Over the past several years there has been a huge growth in the number of cell phone repair centers nationally. While this is good for all parties involved it does create an area of concern – Who should you chose to repair your cell phone?
- As we mentioned in an earlier blog (DIY Repair), not all repair solutions are obvious. Finding a shop that can truly isolate and repair your issue may not be so easy. For example, in the case of many LG models, speaker and/or microphone issues may occur because of a damaged charger port but can also result from a problem with the display (as it is part of the audio circuit). Therefore, it is vital that you choose a repair shop that has the ability to be capable of determining the root cause of an issue in order to perform effective repairs.
- The second critical piece – the shop must have the ability and tools to properly make the necessary repair. There is a certain amount of technique know-how that comes with experience and not from training classes offered by other repair centers. The technique we employ for our board level repairs has been developed and perfected over many years of doing repairs. Additional training should come from one of the manufacturers or formal technical classes. (Our techs, at a minimum have received formal training through Nokia and Motorola) With respect to tools, much of the soldering done now requires specialized equipment. Simple soldering irons are no longer useful for many repairs. We use a variety of high end soldering irons, pre-heaters and re-work stations. The change to lead-free solder has made these tools critical for proper repair. Also, given the more densely populated and smaller printed circuit boards, electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a major concern, and shops must have, use and maintain protective devices, including mats and wrist straps. Otherwise, damage to board components is likely. (While it the effects may not show up immediately, latent damage is a real concern.) High end shops will generally use a constant monitoring system and / or frequently test the devices being repaired to ensure they are working as designed and that they are not being affected by any ESD. So, seek out repair shops with years or practical experience, additional training from OEM manufacturers or technical courses, up-to-date tools and equipment, and ESD safety and monitoring devices.
- The quality of parts used CAN impact the quality of the repair. Thanks to high demand, low quality replacement parts have flooded the market. To keep a competitive edge by charging a lower price for repairs, many shops will use these low end parts. While the customer saves money, these parts are prone to higher failure rates. Electrical components like LCDs and flex assemblies are the biggest concern, but many housings and glass lenses (like those for the iPhone) are also not made to manufacturer specifications. They tend to be thinner and, as a result, break easier. High end shops will only use OEM or like OEM quality parts. This generally results in a higher repair cost, but you can be assured the repair will hold as designed. Thus, it would seem like a wise decision to ask the repair shop what parts they use in their repairs so you can have greater assurance of the highest quality repair of your device.
- The final piece in locating a quality shop – testing and quality control. Whether customers bring their phones into a local shop or mail them in, they should expect that they won’t discover any unresolved issues when the repaired phone is returned. While it is not possible to guarantee a 100% defect free rate, every effort must be made by the repair shop to minimize the possibility of errors. Nothing is worse than receiving a phone back from repair only to find something amiss, especially if that ‘something’ may not have been the original problem! People who bring their phones into a local shop for repairs have an advantage as they can test their phone upon pickup and have any unresolved or newly discovered issues fixed immediately. Not as easy for those who send their phone in for repair; time and distance complicate the situation and can cause customer frustration. This makes it essential to know the testing and quality control procedures of any shop you would go to for repairs. To that end, our testing and QC procedure can be found at http://www.blueridgewireless.com/qc.html.
As we’ve already blogged extensively, be very skeptical of shops that claim the ability to effectively repair water damaged cell phones.
There are plenty of repair shops out there offering quality work done by experienced, skilled techs with up-to-date tools and equipment using premium parts at a fair price. These shops return to the customer a fully tested and inspected product and back their work with a guarantee. There are, unfortunately far too many shops that do not meet these criteria and should be avoided. So, if you are in need of a cell phone repair center, be careful, do your homework, and ask questions before you decide with whom to trust your repair.
Tags: cell phone repair, ESD