There have been a lot of changes in repair policies in the last month. Samsung wants repair shops to report when phones have third-party components, Apple no longer covers hairline cracks on iPhones in its warranty, and Google Pixel joins in with a policy change.
Google Pixel's Revised Repair Policy
Previously, Google was very strict regarding repairs of Pixels when it had aftermarket components, so much so that phones with non-Google-authorized parts that are surrendered for repairs will not be returned to the customer.
That has recently changed. The policy now states that the phones will be returned, but the repair shop may not be able to repair it if it has non-Google-authorized parts. That means there is a possibility that your phone could be repaired even with aftermarket components.
There is an exception to this new policy. As mentioned in 9To5Google, the device will be withheld if there are health or safety requirements preventing them from doing so. "If Service Provider can't return Your Device, Google will work with You on next steps," Google continues.
It's unclear what the "next steps" will be, but it might involve the removal of the components that the company deems unsafe, which might then need a replacement that would use genuine Google-authorized components. That, of course, might cost you more.
While this does not open the possibility of having your phone returned or repaired completely, it is a better alternative than not having your phone repaired at all, or worse, being kept from you for good for having aftermarket parts.
It's Worse with Samsung
If you think that is still not a good deal, then you won't like what Samsung's rumored policy requires of service shops. In a leaked contract, it appears that the tech giant is planning to become more strict not just with users, but third-party repair shops as well.
If implemented, the repair shops will have to sign a contract stating that they will have to report back to Samsung when someone comes in with a phone with aftermarket parts, in exchange for being able to sell genuine Samsung components.
Engadget reports that the owner information will be given to the company such as their name, contact information, device identifier, and the issue they have with their device. To make matters worse, the repair shop will have to disassemble the phone as well.
"Samsung may terminate this Agreement if these terms are violated," the contract states. This will force third-party repair shops to abide by the rules if they want to acquire authentic Samsung parts for customers who request them.
This can also be problematic. There are already official Samsung repair shops, but some users still opt for third-party repairs since the services cost less. They use non-Samsung components that make for an even cheaper repair, and a lot of work just as well as genuine parts.
If Samsung's leaked contract becomes a reality, there will be fewer repair shops willing to use aftermarket parts and users will be forced to pay a higher cost to repair their devices. Of course, there might still be repair shops that prefer to fix devices with cheaper parts and disregard authentic components.
