Apple Expands its Independent Repair Program to Include Mac

In response to consumer demand: Apple expands its independent repair program to Mac Many iPhone users turn to unauthorized repair shops for a number of reasons - perhaps the store is closer to their home, or they can repair their devices more quickly or offer affordable repairs. But this choice could result in an uneven consumer experience as the shops were locked out from using official Apple parts. That's why Apple is expanding its program that provides parts, resources and training for independent repair shops, to now include support for Mac computers. The repair program was first announced last fall, with the goal of making it easier for consumers to repair out-of-warranty iPhones by allowing them to use third-party stores, including small businesses, who now have access to official repair parts and other tools. The program was focused solely on iPhone repairs but from now on, these repair shops and other qualified companies will have access to genuine Apple tools, repair guides, diagnostics, official parts and other resources they need to perform common out-of-warranty repairs on Macs as well. Apple also announced that the program is free to sign up for and the repair training is also free. Apple also confirmed the details to TechCrunch, noting that the company believes the safest and most reliable repair is one that's handled by a trained technician using official Apple parts. The company said, too, it wants consumers to feel confident that their repairs are being done correctly.

But what was the motivation behind this move?!

well, the move comes after consumers' "right to repair" their own devices became one of the many topics under investigation by the U.S. House Antitrust Subcommittee.

The subcommittee had last month held a hearing where it asked Apple CEO Tim Cook about his company's position on a variety of matters, like its App Store and commission structure, for example. Though not a major focus of the congressional hearing itself, the documents collected as part of the subcommittee's investigation into Apple included internal emails that showed how the company was conflicted about its repair program and the Right to Repair legislation, which Apple had lobbied against for years.

In one email, Apple execs weighed telling a reporter about its then-forthcoming Genuine Parts Repair program to demonstrate its commitment to more consumer-friendly repair policies, the documents revealed. In others, Apple execs discussed how repair manuals had been published without clearance, indicating a lack of a cohesive strategy around its approach to repair policies.

By further expanding its independent repair program to now include the Mac, Apple benefits from not only better serving customers by expanding access to genuine parts, but also from redirecting the focus of the antitrust investigation away from this particular topic, at least, if not the others.

 

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