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Inside the Phone Repair Industry: Trends and What’s Coming Next
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Inside the Phone Repair Industry: Trends and What’s Coming Next

1. The Rise of Right-to-Repair Laws and Their Impact Governments around the world are pushing for Right-to-Repair legislation, empowering consumers and repair professionals to fix their devices more easily. The movement has gained momentum in Europe and the U.S., with major manufacturers being required to provide spare parts, repair manuals, and software tools. What This Means for Repair Shops 🔹 More business opportunities: With easier access to parts, independent repair shops can compete with authorized service centers.🔹 Legal compliance: Shops will need to stay informed on regulations regarding sourcing and repair guidelines.🔹 Transparency: Customers are becoming more aware of their repair rights, making honesty and quality even more important. 2. The Future of Self-Repair Kits Big brands like Apple and Samsung have launched self-repair programs, allowing customers to buy genuine parts and repair their own devices. While this might seem like a challenge for repair shops, it actually presents new opportunities. How Repair Shops Can Adapt 🔹 Provide expert guidance: Many customers will still prefer a professional repair over DIY fixes.🔹 Offer specialized services: Some repairs require advanced tools and skills beyond what self-repair kits provide.🔹 Sell official parts: Partner with suppliers to offer quality components and repair services alongside self-repair solutions. 3. Innovations in Phone Repairs: Modular Devices & Software Fixes As smartphone technology evolves, so do repair methods. Modular phone designs (like Fairphone) allow easier part replacements, while software-based repairs are reducing the need for hardware fixes. What This Means for Repair Shops 🔹 Faster repairs: Modular components could simplify part replacements, cutting down repair times.🔹 Advanced troubleshooting: As software issues become more common, repair shops can expand their expertise in diagnostics and updates.🔹 New training opportunities: Staying ahead means investing in education and tools to handle the latest repair trends. Final Thoughts The phone repair industry is changing rapidly, but with the right strategies, repair businesses can thrive. Keeping up with legislation, adapting to self-repair trends, and embracing new technology will be key to staying competitive in this evolving market.

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  • DIFFERENT CABLE TYPES - 100W vs 60W: which one do I choose?
    13 min read

    DIFFERENT CABLE TYPES - 100W vs 60W: which one do I choose?

    With the increasing number of devices we use in our daily lives, we often come across different cables with varying specifications. One of the most important specifications is the wattage rating of a cable, with 100W and 60W being the most common options. Base the cable choice on your charging needs. In this blog, we explore the difference between 100W and 60W cables, which one to choose, and why. The wattage rating of cables Firstly, it’s important to know what the wattage rating means. The wattage rating of a cable determines how much power it can handle without causing damage or overheating. The wattage specification is essential when it comes to charging devices that require a higher power input, such as laptops, gaming consoles, or high-end smartphones. The difference between 60W and 100W cables The difference between 60W and 100W cables comes down to their charging and data transfer speeds. A 100W cable can charge devices faster than a 60W cable. The reason for this is that a 100W cable can handle more current, allowing it to charge devices faster. Additionally, a 100W cable can transfer data at a higher speed than a 60W cable. This means that transferring large files between devices will be much quicker with a 100W cable. The gauge, or thickness, of electrical cables affects their ability to carry current. Thicker cables can handle more current without overheating. A 60W cable will have a thinner gauge than a 100W cable because it is designed to carry less current. Selecting the correct gauge is important for safe and efficient operation of your devices. In conclusion: do I choose a 60W or 100W cable? The wattage rating alone does not determine the maximum current carrying capacity of a cable. The maximum current carrying capacity of a cable depends on various factors, including its gauge, length, material, and environmental conditions. Choose a 60W or 100W cable based on the power rating of the device. If you have a device with a power rating of 60 watts, you should use a cable that is rated to handle at least 60 watts or more. Similarly, if you have a device with a power rating of 100 watts, you would choose a cable that is rated to handle at least 100 watts or more.  In general, a 100W charging cable can deliver more power than a 60W charging cable, which means that it can potentially charge a device faster or support charging larger devices that require more power. See our favorite 100W charging cables here: 100 W CHARGING CABLES

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  • Your broken screens are worth money!
    14 min read

    Your broken screens are worth money!

