

I would guess Apple's shipping volume is such the marginal cost to UPS or FedEx isn't all that much to add it to a regular shipment. Since it is not time critical, they can route packages to loads where they have not yet exceeded load limits and there is still space.

Look at it this way - the biggest marginal cost to ship by air is jet fuel since pickup from warehouse, crew, loading, etc, is being done anyway for other packages - a 767-300F can carry ~ 116000 pounds of cargo and fuel costs a $6 gal/jet fuel with a 10000 pounds/hr burn rate and jet fuel at 6.8 lbs / gal works out to about 13 pounds per dollar for 1 hour of flight time. That's a little less than $6 marginal costs to ship 2 boxes about 400 miles, or $12 round trip. Even a cross country shipment would be about $60 round trip. If the average one way trip is less than 1200 miles that leaves plenty for storage, packing, last mile, and other costs to be covered by $49.99

It's probably a rounding error in terms of Apple's total shipping costs with FedEx/UPS/DHL.

I would not be surprised, OTOH, if Apple started stocking some kits and commonly ordered parts in stores once they see the ordering patterns; and still charge for the rental.

 

[tennisproha]

I can't see this ending well. Without having any prior experience doing that particular repair, most people are likely to further damage it.

The better solution would've been to just lower repair prices.

 

[jlc1978]

I can't see this ending well. Without having any prior experience doing that particular repair, most people are likely to further damage it.

That isn't Apple's problem, theirs was complying with right to repair laws if the get enacted as well as having data to show most people don't bother and if they do get it done by someone else.

The better solution would've been to just lower repair prices.

Why? The 2 biggest repairs are not that expensive and they can use the other repair costs to drive AppleCare sales. Yes, I am a cynic.

 

[JohnnyWalker]

Nice. These are the ACTUAL tools you need to do the job, not cheaper versions for consumers. Kudos to Apple for doing this properly. Nobody can complain about this. If you want to repair your phone yourself, using Apple approved tools, this is what you need. End of discussion. (Personally I'm happy to pay Apple.)

 

[popdan]

I actually use my iPhone. Easy to see one of these kits taking days to deliver. Plus the time to repair and the risks. The best approach to save Big bucks, treat your iPhone as the technology device it is. Expensive and important. My iPhone 7 still in excellent condition after five years of everyday use including international travel. Money just keeps rolling in.

i still use 6s and replaced the battery twice by apple and once they had to replace the whole device as they messed up with some parts inside. Happy days for me I really had high hope with 14 but they still not adding the power button touch ID, or UD touch ID. Iam srsly considering purchasing Zenfone. Also SE3 is just a joke

 

[mjbadagliacco]

If you want it done right, do it yourself. I’m also OCD and don’t prefer technicians working on my iPhone.

If you want it done right, go to an AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER or to APPLE DIRECT!

 

[mode11]

This kit seems like a good argument for easily removable batteries and phones that aren't glass on both sides. 90% of service / repairs will be for the battery or screen; having to send to Apple for rare faults like a camera module or Taptic Engine seems acceptable to me.

I don't go swimming with my iPhone, so I'd be happy with mere water resistance if it meant the battery could be slid out the bottom after removing a couple of screws. It's something that only needs doing once or twice in the phone's lifetime, so if an adhesive seal needed to be replaced it wouldn't be a big deal.

I love wireless charging, but due to the glass back always put an (Apple) silicone case on the phone on day 1. For me, the phone might as well have a rubber back, though obviously that wouldn't be to everyone's tastes.

The rubber lip of a case does a good job of protecting the screen in many cases, but using thicker glass for the screen wouldn't be a bad idea either.

 

[macos9rules]

These kits aren’t for everyone. If someone wants or needs to do a repair themselves these are literally the proper tools to do it.
It’d be even more environmentally unfriendly if you’d get a genuine or even aftermarket part with improper tools and you end up breaking something.

That's another way to look at it. Then it’d be even more environmentally friendly if those kit didn't came which such huge packaging. What's the point of those massive case?

 

[jlc1978]

That's another way to look at it. Then it’d be even more environmentally friendly if those kit didn't came which such huge packaging. What's the point of those massive case?

Protect delicate equipment during storage and shipment.

 

[tennisproha]

That isn't Apple's problem, theirs was complying with right to repair laws if the get enacted as well as having data to show most people don't bother and if they do get it done by someone else.

Agree that it's more tactical.

