Apple Launches Self Service Repair Program in Europe

[MacRumors]

Apple today announced it has launched its self-service repair program in Europe, extending the program beyond the United States for the first time.

Customers in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the UK can now purchase genuine Apple parts, and consult repair manuals, through the Apple Self Service Repair Store. Apple says customers who wish to complete their own repairs will be able to perform many of the most common repairs for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups, and Mac notebooks with Apple silicon.

To conduct a repair, customers will first need to review the repair manual for their product and the specific repair on Apple's support website. After, they'll be able to order the required parts and tools from the Self Service Repair Store and begin the repair. All the tools and parts offered in the store undergo "extensive testing to ensure the highest quality, safety, and reliability," Apple says.

While customers must order the parts needed for the repair, Apple will provide a $49 kit that includes all the essential tools required to conduct repairs for customers. The rental kit will be available to customers for one week before they're needed to be sent back to Apple and are shipped free of charge. This rental option offers flexibility to customers who may not want to fully own and purchase tools for just a single repair.

The program is part of Apple's efforts to "further expand access to repairs," according to the company. Still, Apple cautions that the "vast majority" of customers should still visit a professional repair provider, such as an Apple Store, to ensure their devices are repaired safely and reliably. Over the last three years, Apple has expanded its repair network, including over 3,000 Independent Repair Providers and more than 5,000 authorized service providers worldwide.


Article Link: Apple Launches Self Service Repair Program in Europe

 

[Krazy_Peanut]

I had my battery replaced for my XS MAX. Paid 75€ in an Apple store and it took 1,5h. These prices are totally fair.

 

[cicalinarrot]

As a former repairman, I'm pretty sure this will cause more e-waste.
Even for experts, opening a new model for the first time can be a challenge.
I've fixed sooo many phones that were completely wrecked (both the old hardware and the replacement) by geeky guys trying to fix them on their own...

 

[MayaUser]

Beautiful, this is going nicely

 

[JPack]

$49 rental fee plus a $1,200 credit card hold in the event you or the courier loses or damages the tools.

Who’s excited?

 

[steve09090]

As a former repairman, I'm pretty sure this will cause more e-waste.
Even for experts, opening a new model for the first time can be a challenge.
I've fixed sooo many phones that were completely wrecked (both the old hardware and the replacement) by geeky guys trying to fix them on their own...

If Apple had their way, they wouldn’t be doing this. But too many people, plus the US Govt, and the EU have been demanding Right to Repair. If people want to destroy their phones out of principle, who are Apple to argue? 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[-Ryan-]

I wonder how many customers have actually used this service?

 

[PsykX]

They're obeying to the Right to Repair demands in various countries, but by making the solution so absurd, people will just end up going to Apple and pay them to do the repairs.

 

[JapanApple]

happy for it to be getting more locations. waste is a crime.

 

[steve09090]

They're obeying to the Right to Repair demands in various countries, but by making the solution so absurd, people will just end up going to Apple and pay them to do the repairs.

Pulling an iPhone a part these days is not an easy task. The solution is not absurd, it’s trying to make it idiot proof for idiots. There’s nothing stopping anyone trying to fix their phone without it.

 

[Torty]

I had my battery replaced for my XS MAX. Paid 75€ in an Apple store and it took 1,5h. These prices are totally fair.

It’s now 119 euros for iPhone 14 pro max

 

[racerhomie]

As a former repairman, I'm pretty sure this will cause more e-waste.
Even for experts, opening a new model for the first time can be a challenge.
I've fixed sooo many phones that were completely wrecked (both the old hardware and the replacement) by geeky guys trying to fix them on their own...

It’s the owners right. I wrecked my iBook G4 during repair of the HDD but I sucked it up and moved on.

 

[racerhomie]

They're obeying to the Right to Repair demands in various countries, but by making the solution so absurd, people will just end up going to Apple and pay them to do the repairs.

Tim Cook clearly said this is for tech bros and individuals who want to do things themselves. Most repairs of out of warranty Apple devices still happen in unauthorized stores .

