If you take the time to talk to any repair technician, you will pick up on some vital phone repair tips. One of the biggest obstacles that technicians face with customers seeking phone repairs, is customers who aren’t fully aware of the time and care that goes into a safe and quality repair job. These are the people that handle your technology with care and deal with this stuff on a daily basis. So, before you head to phone repair shop, there are a few things your wireless repair technician wants you to know.
1) Be Honest
Be as upfront and honest as possible. You don’t have to tell your technician what you had for breakfast, but it is always best to let them know a good bit of detail about your device if you can provide it. Giving them all of the information upfront will eliminate miscommunication, and provide a more realistic time frame for repairs. It can save you and your technician time and money. Try your best not to be embarrassed by irresponsibility, strange substances wedged in your phone, or whatever caused you to need this repair. Your technician has likely seen it before, and if you let them know a little bit about your phone, they can do the job more efficiently.
Has your phone been skinny dipping lately?
Always let your tech know if your phone has suffered any water damages in the past. Even if it worked fine afterwards, you need to let your technician know. Any damages caused by water submersion can alter the course of a repair. It is for your own good. The more you disclose, the more successful a repair will be.
Has your phone been to the doctor lately?
Please list all previous surgeries, medical procedures, and any known allergies. Let them know if you, or any other techs have tried to repair this or other issues before. Technology is delicate and certain parts can be easy to damage, so they will want to know if anything has been tampered with before.
2) Prepare for Care
There are a few things you may want to square away before you drop off your device at the repair shop. Do everything you can to understand your phone, safeguard your data, and aid the technician. Being cooperative and safe will help guarantee an efficient repair.
Back It Up
This cannot be stressed enough. Back up your files and personal data. Back it up in the cloud, on your computer, on a drive, or wherever. When you are going for a repair, even a simple one, there is a chance for data loss. Even if you don’t think there is a chance, there is. Safeguard your contacts, pictures, apps, in-app data, and more. Many repair shops will have you sign a disclaimer prior to drop-off, to ensure that you understand the risks involved. If you don’t know how, just ask your tech. They’re experts, remember?
Charge It Up
If you can, try to get it a full charge before you bring it with you. If it is able to charge, the technician will have the proper cords to charge any device, but it will go much faster if he is able to get to the information he needs or any system details needed for the repair. Most techs will run a diagnostic test before a repair to ensure they are fully addressing any issues and solving the root cause of your problem.
Silence is Golden
If your friends and your mom, and your grandma, and your girlfriend all think you have your phone on you, they will still try to call you. It is hard to test a phone when people are tagging, texting, calling, and chatting with you during a repair. Give your list of regulars the heads-up and let them know you’ll throw them a text as soon as you’re done. If you are pleased with the service, let your friends know how awesome it was. The market for phone repair is saturated nowadays, so when you find a good one, throw your repair shop a bone!
3) This is a Cooperative Mission
Understand that a technician is a guru, a wiz, an expert. Understand that a technician is not a genie, Merlin, Dumbledore, or Gandalf. There are certain things that may never be perfect again. If so, a good tech will let you know upfront. Certain repairs can only go so far, or may take long time to get right. If you want the best service guaranteed, be patient and understanding.
Bent, Cracked, and Battered
If you are in need of a screen replacement, and you have dropped your phone on its side or corner, it may take longer than a drop on the face or even a bad crack. The casing for some screens is often aluminum, and will need to be fixed first if it is bent out of shape. A quality repair shop will have the specialty tool required to repair a bent aluminum frame. It is called a gTool.
Stay Calm
If you are around when the diagnostics are going on, and things just aren’t going your way, just stay calm. The technician is going to be just as disheartened to hear about another defective part. That is one more thing in the way of him getting paid for his time. If they have to special order a part, stay calm. The repairman wants to get your technology safely back into your hands. Likely a repair shop will check other suppliers, shops, and anyone they can before having to special order something that will delay your repair. So, be understanding and patient.
When all seems lost, there is still hope…
If you just had to try to fix it yourself, but failed miserably, there is still hope. Bring your dismal pile of pieces to the shop, and no matter how hopeless it seems, a good repairman can fix it! They may not be celebrating when you walk in, but a skilled tech will be up for the challenge. Just don’t ask for a discount. A disassembled phone that already had an issue to begin with… may take some time. Don’t be embarrassed, DIY mishaps happen all of the time.
4) Research is Rad!
Try to get a feel for what you are getting yourself into with a repair shop and with your device. If you don’t know much about the industry or your phone, now is a good time to start.
Know Your Device
Try to gather together any info you can,or at least know where to find it. It can be a big help if you know your phone’s model number, generation or year of release, and maybe even the IMEI number (found in your phone info section). For example, one generation of iPhone can differ in price from another significantly, depending on its construction and build.
Know Your Repair Shop
Do the research, read the reviews, give them a call, and do everything you can to ensure you are going to a legitimate repair shop. As previously mentioned, the market is saturated, but with different quality repair shops. Compare prices, read online reviews, and ask around for the best repair experience and best value. If your gut is saying no, then don’t do it. Technology can be expensive, so protect your investments with research and wise decisions.
5) Prevent and Preserve
From here on out, you will need to safeguard your phone if you want that repair to be worth-while. Focus on your problem areas. If you went for a screen repair, or drop your phone often, you may want to get protective casing or film for your device, as well as port covers to prevent any debris from entering your device. Covering your ports with an anti-dust plug can also prevent shorting or damage in lightning ports, headphone jack ports and others. Your tech should have some good advice to help prevent further damage and keep your phone running great for years to come.
Love these tips! I agree with being honest. If you are honest with your technician, they are able to help you in the best way possible. Thanks for sharing.