Cell phone store shuts down after bad repair.

[Equilibrium]

I was looking at my task manager when the phone slipped and hit the ground. crack

At first, it didn't bother me. Then I cut my finger on the glass. Then the backlight started to die from being cracked just so Now I COULD mail it in, but I wanted it done fast, So I went looking for a repair shop.

I first started by looking online to see what it would cost to do a physical repair. It would be cheaper and easier to pay someone else, so I headed into town.

The store was small and poorly arranged. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of ''cell repair'' ships in my area. One looks like one but go inside, and there's row after row of illegal gambling machines. The funny thing is they would probably do a better job at repairs.

So I walk in, and the bell tinkled, announcing my entry. It was a cool old fashioned bell above the door.

The guy was already at the counter browsing Reddit or something and hardly looked up as I walked in.

How much for a repair? I asked. ''$365,'' he said, not even looking up

I thought it over for a few seconds. What if I bring my parts?
The question phased him for a moment before he smirked. Yeah, you can do that, but you probably won't get the right ones.

And again, If I bring my parts, what would you charge?
uhh.. 250
A $115 discount for doing my due diligence.

I also want a battery replacement.
That will be an extra $150

''deal'; I'll be back.

I didn't go shopping.
I went to work and opened a particular website reserved for employees.
I selected the exact parts for my model device, then called my manager and explained the situation. Unfortunately, the phone broke, and I can't see the screen at all, can I make an order? I can? Thanks, you're the best. Done.

I removed the packaging and employee stickering and brought the parts to the store. Hey, I'm back. Here are the parts.

Three days later, I get a call on the number I gave him to contact me at.
''hey, uh, so like I said, you got the wrong parts. So I charge 150 for the right ones.''
Wait, that's ON TOP of the 150 for repair?
Yeah, I need to order new parts cause they are wrong.

That is literally. Physically. Impossible.
I ordered parts directly using the IMEI of the device.
Now I knew that this guy was trying to fleece me, but the thing is, it would be less hassle to agree with him.

250 for repair me bringing them
115 discount if I bring parts
$150 for battery replacement.
$50 to order parts for a phone that already had them.

He was going to bill $450 for a repair. The math wasn't sticking in my head yet. Finally, I heard $150 and thought, ''yeah, this is more trouble than debating.''

Fine, do it.
A whole week later, I get the call.
That repair should have taken three hours tops, but maybe he's just jam-packed.

I go to the counter, he sets the phone down and...
What the heck is this?

It's open. Dummy using the wrong adhesive or not enough.
The phone is not sealed shut and is open at the gap. The display looks clear, but wait, is that an imperfection in the screen? It is. Damn.

Hey, we've got a problem. I pointed at the open phone.
It's opened.

He looks at the phone and is mollified. Oh.. yeah. Uh.. hold on.
I realized he had probably just finished fixing the phone because adhesive doesn't take a very long time to set. And looking back at it, I bet he was using cheaper- weaker adhesive.

Hold up! I don't want you just squirting adhesive in there!
And what's this? Look, this screen has an imperfection right here.
Did you accidentally grab the wrong screen or something? This isn't the one that I gave you before.

Yeah, it is. Some of them just come like that.
No, it freaking isn't. You find the right screen and replace it correctly. I want the part that I brought to be installed.

Well, if you remember, I told you you brought the wrong parts.
Stalemate. Now, this store owner is going to act like the screen was wrong.
If I call him out on it, he might remember a new charge for the ''replacement screen.''

I can't admit to knowing they are wrong without revealing how.
For 99999.9% of customers, there's no way to prove that the part you bring in is the part you have, except accompanied documentation, and that isn't an option here.

I'll meet you halfway. First, you drop the $50 charge for the outright lie that my parts didn't fit and replace the right screen. I know what my screen looked like, and this *taps phone* isn't it. Look, it's even opened for you already. That's half the battle!

Aiight fine. I'll put the other screen on.
And seal the pone?

Yep.
Alright, good day. I'll be back soon.
Four days later, I get a call. ''your phones ready.''

It's the right screen this time.
I turn it over and.. hey, where is my asset tag!?
The what?

The sticker on the back!
Oh... I Threw that away.
You what? UGH! Why would you pull a sticker off a phone?

Legit for a battery replacement, there was no reason to remove that tag.
This guy is giving me a headache. Let's get this transaction DONE. I am out of here.

Paid, I am out the door.
It's a few hours later, and I'm at a Starbucks.
Open the phone go to battery settings, and
motherfuckingnofreakingholyshitnoway.

This is the old battery with 58% efficiency.
He didn't change a freaking thing.
I drained my coffee and drove back.

I opened the door of the shop, set the phone down, and stared at him.
This. Is. The. Same. Battery.

No, it's not.
In response, I went to battery settings. Why does this battery have 58% precisely the same amount as the previous battery?
No, it's the right battery.

LOOK AT THE DATA.
BS, it's the right battery. You took that battery, and it's sitting in the back room. You tried to steal my screen, you stole my battery, and you are a pain to work with.

