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Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

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121–130 of 226 posts

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#121

Years later, and I've had a ton of problems actually finding an Independent Repair provider. As far as I can tell Apple does not actually maintain a directory, and it's left for local repair shops to market/advertise. The later, then is highly dependent on their Google ranking skills. I went to a local repair shop for years. I went in a third time in a year to change a battery on an iPhone 8. Each time they apologize…

I've had a ton of problems actually finding an Independent Repair provider. As far as I can tell Apple does not actually maintain a directory Call AppleCare. That's how I found the one that I used.

Great idea, thank you!

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#122

Every repair to my iPhone that has been done outside of Apple certified channels has ended in needing a replacement device. Have heard/ read some horror stories of Apple Store repairs, although have yet to experience any myself. Personally I haven’t had a single repair from a third party that has actually been passable. All this to say that I’m not really seeing a huge benefit of right to repair for consumers. A race…

I didnt have the same experience. I repaired a few Iphones at an indy repair shop and the repair was solid and way cheaper than with apple.

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#123
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The goal should be self repair. I want the manuals and parts so I can make my own repair.

And then someone will mess up the repair and blame Apple for a malfunctioning device or demand they fix it for free.

> And then someone will mess up the repair and blame Apple for a malfunctioning device or demand they fix it for free.

I call this bs. Apple doesn’t want devices repaired because they are too greedy. Their own repairs in store are sometimes more expensive than buying new. Guess why that is? Pure greed.

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#124
post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

After my futile efforts to get it repaired at the independent shop and the Apple Store (they never came for me even with my appointment and I wasted an hour sitting in that place for no reason), I bought a third party battery and a set of guitar strings to replace it myself. I was successful but the battery was garbage so I had to return it and go back to the original swelled battery to be able to use the laptop albe…

I just ordered one off ebay, let my current battery discharge until the mac shutoff (risk of fire is greatly reduced completely discharged), and yanked out the old one with no special care or care about the glue. Set the new one in place, works perfect. The second half of my comment was clearly tongue in cheek. Sorry if it seemed personal, it wasn't.

I didn't mind - just wanted to clarify that I did try to make this work :) . Thanks for clarifying your intent. Edit: you lucked out that your eBay battery was good - mine was unfortunately a total dud even though it claimed to be OEM (and had labeling on the battery to match) but caused the machine to shutdown randomly. Edit2: I was also responding to a thread on how Apple treats its certified shops, which is why I left out the details on my endeavors to replace the battery after my attempts to get it done properly failed. Edit3: all of the procedures I saw (iFixit, Youtube) showed a fairly complicated procedure with that nasty glue removal so I am surprised your battery came off easily - perhaps it was previously replaced?

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#125
post #117
post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It just isn't something most people buying electronics care about, and there are real tradeoffs with size, weight, and aesthetic design choices. Combine those factors, and it's easy to see why the economics don't work. Making your device easily serviceable makes it more attractive to a tiny segment of the market, while making it less attractive to a much bigger segment.

Right to repair is not about redesigning products to become easily serviceable, its about access to same tools and parts manufacturer uses for its own internal service.

That can lead to a full on 'only replace' strategy, as you can see with canon's consumer printers.

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just ordered one off ebay, let my current battery discharge until the mac shutoff (risk of fire is greatly reduced completely discharged), and yanked out the old one with no special care or care about the glue. Set the new one in place, works perfect. The second half of my comment was clearly tongue in cheek. Sorry if it seemed personal, it wasn't.

I didn't mind - just wanted to clarify that I did try to make this work :) . Thanks for clarifying your intent. Edit: you lucked out that your eBay battery was good - mine was unfortunately a total dud even though it claimed to be OEM (and had labeling on the battery to match) but caused the machine to shutdown randomly. Edit2: I was also responding to a thread on how Apple treats its certified shops, which is why I…

Totally understandable. No the battery wasn't replaced previously, I am the first owner. I think the difficulty of the glue is overstated (especially iFixIt's guide where you take apart half the machine to use some solvent, wtf). Just pull the battery cell at an angle so you don't bend it too much, it'll come off.

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#127
post #9
post #2

Just as a reminder, their phone "independent repair program" has you signing rights to your business away (you are forced to let apple audit you at any time, you have to share personal client data on all of your clients with apple. All of this not limited to Apple repair part of your business) for the right to: - remove battery / screen from client device - send battery / screen to Apple with all clients personal inf…

IME, they've really hobbled the functionality of independent repair shops, making it necessary to supplicate to the Apple Store. I was trying to get the battery replaced in a 2015 MBP and the independent shops were 'required' to keep my machine for about 7 days since they had to first 'diagnose' that the battery was dying, order it, wait for it to arrive, and then replace it. In contrast, one could make an appointmen…

Apple generally ships parts overnight to shops. I've worked somewhere that had an AASP as part of it. Occasionally there's a delay but around 90% of the time our guys could order up to about 4PM EST and have it come in for the midday FedEx Express dropoff the next day. And this wasn't in a major metro area where overnight delivery is common/easy.

2-3 days would have been a plausible turnaround time. 7 is laziness or a long queue.

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#128
post #109
post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I actually do support the right to repair. I even donated at the link you provided. But, as a hardware designer myself, the devil is in the details for something like this and people need to be really careful. https://repair.org/policy "Unlocking: Legalize unlocking, adapting, and modifying any part of the machine, including software." The backdoor tools the FBI is asking for could easily fall into that category. I'm…

nonono. This is not the right place for that restriction at all. You should have the right to install backdoor tools on a technical level. If you install backdoor tools on equipment without permission from the owner or a properly executed warrant that is the crime and what must be prevented. Don't conflate restraining the FBI with being allowed to treat the device you paid for and own exactly as a device you paid for…

The FBI can commit crimes with impunity, that much has been made clear. So given that, the best thing you can do to your hardware is make sure that even criminals can't get in, which also restrains some of the rights of the original owner.

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#129
post #31
post #2

Just as a reminder, their phone "independent repair program" has you signing rights to your business away (you are forced to let apple audit you at any time, you have to share personal client data on all of your clients with apple. All of this not limited to Apple repair part of your business) for the right to: - remove battery / screen from client device - send battery / screen to Apple with all clients personal inf…

This is Apple trying to avoid real Right to Repair legislation by taking actions that look like they support independent repair. Consider taking a moment to donate to https://repair.org/ - we're pushing to get Right to Repair laws passed in state legislatures across the US.

Apple's workaround may work in US but don't think it will get very far in EU

Re: Apple expands independent repair program to Mac after US antitrust investigation

#130
post #125
post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right to repair is not about redesigning products to become easily serviceable, its about access to same tools and parts manufacturer uses for its own internal service.

That can lead to a full on 'only replace' strategy, as you can see with canon's consumer printers.

Unfortunately 'only replace' does seem to be workable for many devices, like TVs. At most you will be replacing entire boards.
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