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10 Things Your iPhone Repair Technician Wants You to Know

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10 Things Your iPhone Repair Technician Wants You to Know

While we don't own a repair shop or fix any devices here at eTech Parts (besides our own), we have great insight into the lives of repair shop owners and technicians. One of the biggest struggles facing repair technicians today are the common misconceptions and things that consumers don't yet understand about the wireless repair industry. This has led us here at eTech to take on some of these misconceptions, in the hope of improving the reputation of the wireless repair industry simply by sharing the truth. If you haven't read our blog about the 7 Common Misconceptions about Cell Phone Repair, we suggest you do so -- and read the following blog, inspired by the comments of repair technicians all over the country. Happy repair shop owner To the repair technicians and repair shop owners out there, we created this content for you to share with your customers -- share it on your Facebook page, Tweet it, and help us help you spread the word of wireless repair!
 

10 Things Your iPhone Repair Technician Wants You to Know

 
1. You should always disclose your device’s water damage, no matter the circumstance or if it “worked just fine before.”
Even if you dropped your device in the toilet once and it seemed to work just fine afterwards, water damage can change a lot about a repair. What appears to be a simple screen fix can turn into hours of work for a technician, and they won’t know what they’re in for until they open your device and take a look. There’s a chance your phone, that may have “just shut off one day,” has previous water damage, so be sure to disclose any and all dips your device may have taken to your local repair technician.  
2. You should disclose any previous repairs to your technician, too.
It’s like a doctor asking for your medical history. We’re basically performing surgery on your device, and we need to know if anyone else has been in there. It’s easy to damage a device during a repair, and really easy to see if a device has been tampered with previously, so we need to know if you or anyone else has attempted to repair it…just in case. #TheMoreYouKnow  
3. If you attempt (and fail) to repair your device yourself, and then bring it to your local repair shop in pieces, we can fix it.
…but don't expect us to be thrilled about it. While we applaud your DIY spirit, it’s like putting together a very intricate puzzle with no instructions, and a lot of teeny tiny pieces that look exactly the same. It’ll probably take longer than it would have otherwise, and no, we can’t offer you a discount. While we know online videos make it look super easy for everyone, sometimes a repair can be more difficult than you might expect, and there are dozens of things that could go wrong – which in turn could increase your cost of repair. Break a connector off the board and that repair could cost you a lot more than you'd even like to know. Unless you're a highly confident and skilled “DIY-er,” we always suggest taking your broken devices to your local trusty repair shop. But if you do attempt a repair and can’t finish it, don’t worry – you’d be amazed (and reassured) to know how many times this happens to us. Just bring all the pieces to us and we’ll put it back together again!  
4. Always back up your data before bringing your device in for a repair.
Please back up your data, either on your computer or through iCloud, because when we repair your device there’s always a chance of data loss. Backing up prior to a repair is the only way to prevent us from losing all your pictures, contacts, text messages, etc. We might even have you sign a release form prior to the repair, just to make sure you fully understand what could happen if you don’t. We want to make your repair experience as painless as possible, and taking this precaution will help us both. And if you don't know how, just ask! We'll be happy to assist you or give you directions for how to back up data on your iPhone or iPad.  
5. Bent aluminum corners make your device harder to repair…but we have the tools to fix it!
When you drop your device on its side or corner, the fragile aluminum that holds your screen in place will most likely bend out of shape. This leads to a more time-consuming repair, because you can’t replace a screen on a device with bent casing. Luckily, we have all the tools to get the job done right! You’ve probably never heard of a gTool iCorner, but these specialty tools help me to reshape bent aluminum corners for a more professional repair. Bonus points: Wanna impress your local repair technician? Ask if they use the gTool in their shop!   Hands fixing smartphone close-up  
6. If possible, charge your phone before you bring it in for a repair.
You probably don’t even think about it, and that’s okay, but most professional repair technicians will do a full diagnostic test on your device prior to performing any repairs. They’ll check the speakers, Wifi, cellular connectivity, etc… If you bring us your device with a dead or dying battery, that’s an additional 10 minutes we both have to wait before we even start the repair. Which is fine with us, because all good work takes time, but we know you want your device back as soon as possible. This obviously only applies to devices that are in working condition, but just need a new screen or small part installed. If your device doesn’t even turn on, we have a lot more to deal with than an uncharged battery.  
7. Discovering defective parts during an installation is frustrating for both of us – but there’s little we can do when it happens.
Defective parts happen… but when it happens right in the middle of a repair, and it’s the last one we have in stock, and we can’t get a replacement until tomorrow… Ugh. We know you’re not going to be happy about it. We’re totally not happy about it. We’ve already called our supplier to complain about it, but unless our supplier is local, there’s not much we can do other than overnight the replacement parts to get your device fixed ASAP. We hope you accept our very sincerest apologies if this happens.  
8. Know your device.
When you bring your phone to your local repair shop, it's helpful if you know the model number, generation, or what year it was released. If your technician quotes you $100 over the phone for an iPhone 5 repair, only to learn you have an iPhone 5s, the price will be different – because the repair certainly is. We know it gets confusing with generation after generation of iPhones that look incredibly similar, and we don't expect everyone to know the differences as well as we do, but the parts and repair processes are different for each device. Even in an iPhone 4, the repair parts are different dependent on which cellular provider you purchased it from. Confusing, right?  
9. Tell your friends your phone is in the shop!
In the words of our friend Geoff Waller, “There’s nothing like trying to test a phone that won’t stop ringing and dinging!” Tweet to your friends, send them a Snapchat… let them know your phone will be in the shop and you’ll text them as soon as it’s done. Repairs should only take an hour or two, so don’t worry – your friends won’t be without you for long. And if you have a good experience with us, let your friends know I can fix their broken phones, too! Word of mouth is a powerful and highly effective marketing tool, and we appreciate the help.  
10. Always do your research before choosing a repair shop or technician to fix your device.
There’s no industry certification or requirements for someone to own and operate a wireless repair shop. There is no accountability, and no one to rectify any issues you might have if the tech does a shoddy job. But don’t let that deter you from choosing a third-party repair shop; there are hundreds of reputable repair shops all over the country, you just have to do your research to find them. To find a reputable repair shop, search online for “iPhone repair shops” near you. It might take some digging, but when you find a shop, check out their website, read their reviews, look at their Facebook page. Whether you feel you can or can’t trust them, go with your gut instinct. Your device is important, so finding someone you can trust to fix and take care of it for you will make all the difference. Sure you can find someone on Craigslist who will fix it for $20, but remember: the age-old adage, “you get what you pay for,” definitely applies here.   And if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  
  Thanks to the Repair Community for inspiring this content! Though you inspire us everyday, if there's something in particular you would like us to create for you to share with your customers, drop us a line! Leave a comment below, hit us up on social media, or give us a call at 913-839-1718. We want to help you help your customers, to make the right decision, to choose to repair NOT replace, and to improve the reputation of our growing wireless repair industry. Thank you for reading and for your continued support.