3 HN users recommended this commentary3 months2020–2021score 3
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026
HN commenters recommend it as an insider account from a repair shop owner of why Apple's repair program falls short of real right to repair.
Louis Rossmann argues that Apple's Independent Repair Program is a PR stunt that misleads the public and burdens independent repair shops. He discusses parts access restrictions and program limits.
The independent repair program is bullshit and is just a marketing move to try to appear good and avoid regulation being passed. Louis Rossmann (a popular unauthorized repair shop owner) explains it: [this video]
Repair shop owner explains why Apple's program is marketing
The independent repair program is designed to destroy independent repair businesses and mislead people in the process. It forces their customers to wait 1-2 weeks for any repair (even just a battery replacement) after being forced to provide their personal identifying information, and even then, does not provide parts for anything nontrivial at all. It ensures repair shops don't actually stay in business—customers wouldn't wait 1-2 weeks for just a battery replacement. Louis Rossmann explains it: [link] , [this video]
Rossmann explains how the program misleads and hurts repair shops
If you’ve got 16 minutes, listen to Louis Rossmann describe how much of a joke it is: [this video] The short version is that Apple (a) does not let those stores order components in bulk, which means 2+ week turnaround on a repair that an independent store can do in 15 minutes, and (b) limits those stores to screens and batteries for iPhones. You can’t fix iPads, can’t fix Macs, can’t fix anything other than these two components.
Rossmann describes Apple's repair program limits and delays
If it were about dodgy parts, it would be enough to use genuine parts. It's not. If it were about dodgy parts they'd make it easy for third-party shops to get genuine parts. They don't. Why do parts through their independent repair program cost more (to the point of being uneconomical) if the shop is replacing a non-OEM part or (god forbid) they want to stock up so they can actually replace parts when their customer walks in and not have to wait for Apple's approval[1]? How does charging more for replacing a non-OEM part protect people? I've done things Apple's way, and my reward was losing access to my work tools for two weeks. They can pay for prime real estate but they can't pay to train their Geniuses to actually fix things? To change a battery? They can't keep parts in stock? Doing things their way is miserable---they are capricious, they deny they ever make any design errors, it is inconvenient. This drives people to third-party providers where they can actually get better service for the products they paid a premium for. How does this protect people? I'm not even talking about component-level repair. I'm not talking about changing a bad chip. These are the feet[2]. They stick on. No soldering required. But apparently that's too hard for their Geniuses to do. [1] [this video] [2] [link]
Footnote supporting claim about parts ordering restrictions
Apple independent repair is a PR stunt that is not at all about repair. It's apart of their fight to not provide repair while looking like they do so various governments won't regulate them. If we always had to buy OEM dealer parts and only dealer 'certified techs' could repair, then only the rich can afford vehicles. [this video] skip to 6:13.
He already addressed his concerns with this two years ago here: [this video] and here [link] Apple still does not provide him the parts required to do the board repair that he's known for, even if he did sign up for their authorized repair nonsense.
Rossmann earlier raised concerns about the parts access
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