No! it's changed, I swear! I swear on my life!
Well, buddy, your life isn't worth much then. So here's what is going to happen. You taking that battery is an issue. If it doesn't turn up, I'm going to the police.

You're what?
Either you're so incompetent that you put in the battery you just pulled out, or you are trying to steal my battery.

I'm going to the police and filing a theft report. So either return the battery, or I'm headed there now.

Over a battery?!
Yes, over a battery, specifically this one.

You can't prove someone took a battery!
I probably can. Do you want to take that chance?

He turned around and went in the back. Came back a few moments later with a battery.

I'm warning you that better be the right one.
*grumbling* it is.
I was looking it over when he yelled the words that would close this store.

HOW ABOUT YOU GO AND FIX F*ckING TECH STUFF YOURSELF SINCE YOU KNOW SO MUCH, YOU F*ckING F*ckER. GET OUT OF MY SHOP!! YOU'RE BANNED!!!

I grinned. Or what, you going to call the police? They might be interested to learn about this *waves battery*
GET OUT OF HERE, AND DON'T COME BACK!!!!

I left. The phone was fixed, but it had the wrong battery, and I wasn't liable to get it fixed THERE again.

I should have had it mailed in for repair. But here, I was kicked out of the only repair shop in the area with a battery in hand.
Hell, I'll do it myself.

Hey, what's the matter? my manager asked. You seem upset.
I was. I remembered that visit to that repair shop and had just been working with someone regarding battery issues. I told her the whole story. What a nightmare! She was laughing. It would be best if you had had it sent in for repairs.
Yeah. Well. I wanted a working phone ASAP.
Then she thought of something.

Hey, is that company on the list of AASPs?
An AASP is an Apple Authorized Service Provider. They are the companies that pull up on maps when you look for repairs within Apple maps.

To meet the requirements, you need to exceed a specific set of criteria; the store had failed massively during my visit. Therefore, it was decided per manager discretion that that store would be receiving an evaluation soon.

As an Advisor, I took calls for people—hundreds of them. But I wasn't involved in the physical repair until the moment that repair shop had screamed at me.

Nothing prevented me from repairing devices myself, as long as I didn't use work tools to do so. In other words, I source my parts from eBay the same as any other repair shop. I also decided to keep things fair that I would never request AASP certification.

The visit from Apple for evaluation for that store was inevitable, but it didn't matter in the long run. The shop was so small that I suspect he may have bribed the evaluator, and he would have lost the right to be listed as an AASP anyway one day.

Before that visit, my phone was blowing up with calls from people who needed repairs. But, like I said, one shop in a small city. And I couldn't have been the only customer who got such crap service.

I paid $12 for a web domain and $150 for newspaper advertising.
I bought some machines on credit, started working on phones. People were calling every day, and the funny thing is some of them seemed so apprehensive, so scared of receiving lousy support.

I, on the other hand, was able to provide next class service with mediocre repair skills. I treated every device like it was my own, took personal care of every complaint, and charged reasonably.

I ended up leaving my current job to work for myself. I was making more money anyway, and by doing so, I felt better accepting repairs for IOS products as there was no potential conflict of interest.

One day I get an email.
It's from the company that had fixed my phone with an email saying they were shutting down services. They cited ''direct competition'' making ''the business not profitable,'' and could no longer afford repairs. So they were shutting down that week.

It's funny. I almost forgot about them. There was no ''competition'' I think people just prefer my prices. After all, I wasn't creating false charges and upselling everything under the sun.

Customers were finding us both the same way and choosing my company instead. Maybe the in-depth customized learning I provided to every customer was pulling back the curtains of the other stores fleecing practices. Perhaps the store just gave up when their AASP was revoked. I don't know. Something in the email caught my eye, though. They were selling everything. Like parts? Sweet.

I went to the store. I walked in, and the guy recognized me instantly. Jesus, doe no one else work here? Well, I guess not anymore.

Hey, so I figured a store ban doesn't matter if you're shutting down.
Listen, I wondered if you had any boxes of broken phones, parts glue...actually, I don't want your glue. Screens etc.

You want..parts?
Yeah, broken parts like still good frames, etc. Do you have any?

I think he started to catch on when I was rummaging in a box.
I was staring at an opened phone, looking at the circuits, when he spoke up.

So.. you fix phones?
Yup, sure do.

Silence while I'm sorting in the box.
How long have you fixed phones?

mmmm.. bout the time I got banned from a store a while back. *rummage rummage*

I'll give you 150 for this box.
300.
170
280
250 AND you admit you stole my battery.
Silence. It dragged on, and I started looking at parts again, waiting for a reply.

Well?
Yeah, I took it. He grumbled.
I figured. Did you want to use the new battery on a different phone?
Yeah.

Thanks for that, by the way.
I put cash on the counter as I wasn't going to deal with his point of sale system. On the way out the door, I saw the bell hanging.
Hey. I want that.

The.. bell?
Yup.
He waved his hand, and I snatched it down. I set it tinkling in the box and hefting it bright it back to my repair shop.
It was going to be a good day.

 

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[Johnny boy]

Zua'si vji Liepa Siiwit ug vji getvmepi gusan :sugm: