Apple and other tablet manufacturers offer tempting products that eat into your disposable income, so when those items break outside of warranty, you can’t always afford to replace them. Getting your iPad, smartphone, or tablet back without paying full price is probably the number one reason to have the device repaired. Here’s a look at three more situations that could cause you to seek iPad repair.
Salvaging Data or Work Even if you can afford to scrap your device and start fresh, can you afford to lose all the business contacts, data, or work saved on your tablet or phone? A damaged tablet is just like a damaged computer: The data is probably still accessible, at least in part. A professional repairman may be able to get your device functioning again, but even if he can’t, he might be able to extract your data. Hours, weeks, and even years of work are probably more valuable than the cost of any repair.
Your Warranty is Void Cory Doctorow at Boing Boing published a column in late April 2013 citing a collection of stories about Apple customers who were denied warranty work because they’d smoked around their phone. Although Apple’s warranty doesn’t appear to address smoke, and these stories are anecdotal, there are ways you can definitively void the warranty on almost any electronic device. Making certain repairs to the device yourself or just opening some devices to have a look can be grounds for a warranty refusal. If you use hacks on any smart devices, the manufacturer will never honor a warranty claim. In these cases, a professional smartphone or iPad repair shop may be able to help.
Repair a Secondary Device Maybe you’ve already upgraded to the latest, greatest model. Trashing your old tablet or phone seems like an unnecessary waste, even if the product’s a bit glitchy. If repairs are relatively low-cost, why not consider passing the device on to one of your children. With educational systems opting for web-based assignments on a regular basis, having an iPad or other tablet may even help with your child’s grades. Even if the repairs can’t make the device top-notch, if you can surf the internet, make phone calls, or complete other basic operations, it might be worth keeping the item on hand.
Locating a Repair Company Some tech-savvy individuals are often tempted to try repairs themselves. Unless you are certified to work on complicated systems associated with smartphones and tablets, this isn’t a good idea. Each of these devices is a powerful computer with detailed components and a complex operating system. A single wrong turn can fry the device or create a situation where repairs are much more expensive. As previously noted, cracking the device open to have a look or hacking into the programming could void any warranty on the phone or tablet.
Instead, search for a local tech company that offers iPhone, iPad and other repair services. You can find these companies online and via your local yellow pages. It’s a good idea to read reviews so you can get an idea about how satisfied previous customers are and whether the company has a high success rate with repairs.
Most reputable companies will give you a ballpark quote on how much the repair will cost, although the final price will depend on how many parts were required and how long the repair took. If you want an affordable repair, don’t put it off; recent news reports indicate that ICE raided Florida repair shops that were using cost-effective aftermarket parts. If you want to take advantage of such savings, contact your local repair shop today before they all change over to more expensive factory parts.
Shane writes for iCellFix, a company that provides iPad repair in Phoenix, AZ.