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by simondotau 1689 days ago
Or maybe the only way independent companies can undercut Apple is to use sub-standard replacement parts, such as screen glass which isn’t toughened. In my experience this is very common. And it means that people who are prone to breaking their screen get replacement after replacement after replacement — ultimately costing them more.

This exact scenario has happened to two close friends and I’ve heard of it occurring with other people. Replacement screens break easily and the cost of the first and second repairs is more than one repair by Apple.
2 comments
commoner 1689 days ago
Many independent repair shops use high-quality parts, and consumers can check reviews or rely on past experiences to determine the quality of the repair before choosing a shop that works for them. Risk-averse consumers who are able to afford the higher upcharge can still choose to go to Apple for repairs if they want to. Obstructing independent repair options does a disservice to the consumers who prefer them.
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simondotau 1689 days ago
In my experience, even the "high quality parts" are junk.

And regardless how high the quality is, these are still basically counterfeit products. Nobody would think it's okay for a company to sell counterfeit iPhones. Why is it okay to sell counterfeit iPhone components?

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zepto 1689 days ago
> consumers can check reviews or rely on past experiences to determine the quality of the repair before choosing a shop that works for them

You can’t be serious about this. Where are these high quality reviews?

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echelon 1689 days ago
Two observations.

1) The market has a wide range of solutions at various prices for consumers. You wouldn't prevent people from buying a cheap Kia or Ford because it'll cost them more in the long run, would you? Must they buy a BMW? And then only source their parts from the original manufacturer in licensed dealerships?

2) If Apple cared about quality so much, why do their cables fray so easily? I've had to replace all of my charging cables, even on my recent M1 Mac.

In any case, your anecdotes are not the whole marketplace. A world where we can buy only Apple is a nightmare hellscape. Pray that doesn't happen.

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zepto 1689 days ago
> A world where we can buy only Apple is a nightmare hellscape

How is this in any way related to the discussion on repairability?

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