iFixit and Samsung are parting ways, two years after forming a partnership to repair smartphones and tablets. The South Korean manufacturer is criticized for its weak commitment and some of its actions.
Updated May 24 : Samsung sent a statement have Android Authority in which the manufacturer explains that it has several after-sales service programs for its customers, including one for those who want to repair their phone themselves. Page samsungparts.com managed by Encompass. Of its partnership with iFixit, Samsung says “ proud of the work done “, but he does not want to comment beyond that. It also doesn’t allude to the details that iFixit and the media reported yesterday 404.
Article from May 23
Two years ago iFixit and Samsung started the program in which he became the first official supplier of spare parts and complete repair manuals. Defender of the right to compensation Notice today that he will end the adventure next June, frustrated by the turn of this association.
” Samsung doesn’t seem motivated to move towards large-scale repairs “, notes Kyle Wiens, co-founder of iFixit. Unlike Google, HMD (Nokia) and Motorola with whom it works. iFixit will therefore continue on its own, selling compatible parts and publishing user manuals that may be less detailed.
Wiens cites several reasons for this break. The price of the parts is the main thing. Samsung sells them too expensively for the operation to attract buyers, and smartphones are still complicated to repair. The South Korean company, for example, sold iFixit only batteries on which the phone’s screen was glued.
A simple battery change costs the price of a screen refurbishment, even if the phone’s screen is in good condition. What Samsung offers for $160 is three times cheaper than Google, which only sells the battery.
This is the second time iFixit has come out disappointed in its relationship with Samsung. A year earlier, there was talk of giving a second life to smartphones stored in drawers, but which could still be used for some basic tasks. Samsung didn’t push this idea further, much to the chagrin of iFixit.
Home automation: Samsung will give a second life to the old Galaxy
Another complaint in the current contract was that iFixit was unable to properly supply repair shops. The contract established a limit of 7 pieces per customer in a period of 3 months. A restriction that prevented, actuallyincrease the volume.
Finally, iFixit was unable to source parts for the newer generation Galaxy. Samsung didn’t go beyond the S22 as it made components for the S23, Flip 5 and Z Fold 5 available on its own third-party store, Encompass. iFixit has been postponed.
On this occasion, another factor of dissatisfaction was highlighted. Samsung asked iFixit to send it the email addresses of those customers, the purchase history of the parts, and to sign a release statement. All that other partners are not looking for.
Parallel, 404 have got a copy of the contract signed between the independent repairer and Samsung – dated 2023.
The clauses state that the repairer must provide Samsung with the names of their customers, contact information, the phone’s IMEI number and the reason for the repair. If the repairer notices that his customer’s smartphone has already been repaired with non-original parts, he must disassemble it to remove them and notify Samsung. Who will probably be able to try to find the origin of those non-original parts and identify the repairer.
Have repairmen found themselves in a position to offer the customer to replace non-approved parts at their expense if they want the repair to be completed? It’s not very clear.
This contract is not even intended for authorized repairers, which means that they may have to follow other, even stricter rules.