Instore Smartphone Repairs under Warranty

tanksinatra on 30/06/2018 - 15:36

Hey Everyone,

These days smartphones are an indispensable part of our daily lives, both from a personal and a work perspective. If the device fails you or your retailer will generally be required to return the smartphone to the original manufacturer or an 'authorised repairer'. It can take several weeks to get the phone fixed and back in your hands. Many people would not find it acceptable to be without a phone for twenty four hours, let alone several weeks. Consequently you either need to own/purchase a spare or beg the retailer for a loaner. Watching a family member struggle with the returns process for a defective Google Pixel RMA got me thinking:

Who, outside of Apple, does in-store repairs under warranty? I know from personal experience that Apple stores can swap screens and batteries while you wait. They can even replace the entire phone if indicated.

Do any other manufacturers offer retail repair services?

Cheers

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • 87percent on 30/06/2018 - 15:38
    +2

    Samsung do them at their kiosk. I had an s7 replaced at their kiosk at Chadstone a couple of years ago

  • follow on 30/06/2018 - 16:33
    +1

    samsung and apple only

  • Savas on 30/06/2018 - 16:43

    Microsoft wouldn't even look at my Windows phone

    • Sammy2000 on 30/06/2018 - 20:05
      +1

      Not sure why they didn't help you.
      When it was Nokia/Windows I posted my old phone and got it sent back and fixed with in a week. Microsoft has also sent me replacement power supply for my Surface without much effort.

      • Savas on 01/07/2018 - 21:42

        Sounds like that was before they outsourced to B2X

  • Pikaloo on 30/06/2018 - 17:40

    Under warranty: You can request a replacement instead of a repair. You can also request a replacement while it is being repaired. Google would actually send you a new phone and once you receive it tell you to send it back if it's a well known issue.

  • HighAndDry on 02/07/2018 - 10:53

    Request a replacement not a repair.

    • tanksinatra on 21/07/2018 - 11:48

      You can only make this choice if it is a 'major' failure, for instance if it is "substantially unfit for its normal purpose and cannot easily be made fit within a reasonable time" (ACCC).

      Phones are generally repairable so even something like a motherboard failure would be a reasonably straightforward part swap by the manufacturer and thus would probably be considered minor.

      Even if they agree to a replacement, they often tend to mail you a refurb rather than a in-store brand-new swap.

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