 

[JapanApple]

It’s the owners right. I wrecked my iBook G4 during repair of the HDD but I sucked it up and moved on.

As a former repairman, I'm pretty sure this will cause more e-waste.
Even for experts, opening a new model for the first time can be a challenge.
I've fixed sooo many phones that were completely wrecked (both the old hardware and the replacement) by geeky guys trying to fix them on their own...

not if you send the old part back to apple.

 

[Scott Robinson]

I replace the screen on my iPhoneX two years ago with a comparable quality OLED as I could guarantee the local repair places were using good quality screens. Even with the hardware to pair the screen with the iPhone it was still far cheaper than sending it to apple. These Self Repair prices in the UK seem exactly the same price as sending to apple for repair eg. £280 for an iPhone 12. Why bother?

 

[PsykX]

Pulling an iPhone a part these days is not an easy task. The solution is not absurd [...]

The solution should be to make it easier to pull apart, not to send you 50kg of machines to your home.

It's not just absurd time-wise and money-wise, but also environment-wise. They're working their ass off to reduce packaging for the environment, and then they send you these huge machines for you to send them back...

 

[JapanApple]

When it was first reported many people same feeling. and yes they said the cost would be mostly the same. nothing hid it was all known months ago.

 

[tomnavratil]

The solution should be to make it easier to pull apart, not to send you 50kg of machines to your home.

It's not just absurd time-wise and money-wise, but also environment-wise. They're working their ass off to reduce packaging for the environment, and then they send you these huge machines for you to send them back...
View attachment 2124238

Considering the sizes of these devices and what they do, one would argue that their size is still quite reasonable for a repair. You can argue that they might use different adhesives for example, that's a valid point but if you follow iFixit guides, you don't need to use these kits at all.

It's just an option to accommodate a legal framework - which unfortunately - haven't been well thought out.

 

[toph101]

These repairs are really not that difficult. I welcome the opportunity to purchase genuine parts.

 

[Ashbash75]

Main reason why I ditched IOS and went back to a cheap android phone. After a few years, when the battery is shagged, get a new cheap phone.

The numbers just don't make sense, even with the fair phone brand!

 

[mrochester]

Main reason why I ditched IOS and went back to a cheap android phone. After a few years, when the battery is shagged, get a new cheap phone.

The numbers just don't make sense, even with the fair phone brand!

That doesnt sound very environmentally responsible!

 

[CMMChris]

Damn, in Europe they also don't sell separate batteries for the 14" and 16" MacBook Pros despite the cells having pull tabs. You only get the whole top case assembly, which is way too expensive (over 500€). I just don't get why they do things like that.

 

[Ashbash75]

That doesnt sound very environmentally responsible!

Of course not but that's the way it is.

 

[CMMChris]

The solution should be to make it easier to pull apart, not to send you 50kg of machines to your home.

You don't need Apple's tools. The iFixit stuff is doing just fine.

 

[boyarka]

Literraly every, and all, and every single review of the "apple self-repair" program shows utter hostility of Apple towards all self-repair. You have to really look far and wide to find another fake token gesture as this scam of a program is. Firstly, the cost of parts is almost as high as authorized Apple repair - which just negates the whole point of self-repair. Secondly the specialized tools are tailores for specific phone models which obsoletes them together with the phone. Thirdly - since Apple has locked in place the practice of matching phone parts to motherboards - the ONLY way to get the phones to work properly is ONLY by buying Apple'd new parts and once installed have them "calibrated" trough Apple tech support - basically to assign those parts remotely. There is NO way of using say... spare parts from another iPhone. They are usable - if the user accepts a ton of error messages and locked functionality and diagnostics.

The shole program was rotten from the outset. Apple would much prefer npt having sifficient warranty and have users buy new phones. It will accept half-way feaudulent and overly expensive (as documented by Rossman) in-store repairs. It BARELY accepts it's totally locked down overly costly and risky self-repair, and it does not accept any third party anything i reality. Buy, use for a year, buy new. That's apple's modus operandi.