Apple’s self-service repair option, which launched in the US on Wednesday, will be extended to additional countries – starting in Europe – later this year. It follows the moves of Google and Samsung to allow some MacGyvering from consumers and puts the wind in the sails of the right to repair the drive. Proponents argue that when brands limit who can make repairs it increases consumer costs and creates more waste as people choose to discard rather than correct. In March, a bill was submitted to the U.S. Senate to instruct companies to allow the right to repair. Customers can contact Apple online’s self-service repair shop to order more than 200 individual components and tools to repair their devices. The company statement stressed that customers should “experience the complexity of repairing electronic devices to complete repairs on the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 and iPhone SE (third generation) series.” Apple also offers tool rental kits for $ 49, so customers do not have to buy expensive equipment for a single repair.
Apple will maintain its monopoly on spare parts
While proponents of sustainability have hailed it as a step forward, iFixit, an instructional site, noted that Apple still allows its own components to be used only for repairs and not components from other manufacturers. “If you are using an aftermarket spare part, you will receive a ‘verification not possible’ warning,” the blog said. “This strategy reduces third-party repairs with tactics of loss of features and terrorism and could dramatically reduce recycling and refurbishment options, short-circuiting the circular economy.” Over the past three years, Apple said it had nearly doubled the number of service locations to more than 5,000, including more than 3,000 third-party service providers. Eight out of 10 Apple customers are within 20 minutes of being an authorized service provider in the United States, according to the brand.