Why? The 2 biggest repairs are not that expensive and they can use the other repair costs to drive AppleCare sales. Yes, I am a cynic.

Assuming you mean screen and battery replacement, I would argue they are very expensive.

 

[MacNerd01]

Without having any prior experience doing that particular repair, most people are likely to further damage it.

I disagree. You state that you will probably damage the device without experience, but where are you to gain said experience besides trying the repair? There’s no other way to gain experience than doing the thing.

 

[jlc1978]

Assuming you mean screen and battery replacement, I would argue they are very expensive.

Fair enough, I just don't consider the costs unreasonable or expensive if you take into account the costs of labor, parts, maintaining repair inventory and equipment amortization.

 

[Jeven Stobs]

That's another way to look at it. Then it’d be even more environmentally friendly if those kit didn't came which such huge packaging. What's the point of those massive case?

? Are you really asking what the point of cases like these is? That is, wow.

 

[Jeven Stobs]

I disagree. You state that you will probably damage the device without experience, but where are you to gain said experience besides trying the repair? There’s no other way to gain experience than doing the thing.

Correct. Also, iPhones are in my opinion and experience rather easy to repair.
Considering you’re getting the official instructions and tools from the company that makes the device is using to fix them your chances are very good.
Then again, if someone doesn’t feel confident (after reading the instructions and going through the tool list) they should probably just stick to certified service providers.

 

[oldMacGenius]

Glad to see this done right. I have been cheering for this, yes, exactly this implementation for any self service iPhone repair program. I am glad Apple didn’t cut corners.

People should see that Apple does indeed promote proper repair of every device needing service, back to the original spec.

When the iPhone came out in 2007, Apple did not let us make any repairs - all we offered was a full unit swap. Obviously this is not sustainable.

By moving repairs in house, it required a lot more people to handle the volune of devices needing repairs - and quickly! Apple only let Geniuses repair devices at first, and I hear they have since added a midlevel position service specialist role.

I have worked for Apple in 5 States, from (at the time) 2nd busiest Genius Bar in the world, to your local Suburban Midwestern Malls. Regardless of whom repairs a phone and where, the nature of the business would cause tradeoffs I don’t really feel comfortable going into detail over, so instead I will give my take on why I will just elect to do it myself:

Data. I dont have to wipe phone before checking it in for repair if I want my data safe. I would wipe my phone if its a hardware issue, if possible. I have seen wandering eyes in attractive customers’ Photos, celebrities’ phonebooks veered at, yes even have seen a copy of data once or twice (and then an intentional erase to destroy any evidence.) Just know personally I would never have done that, but I also suggest we wipe it before service, I’ll let you decide if that’s something you want to start practicing.

Damage. Did a GYOG Genius in training” repair your phone under the supervision of a Certified Genius? Did your phone get repaired without the supervision of a Certified Genius because he was pulled out of the room because the Mac Queue was 1.5 hours behind? What could go wrong?

Technicians Fat Fingering ZIF connectors, people not always following repair procedures, people quasi certified repairing devices, taking shortcuts to save time, uncertified “Gapple managers” taking a stab at (and in) an iPhone battery. Most common problem was overconfidence and yes even the occasional abundance of liquid courage! if coming back from a “two martini lunch” (as we did - some of you people, especially on Sundays, are quite abusive.)

Ah yes, Abusive Customers….

Why? It does you no good. Have seen this conversation play out before to the group of people scheduled to do repairs:

“this iPhone” (iPhone Specialist plops phone on workbench carelessly with a nice thud.) “customer literally spit in my face while yelling at me about not wanting to wait “all ****ing day for a **** display module replacement! So I leaned into what we can do today. I suggested they could pick it up tomorrow instead, buy a new phone if they need a phone right now if declining to repair their damaged display, offered to ship it to depot for 3-5 days to free up their time today and tomorrow, offered to check another Apple store to see if it could be done faster. After being called an *******, I quoted tomorrow morning for turnaround. So no rush.”

Tech: I can do it now. That’s literally all thats in queue, but want someone to call them tomorrow morning when it’s ready? The admins don’t mind for abusive customers.

Specialist: What you do, is up to you and I appreciate you.

This is just the start.

So indeed, I’ll gladly pay for this kit, read all service instructions dilligently, actually use a properly grounded workbench and be grateful for the opportunity.

Service is not anything close to what I do now, but these stories do stick.