Apple Expands Support for Third-Party iPhone Repairs

Apple announced today that it will supply more third-party iPhone repair shops with genuine parts, tools, training and more. The hitch? They will only do so for out-of-warranty iPhone repairs. And it will only be available in the U.S. at first.

“To better meet our customers’ needs, we’re making it easier for independent providers across the U.S. to tap into the same resources as our Apple Authorized Service Provider network,” Apple COO Jeff Williams said in a prepared statement. “When a repair is needed, a customer should have confidence the repair is done right. We believe the safest and most reliable repair is one handled by a trained technician using genuine parts that have been properly engineered and rigorously tested.”

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Apple has historically frowned on independent repairs, and those customers who do take advantage of their lower prices will often find that their iPhone or other Apple device is no longer covered by its warranty. But this first step towards embracing third-party repairs neatly side-steps that issue, since it covers out-of-warranty devices only.

Apple says it will provide more independent repair businesses—large or small—with the same genuine parts, tools, training, repair manuals and diagnostics as it provides to Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASPs). There is no cost to join the new independent repair program, but the repair business must have at least one Apple-certified technician who can perform the repairs. You can apply for certification here.

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Conversation 14 comments

  • lvthunder

    Premium Member
    29 August, 2019 - 12:22 pm

    <p>So this solves the issue with the batteries when they roll the program out worldwide.</p>

  • Chris Payne

    29 August, 2019 - 12:41 pm

    <p>"<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Apple has historically frowned on independent repairs"</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The thousands of independent Apple Authorized service repair shops around the world would disagree with you. Their AASP program is great, providing reimbursements, training, and tools, much for free.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I think what you meant to say is "Apple has historically frowned on people with no training on Apple products repairing them and doing a horrible job while charging customers whatever they feel like and giving Apple a bad name."</span></p>

    • MikeGalos

      29 August, 2019 - 2:21 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#452754">In reply to unkinected:</a></em></blockquote><p>No. They'd wildly disagree with you and cite things like products that they're not allowed to repair and parts that are not available to third party Apple Authorized service shops and internal software that breaks products repaired by 3rd party shops even if they use Apple parts.</p>

    • Andi

      29 August, 2019 - 3:19 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#452754">In reply to unkinected:</a></em></blockquote><p>There is no such thing as an "unauthorized" repair of an Apple product. A repairman does not need to be authorized by Apple. In Norway Apple was told to pound sand when it tried to block imports of Apple genuine parts to an "unauthorized" repair shop. Keep being gullible and allow Apple to extort repair shops of fees in an effort to protect Apple Care revenue. </p>

      • lvthunder

        Premium Member
        29 August, 2019 - 4:00 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#452800">In reply to Andi:</a></em></blockquote><p>Sure there is a thing as an unauthorized repair. You as a customer might not care, but that doesn't mean there is no such thing.</p>

        • wright_is

          Premium Member
          30 August, 2019 - 2:51 am

          <blockquote><em><a href="#452807">In reply to lvthunder:</a></em></blockquote><p>Okay, let us rephrase Andi's post. Apple were told by the courts that it is irrelevant whether they "authorize" the repair shop, it is a legitimate repair business and Apple can't stop the company buying genuine parts and it can't disadvantage customers of the repair business.</p>

          • Jeffsters

            30 August, 2019 - 12:42 pm

            <blockquote><em><a href="#452867">In reply to wright_is:</a></em></blockquote><p>But meanwhile unscrupulous fly by night strip mall pop-up repair shops with cheap knock-off Chinese parts can “disadvantage” customers? Exactly who is checking on these “genuine parts”? Some that, if nefarious, could compromise your phone. Meh! I’ll pass!</p>

            • Andi

              30 August, 2019 - 4:12 pm

              <blockquote><em><a href="#452974">In reply to Jeffsters:</a></em></blockquote><p>That's the toxic effect of Apple's crusade against repair shops. If it's not "authorized" by Apple it's bad. I see that you as a docile Apple customer got the message. Meanwhile the "right to repair" law cannot come soon enough.</p>

            • wright_is

              Premium Member
              31 August, 2019 - 3:13 am

              <blockquote><em><a href="#452974">In reply to Jeffsters:</a></em></blockquote><p>We don't have malls here, so I can't say. But there are plenty of repair shops for electronic devices around that have been in business for at least a decade and have good reputations.</p><p>Fly-by-nights come and go in nearly every industry, it isn't something unique to Apple repairs.</p>

  • wright_is

    Premium Member
    30 August, 2019 - 2:47 am

    <p>So, we are stuck with either sending the phone back to Apple for 2 weeks or using an unapproved repair centre that will repair the phone in a couple of hours, but might get bricked by Apple for not being officially repaired?</p><p>Super. So glad I don't have an iPhone any more.</p>

  • dontbeevil

    30 August, 2019 - 9:28 am

    <p>some more news</p><p><br></p><p>www.neowin.net/news/google-discovered-sustained-attacks-over-at-least-two-years-against-iphone-users</p><p><br></p><p>www.engadget.com/2019/08/30/google-exploit-websites-iphone/</p>

    • MikeGalos

      30 August, 2019 - 11:04 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#452896">In reply to dontbeevil:</a></em></blockquote><p>Fourteen separate attack vectors including being able to break into Apple's "keychain" secure storage?</p><p><br></p><p>Wow. That's insanely bad.</p>

      • Jeffsters

        30 August, 2019 - 12:39 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#452955">In reply to MikeGalos:</a></em></blockquote><p>What’s really gonna grind your gears is users had to go to these sites “where thousands of users went” though the don’t say how many were iOS, but at the same time it was revealed this week that millions downloaded apps off the Google Play store that compromised their devices! “Wow. That’s insanely bad.” I think I’ll continue to take my chances! :-}</p>

        • MikeGalos

          31 August, 2019 - 12:21 am

          <blockquote><em><a href="#452973">In reply to Jeffsters:</a></em></blockquote><p>I think I'll keep having my Windows Phone as long as it's still getting security patches. </p><p><br></p><p>When the OS' secure store is vulnerable to a "drive by" attack from just visiting a website and that's presented as the GOOD example we've let expectations fall to the point of complicity.</p>

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