Apple announced on November 17, 2021, that it will soon make parts and repair manuals available to the public, rescinding years of restrictive repair policies. It marks a momentous change and shift for the company, which has fought to deny independent repair of its products for years by restricting access to parts, manuals, designing products that are difficult to fix, and lobbying against laws that would protect the right to repair. We at Diligex applaud Apple for making this decision for Apple’s Move Towards The Right To Repair
The new “Self Service Repair” program will allow members of the public, consumers and repair shops alike, to order and receive genuine Apple parts and manuals for basic iPhone repairs via a new online store. As stated by Apple, the new online store “…will offer more than 200 individual parts and tools, enabling customers to complete the most common repairs”. The company is set to start with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups first, with the M1-based Macs being eligible soon after. Self Service Repair will be available early next year in the US and expand to additional countries throughout 2022.
Per Apple: “The initial phase of the program will focus on the most commonly serviced modules, such as the iPhone display, battery, and camera. The ability for additional repairs will be available later next year.”
Apple will ask customers to review their device’s manual, to ensure a customer can safely perform a repair before ordering parts. Once the customer is comfortable with a repair, they will be able to place an order for the Apple genuine parts and tools using the Apple Self Service Repair Online Store. Additionally, to keep in line with Apple’s Green Environmental Recycling initiative, customers who return their used parts for recycling will receive credit toward their purchase.
However, it should also be noted that Apple has issued the following advisory for consumers looking to do any repairs:
“Self Service Repair is intended for individual technicians with the knowledge and experience to repair electronic devices. For the vast majority of customers, visiting a professional repair provider with certified technicians who use genuine Apple parts is the safest and most reliable way to get a repair.”
In our professional opinions, we at Diligex agree with Apple’s point that only individuals with the technical knowledge or experience handle repairs of electronic devices. However, we also believe that Apple’s new Self Service Repair program is an important step for independent repair shops and MSPs to continue to give consumers quality service they deserve.
To recap, Apple’s Self Service Repair will be available early next year in the US and expand to additional countries throughout 2022. Apple parts, tools, and manuals will be available to the public through Apple’s new Self Service Repair Online Store and will start with iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 with M1-based macs following soon after.
To read more about Apple’s Self Service Repair you can read Apple’s latest press conference about it here: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2021/11/apple-announces-self-service-repair/