Apple will now give third-party repair shops access to the parts and resources needed to repair Macs, in addition to iPhones, as part of an expansion of the California giant’s repair program launched last year. This program provides partner companies with genuine Apple parts, as well as free training and diagnostics, so that third-party workshops can perform routine repairs on the company’s products that are not under warranty.
Launched in the United States last fall, this third-party repair program, which until now has been exclusively for iPhones, will now extend to Mac products. “We are delighted to extend our independent repair service provider program to the Mac, so that customers have an additional way to have their Macs repaired with genuine Apple parts,” said Jeff Williams, director of Apple’s operation.
Interested customers can check local repair sites online. Since the launch of the iPhones program last year, more than 140 companies have registered in 700 locations. Apple recently announced that the program is expanding to Europe and Canada, suggesting that the number of participating repair shops will increase.
A welcome extension
The program complements an existing network of more than 5,000 Apple Authorized Service Providers around the world, who perform in and out of warranty repairs. Prior to the program’s launch, these Apple-branded service providers were the only companies with access to genuine Apple parts.
But this one didn’t apply to Mac owners, who only had limited repair options for their devices. The opening of iPhone, and now Mac, products to third-party repair companies through the US giant’s repair program should therefore be welcomed by campaigners.
Nathan Proctor, head of the “Right to Repair” campaign at the US public interest research group, however, underlines “the importance for Apple of a change of air” in light of the latest announcement from the tech giant . It must be said that the shadow of the American giant over third-party repair shops has often been criticized in the past.
Apple’s shadow hangs over third-party repairers
The activist thus draws attention to studies highlighting the invasive nature of Apple on the owners of small workshops. Copies of the contract that companies must sign before being admitted to the repair program have effectively demonstrated that Apple can maintain extensive control over third parties through this program.
For example, repair shops that join the program must accept unannounced audits and inspections by the tech giant, including for a year after the contract ends. This is to ensure that third parties do not use prohibited parts when repairing Apple products. Participating companies are also sometimes required to share customer information with Apple and to make it visible in their stores that they are not Apple Authorized Service Providers.
Some repair companies, however, claim that Apple’s program has proven to be of great benefit to them and that extending the program to Mac products will have a positive impact. “Having access to real genuine iPhone spare parts, manuals and testing tools has been really great for us and our customers and we are excited to hear that Mac spare parts will be available soon for us. us, “says Patrik Sandgren, who owns the repair company Sandgren Electronics.
Source : ZDNet.com
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