Tech Insight on the Mobile Device Repair Industry

Mobile devices have a knack for jumping out of consumers’ hands without any advance notice, and the question that comes up immediately after the event is a very old one. Repair or replace? Technology is moving at a breakneck pace, faster than ever before. If you had told someone in the early nineties how many gigabytes can now be easily stored on something smaller than a fingernail, they would probably laugh or even mock you.

The early computers for general consumer use cost several times what their value is now, and they only had a fraction of the computing power of today’s devices. Now, more than ever before, there is a finer line between the decision to replace or repair, as far as economic concerns go.

Why is this the case? The tablet of last year, or the year before, with some exceptions, hides in the shadow of this year’s popular device. Processor power, storage, peripherals, and other features grow each time a new tablet comes out, and the demand is for faster response and more flexibility. There are so many factors to consider every time a tablet comes in for repair, so we’ll go over a few things here that you might consider now that you’re moving into mobile device repair.

Retail Price Range

There are many tablets at the higher end of the spectrum that are designed well, easily repaired, within reason, and the cost of the repair in labor and parts can be anywhere from a fifth to a quarter of the initial retail cost of the device, and the cost of a replacement at current market prices for the latest version of the device. On the other end of the spectrum are the low cost tablets, manufactured cheaply, assembled cheaply, using flimsy materials.

Parts are likely to be harder to find, and the tablet more difficult to repair professionally. One common issue is that if the components inside are cheap, you may, even with a light touch, accidentally destroy a connector trying to replace a component, especially if glue was used to cement the connectors together, preventing easy repair.

The more popular or expensive the tablet, the more likely you are to find replacement parts, and the more likely it is that it will definitely be worth it to attempt a repair. This is why retail price range is an important preliminary concern when deciding whether a particular tablet is worth repairing.

Warranty and Insurance

Upon determining what tablet you’re considering repairing and where it is on the price range, you’ll need to find out if the consumer bought insurance or if insurance was included on the tablet. It’s more likely there is a warranty that was either included or purchased with the tablet, depending on how long it’s been owned. If either are the case, you should contact the specified party immediately and discover what options are available for repair or replacement by the authorized party.

Many manufacturers, such as Amazon, are known for easy replacement if there are issues with the tablet, even later during the device lifespan. There have been stories of Apple replacing devices as well, under certain circumstances. If any of these options are available, the client will greatly appreciate you attempting to save them time and money, instead of just repairing an already used tablet when they could have gotten a new one at no extra cost. A happy client means more referrals, which is more business for you in the long run. If they find out later they could have gotten a free replacement or a replacement at low cost, but you didn’t try to take advantage of that option, you might end up losing business.

Age

The age of the tablet is one issue I brought out in the introduction, regarding the pace of growing technology. If the tablet is old enough that it’s starting to be considered slightly obsolete in terms of what’s now available, just make the client aware of what they could be replacing their current tablet with.

Sometimes the client just wants their old device fixed, and sometimes, when made aware of what’s new, they would rather opt for the newer device. It’s really up to the client, but giving them the options and making them aware of what’s out there is in their best interest, and that means it’s in your best interest as well regarding future business.

Other issues

When tech devices are nearing the end of their lifespan, components may start to fail. The sound may stop working, the response may become slower, buttons stop working like they should, or other strange things start happening. It’s not always immediately discernible. Normal wear and tear can cause things to just wear out a bit, but it doesn’t mean the components behind the screen are failing.

However, if it seems that the last issue that finally convinced the client to bring the tablet in to you was really the ‘last straw’, and it seems the tablet is letting out it’s last breath, it may be time to just opt for a new device rather than try to patch up something that may completely fail in the next thirty days or so.

The ‘Green’ Choice

This isn’t everyone’s choice, but for a growing sector of the population, it’s becoming more popular. Why toss a tablet away to contaminate the environment just to get the ‘latest and greatest’? Yes, repair may cost almost as much as the tablet costs at retail prices, but if it’s one less piece of trash in a landfill somewhere, it’s worth it to them. If your client would rather spend that much to repair a failing tablet rather than purchase a new one, all the more power to them. They’ve supported their green values and you’ve performed a valuable service and restored their device to good condition.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of all considerations you should have when looking into the mobile device repair sector, but it’s a good start, and with experience, you’ll have a good idea which route to go just by looking the tablet over when it’s brought to you.

If you have some insight you would like to share on the mobile device repair industry, drop a comment below, we would love to hear it!