    Imagine this situation: you’re repairing a screen and throw it blindly into the box you always store them in, mixing the good and the faulty ones. This is probably very recognizable for you as a repair technician, many repair specialists work this way. But what many don’t realize is that the good screens may damage because you’re putting them together with the faulty ones…  Very unfortunate, because with 4Phones' buyback program, your broken screens are worth money! Customers who participate in our Buyback program, often send all the screens they’ve gathered over time. They send all the mixed good and faulty screens, wasting a lot of time packing them, resulting in an unnecessary heavy box. And, once we receive these screens, it takes us a lot of time to test them. So, when you want to receive the maximum value of your broken screens through our buyback program, but you mix both good and faulty ones together in 1 box, you… Take the risk of damaging the good screens Receive a potentially lower refund Need more time to pack all of them Have to send an unnecessary heavy box Need to wait longer for the test results The solution: get the most out of our Buyback program!  Luckily there is a very easy solution for this all! A solution that takes maybe 1 more minute per repair… That sounds good right?! We recommend you store the screens in a different way, to save time and to make sure you send us more good screens, resulting in receiving a higher refund: During the repair process, check whether the screen is good or faulty (pay attention to black lines, damaged LCD) Put the good screen in a different box than where you put the faulty ones. It is important to separate them Whenever you have more than 30 good screens in the “good-screen”-box, you print our buyback form, fill it in and send the screens to us.  This only takes you +/- 1 minute more per repair, but eventually saves you a lot of time and makes sure you get the maximum out of our Buyback program! And... Did you know that we now have a promotion in which you can get a 100 euros bonus whenever you send more than 30 'good-tested' broken screens? Read all about this promotion here!  

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  • Send us your broken screens and get a 100€ BONUS*!
    25 min read

    Send us your broken screens and get a 100€ BONUS*!

    Yes, you heard that right: 100€ cash bonus, no strings attached, for the first 100 customers that send us -at least- 30 ‘good tested’ broken screens.   How does it work? The first 100 customers that send their broken screens through the 4Phones Buyback Program get a 100€ bonus, if they send -at least- 30 ‘good tested’ screens in the same shipment. The bonus is calculated outside of the regular payment for each screen. This means that you are getting paid for the screens and receive the extra bonus. The promotion is available starting on February the 15th, 2023. The end date will be defined whenever we have received the first 100 complete packages. This end date will be announced through our newsletter and our website 4phones.eu. Read more about the 4Phones Buyback Program here: https://4phones.eu/pages/buyback Conditions to get the 100€ Bonus You need to send -at least- 30 screens that test correctly. The broken screens must comply with several guidelines to be considered acceptable to enter the promotion. Please check the following conditions before sending your screens:   We only accept properly packed and secured screens.   All 30 (thirty) displays need to be sent in one single package. All screens will undergo individual testing to ensure their functionality and approval of participation in the promotion. Customers will receive the 100€ bonus in cash added to their payment, no strings attached. One bonus per customer. If you already charged your bonus, you can of course still take advantage of our Buyback Program by sending screens and getting paid the regular price. Fill and print the buyback form (download here), and add it to your box before sending.  Shipping costs for the screens will be assumed by the customer.  Once the package is received, you can expect a resolution in 3 to 5 business days via the email marked in the Buyback Form.  Before sending you the payment, the resolution needs to be accepted. After you accept the resolution, you will receive the payment in 3 to 5 business days.     NOTE: “At least 30 screens” means that you can send a minimum of 30 screens, but no maximum number has been set. You can send as many screens as you want. However, this does NOT mean that you will get 100€ for every 30 good tested screens. Logically, the more screens you send, the more chance you have of getting to a number of at least 30 of them being approved. This way, you increase your chances of getting the bonus.   What is the Buyback Program? 4Phones is part of a circular model where every piece sold has a complete life cycle. Parts don’t end up in the trash can, but sometimes are re-purchased from customers for recycling purposes with the 4Phones Buyback Program. Selling your broken screens isn't just good for your wallet – it's also great for the environment! Here are just a few benefits: Broken screens get refurbished. Refurbishing broken screens requires fewer resources compared to new screens that are made from scratch. This is because the materials of the broken screens are re-used where possible. Refurbishing broken screens prevents e-waste. Every year, millions of tons of electronic waste are discarded, often ending up in landfills where it can leak hazardous substances into the environment. Refurbishing broken screens save energy. Producing new materials requires a lot of energy, but recycling and refurbishing materials use less energy. So, when you choose a refurbished screen, you're helping to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Refurbished screens are often just as good as new ones. Just because a screen is refurbished doesn't mean it's not as good as a brand-new one. In fact, many refurbished screens are carefully tested and repaired to ensure they are in excellent working condition. By selling your broken screens to us, you can help to conserve natural resources and support the circular economy. You can also earn some extra money in the process. We encourage you to take advantage of our Buyback Program.   Read more about the 4Phones Buyback Program here: https://4phones.eu/pages/buyback   Want to know more of do you have questions? Contact us: buyback@4phones.nl / +31 6 48352501

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  • A small investment with big profits: get the most out of your repair shop
    16 min read

