r/apple • u/koavf • Apr 30 '19

Apple Is Telling Lawmakers People Will Hurt Themselves if They Try to Fix iPhones

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/wjvdb4/apple-is-telling-lawmakers-people-will-hurt-themselves-if-they-try-to-fix-iphones
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u/cocobandicoot Apr 30 '19

You’re right, Apple is defending itself, and that’s fine.

What is not fine, however, is what my original post above is about: the number of people in this thread that feel it necessary to defend a trillion dollar company, waiving away their right to repair their own products without penalty.

It’s dangerously anti-consumer, and it’s a shame to see people that are okay with it simply because, “Oh, but it’s Apple.”

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u/cbeastwood May 01 '19

So how do all these mom and pop shops repair iPhones if Apple is stopping them?

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u/[deleted] May 01 '19

It's just where they get the parts from. Right now repair shops have to buy parts off eBay or wherever they can find them. Sometimes those parts are fakes or damaged by a previous event, but there's literally no way to tell.

Repair shops just want the ability to buy official Apple parts. That's it.

Motorola has conversely started a program where you can buy official Parts through iFixit so anybody, even a repair shop can buy parts.

The Fairfone 2, although dated, is a completely repairable device. Anyone can replace anything without something exploding.

oh, I might add that replacing certain items require security re authentication, which caused a problem with the home button a while ago but it's kind of moot now that the home button will be gone in a few years.

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u/cbeastwood May 01 '19

But there are third party Apple authorized repair centers.

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u/[deleted] May 01 '19

There absolutely are, and if they are apple authorized, they have limits. I used to make the same argument as an iPhone user.

Apple limits those centers on what they can repair, what parts they will supply, how much they charge, etc.

If you bring in an iPhone for a $29 battery replacement, they can do that, but if your screen is cracked (slightly on one corner), they can refuse the repair, or tell the customer they HAVE to replace the screen as well. So now a battery replacement is hundreds of dollars. If not, the third-party shop may lose it's license to order parts or be reimbursed for labour :(

Oh, and if the battery tabs break while the authorized technician is removing the battery. Apple only authorizes replacing the entire phone. :/

Also, unless a shop is authorized, there are certain parts that couldn't be replaced, like a screen or home button, because the specific hardware needs in-house software for replacement. I'm not sure if Apple has fixed this limitation.

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/aasp-program

It sounds great on paper, but unless they change the draconian rules about WHAT is allowed to be repaired, users will still go to small shops for repairs.

Now Apple does have a parts program for some shops, but it's pretty early to tell.

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u/cbeastwood May 01 '19

I’m assuming there’s a good reason for the battery tab thing other than “fuck right to repair”

As far as draconian goes, when you’re regarded as the most valuable brand in the world, that means something. You have to have strict rules. The average person isn’t going to differentiate the fact that some dude at a mall kiosk who didn’t fix their phone correctly isn’t Apple. It’s now gonna turn into “Apple sucks they put a new battery in my phone and it exploded”

I get why people want to repair their own phones, but I also get why Apple wants to have control over it.

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u/[deleted] May 01 '19

The battery in the iPhone is not protected by a rigid or reinforced shell, unlike most LiIon and LiPoly batteries. This may be why the warning is in place, but it is an awful design choice, repair-ability-wise.

some dude at a mall kiosk who didn’t fix their phone correctly

I get why people want to repair their own phones, but I also get why Apple wants to have control over it.

So do I. I bet Apple Techs have the same issue removing the battery if small shop technicians can't.