The cell phone repair business is no different than other repair businesses in that we find there is no shortage of individuals who attempt to perform their own repairs. As with most other industries, parts, instructions and discussion forums are readily available. So why should you leave the repair to the professionals?
- Resources / Knowledge base – While a wealth of information and help can be found in internet forums and on various internet sites, many repairs require more specific details than are available. Many repairs are not as simple as they appear. Audio issues may require replacing the display or charger port, not a speaker or microphone as expected. There is no substitute for the expert experience and proprietary information available only at qualified repair centers. Most DIY’ers likely will not have the ability to isolate the source of an issue without costly trial and error.
- Complexity – Even when a repair is obvious (like a broken display), it can still be complicated process. Disassembling the phone can be a challenge due to its design, and improper disassembly can lead to additional broken parts or permanent damage. In many handsets there are a number of connections that must be de-soldered and then re-flowed after the repair, especially to replace displays.
- Parts – Assuming that a repair is obvious and disassembly straightforward, there is the issue of obtaining correct and quality parts. Finding the needed part is easy. Getting a quality part is not. There is a huge difference in quality between parts purchased directly from the manufacturer (OEM) and those produced by aftermarket companies. The failure rate for aftermarket parts (especially electrical parts, including LCDs and flex cables) is high; many do not work upon receipt or fail shortly thereafter. Many parts do not fit correctly. Lenses and plastic housings tend to be thinner, are poorly finished and/or damage quite easily as compared with OEM parts. Add in the uncertainty of purchasing from an unknown source and you could wind up getting the wrong part if it even arrives.
- Tools – While many of the tools needed for proper cell phone repair are readily available, high quality versions are not. Lower quality, and/or poorly made tools easily strip or damage screws and other component parts. More complex repairs, like soldering, require specialized tools. Use of a simple soldering iron with lead free solder at a high re-flow temp can seriously damage circuit boards and components. Proper repairs require high end irons, de-soldering tools, and pre-heaters. Electrostatic discharge is another concern. Since it takes as little as 400 volts to affect small electronic components, but 2500-3500 volts before you feel the shock, damage done to components may not be obvious. Also, latent issues caused by static discharge are quite likely. Performing a repair as simple as replacing a display without exercising proper ESD safety (mats, wrist straps, gloves, etc) could result in major issues later.
While DIY repairs might save you some money, the potential risks are high. Have your cell phone repaired properly by finding a qualified repair center.
Tags: cell phone repair
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