    A small investment with big profits: get the most out of your repair shop

    To maximize the potential of your repair shop, consider it a one-stop shop that can provide solutions for all issues related to the devices your clients own or wish to own. It is crucial to ensure that you offer what your clients are seeking. Tailor your repair shop to meet all of your clients' needs. This will result in higher customer satisfaction, more returning customers, and above all: higher sales. This is an easy and quick way to upgrade your repair shop and make bigger monthly profits without having to work extra hours on repairing. The secret to a successful repair shop is investing. Investing in a wide product range to provide solutions for all your customer’s needs = investing in making sure that clients exit your shop with a big smile and satisfied feeling. Accessories take your repair shop to the next level Is the screen of your client’s phone broken? They come to your repair shop to get the screen repaired obviously, but they are probably also looking for a solution to prevent their screen from breaking again. In other words: the client is looking for a screen protector or protective phone case as well. Is the charging port of your client’s phone not functioning? Big chance that they are willing to buy more charging-related accessories such as a power bank, car charger or cable, now that their phone can get charged again. Accessories will take your repair shop to the next level. You can sell them easily without having to put in too much effort and they have a large profit margin. So, make sure you have space reserved in your shop for a stand or display with several accessories. Think of chargers, cables and phone cases, but also headsets, earphones, keyboards and mice. The “good-better-best” accessory range When you first start selling accessories, we can imagine that you don't want to take too much of a risk in terms of investment. Therefore, we offer several types of accessory brands in the range of “good – better – best”. The first category includes accessories that are very affordable and of good quality, such as the brand Rixus. The ‘better’-category includes brands like Canyon and Baseus, which have accessories of excellent quality, in a higher segment that comes close to the original. Original products are what we consider as ‘best’-category products, by this we mean the original Apple or Samsung accessories, for example. Discover the wide range of accessories we have to offer and find the best option for you. Start offering accessories today; create higher customer satisfaction and generate more sales and profit.

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  • A boost for the Right to Repair movement: iPhone 14 is the most repairable iPhone
    23 min read

    A boost for the Right to Repair movement: iPhone 14 is the most repairable iPhone

    The new iPhone 14 which came out in September of this year, is the easiest to fix since the iPhone 7 which dates from 2016. At a first glance, the iPhone 14 doesn’t look much different from the model it replaced. But the ones who look further than just the outside design will notice how Apple made lots of changes. Apple has completely modified the inner parts of the iPhone 14 to make it easier to repair. A major advance in the context of the Right to Repair movement. Why Apple devices are hard to repair in general Every smartphone repair expert would agree on the fact that it’s a bad idea for non-professionals to try to repair an iPhone themselves. In general, Apple devices are often seen as:  Inaccessible: it’s hard to open Apple devices because adhesive is used to hold in place screens, batteries, cabling, and components. For the parts where Apple does use screws to hold parts together, mostly very tiny, non-standard screws are used. This prevents people from opening their devices. Non-modular: Apple products often have a non-modular design. This means that inner parts are glued or welded together into one single component, which makes it hard to take out components for replacement and repair. Non-interoperable: Apple devices generally only work with Apple-approved hardware. It’s not as easy for everyone to go out and buy an identical component to make the device work. Change is coming? iPhone 14 is easier to open, repair, and upgrade  The newest iPhone 14 is one of the easiest-to-repair iPhones that Apple ever introduced. The adhesive seems to be more of a thing of the past; both the back and front open with just two screws. Glue is avoided more and for parts where an adhesive is used, it’s noticeable that it isn’t as strong and stiff as before. iFixit gives the iPhone 14 a repairability score of 7 out of 10. That’s the best score they have given an iPhone since the release of the iPhone 7, which makes the newest generation of iPhones the most repairable one in years.  A very positive impact on the Right to Repair movement For ages, there have been discussions about how unnecessarily difficult Apple's devices are to repair. Smartphone experts, Apple consumers and environment activists are just a handful of groups that do not agree with Apple’s way of working which makes it difficult to repair their devices. These groups are happy with the choices Apple made for its new iPhone 14. The advantages of an easier-to-repair iPhone are that it saves time, effort and money to repair the phone.   But, most importantly, this is a huge step in the right direction of The Right to Repair movement; a coalition of European organizations that push for system change around repair. This movement fights for consumers’ rights to be able to fix and repair their own devices, or at least let them have the choice about who repairs their product, so they don’t have to take their broken devices to the original makers to get an authorized repair. Why the Right to Repair is such an important development Letting consumers have more rights around the repair of their devices will have a positive impact on the environment. More repairable devices will make the product last longer and reduce e-waste. When repairs become easier, more accessible and cost-efficient, consumers will think twice before throwing away their damaged or broken device. Throwing away electronics results in e-waste; a growing and very harmful problem because e-waste can be toxic, is not biodegradable and piles up in our soil, water, and living things. So, with a more repairable iPhone, Apple made a big step in supporting the Right to Repair. The design improvement is a big win. The changes of the newest iPhone will help it last longer and reduce its overall impact on the planet. We are very happy with Apple’s first steps on a path back to long-lasting, repairable products because we believe that a sustainable, repairable world of technology is possible. Curious about what we at 4Phones do to reduce our impact on the environment? Read more about our sustainable way of working and our Buyback program!

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