There's ‘Catch’ in Apple Repair Offer That ‘Hamstrings’ 3rd-Party Shops: iFixit

Apple announced Wednesday it’s “finally rolling out” the self-service repair program it debuted in November to make genuine Apple parts, tools and manuals available for consumers who are comfortable servicing their own devices (see 2111170034), but there’s “a catch,” blogged iFixit Director-Sustainability Elizabeth Chamberlain. There’s “a lot to be excited about” in the program’s details, including seven years’ worth of parts availability and retail sales of tools “that only official Apple techs could get before,” she said. But Apple is “doubling down on their parts pairing strategy, enabling only very limited, serial number-authorized repairs,” said Chamberlain. Consumers can’t buy key parts without a serial number, she said. “If you use an aftermarket part, there’s an ‘unable to verify’ warning waiting for you.” Apple’s strategy “hamstrings third-party repair with feature loss and scare tactics and could dramatically limit options for recyclers and refurbishers, short-circuiting the circular economy,” she said. Though the Apple program is “a great step for repair, and a change of course for the mighty Apple,” it doesn’t do what right-to-repair legislation around the world aims to do -- “give independent repair shops a chance to compete in the repair marketplace, bringing down the cost of repairs for everyone,” she said. Apple didn’t comment.