I void warranties. This may sound bad at first glance, but hear me out. It is a lot deeper of an issue than you might think. There is a law in place that states that just because you decide to go all DIY and repair your own device does NOT mean that any other part that breaks not related to the part you replaced can automatically be turned down for warranty repair. It’s called the Magnusen-Moss Warranty Act and it is a federal law. Manufacturers are not required to offer warranties under this act but if they do they must be in compliance. This is protective for consumers as it puts the burden of proof on the company to say that whatever you did to your device (be it car, phone, tv or whatever) actually caused the problem you are turning it in for. What does this mean in real life terms? Let’s get right into it!
So, hypothetically, if you crack the screen on your new iPhone or Samsung device and you get it replaced in our shop, then along comes a recall on the battery. They cannot say that because you replaced the screen on your device, that they will not replace the faulty battery. That is illegal. They have to prove that replacing the screen caused the issue with your battery before they can deny you warranty service. Big tech industry doesn’t like this and they try to skirt the law all the time. Therefore, I advocate for the “right to repair”. Whether your a DIY king or queen and want to source the parts and do it for yourself or you bring it into a shop like mine, you have the right to repair your device without sacrificing your right to repairs if something completely different goes wrong with your device.
But wait, what about authorized repair centers? Don’t those exist? Yes, but they are very expensive as a rule and think about it for a minute. Does this play out in other areas of tech? Do you only take your 1993 Ford F150 to a Ford dealer for repairs? No, that’s silly. You take it to a mechanic you know and trust because you love your truck. Shouldn’t it be the same for cell phones? Shouldn’t you, the owner, be able to decide in a free market system, where to take your device for repairs and not be coerced by threats to void your warranty? This should be the case, but sadly, this law is rarely enforced. Apple is a big offender. They charge over $300 for a repair I will do for around $125. That’s just one example. Plus they often tell you that your data will be lost in the process, and as a tech I can tell you this is not the case. We do encourage you to back up your data before coming in for a repair, but the likelihood that I would even need to access your phone beyond the Apple logo is slim to none. I do like to do a test call to ensure that everything is working properly and I may ask for your passcode to test camera functionality, but that’s it. I have NO intention of erasing anything. Apple also tells people regularly that a problem is beyond repair when in fact it is a simple fix. Just search YouTube for “Apple Genius Bar problems” and you will come up with a wealth of horror stories. Shout out to Louis Rossman at Rossman Repair Group for calling them on their nonsense!
In conclusion, yes, authorized repair is an option, but it shouldn’t be your only option in order to avoid voiding your warranty. If you feel safer that is your choice but you shouldn’t be tied down in a supposedly free market to one provider for all your services. I advocate for you,
e consumer, to be able to do what you like with your own device that you bought and paid for with your hard-earned money. Right to repair effects us all whether we know it or not. That’s all for now! We are Midwest Cellphone Repair, we make sad phones happy again!
