Stay Profitable in the Mobile Device Repair Industry

There are so many mobile devices on the market and in the hands of consumers, and for many brands, each line and model may seem like new territory as far as repairs go. It can be a challenge to cover mobile phone repairs and do it profitably. Here’s a few tips to help you stay profitable in the mobile device repair industry.

Stay With Common, Popular, and Easy Devices

Each mobile device is different in some way. Each different mobile device requires a specific skill set that you can only pick up by having a lot of experience repairing many different models, brands, and types of mobile devices. If you really want to stick with the profitable repairs, stick with the common, popular devices that are easy to repair.

Unless you’re seeing a particular device in your repair shop frequently, and you have someone who can be dedicated to be trained in repairing them, which often takes a lot of time and resources, you’re going to end up doing a lot of repairs that won’t be profitable for you.

For instance, iPhones, iPods, iPads, and Galaxy devices are both common and easy to repair. You can stay profitable and become proficient in repairs of those devices, without branching out into covering other devices. On Kindles, replacing the charging port is an easy repair, and they’re common devices. Of course, you’ll obvioulsy see a lot of devices that aren’t worth the time and labor cost of the repair, so steer clear of those.

Look For Easy Repair Jobs

If you’re looking to target more Android devices for repairs, consider only covering repairs on devices for which you can obtain the full screen and assembly. That alone makes your job much easier. If you see an Android device come in your shop, before you commit to a repair, check to see if you can get the whole assembly, and if you can’t, you might want to send the customer to another specialist, because it might end up costing you more time and labor than the device is really worth.

In our industry, if it’s not worth the time and cost of the repair, to you or the customer, it’s a waste of time on your part and a waste of money on theirs. Of course, if they’re willing to pay that much to repair it and it’s a profitable repair for you, in that exception, of course it’s something you would jump at, because experience with repair on more diverse devices will only help you gain more experience on all devices in the end.

Color change for iPhones is another easy job. Offer it as a discount perk if they’re already having their device repaired. Many customers are willing to pay a little more for a different color, especially if it’s already being worked on.

Offer Profitable Device Accessories

You can also make a profit on cases for Apple devices and the Galaxy device line. Screen protectors are fairly popular, and you can buy in bulk and resell them. When you get a device in for a repair, offer to sell them a screen protector as part of the job. It may not seem like a lot, but if you get a lot of devices in without any screen protectors, it all adds up.

Get the Right Tools

Pick up some gtools from Wholesale Gadget Parts for iPhones and iPads. When it comes to bending back the housing, it will make your job a lot easier. If the housing is in good shape, you could charge less for the repair than if it’s not in good shape. That will allow you to make more on the troublesome devices and those that are in worse condition. It’s a lot easier to break fragile components when they’re already in a state of heavy wear and tear.

Do you have any tips on staying profitable in the mobile device repair industry? Drop a comment below!