Apple’s Self Service Repair is now available in the UK and Europe, providing repair manuals and genuine Apple parts and tools through the Apple Self Service Repair Store.
Announced back in November of last year, and launching initially in the U.S., Apple’s Self Service Repair is now available in the UK and eight European countries,.
Under the programme, customers will be able to repair broken displays or cameras, or replace batteries that have become aged, for instance.
The Self Service Repair Store provides access to more than 200 individual parts and tools, as well as repair manuals. The program enables customers who are experienced with the complexities of repairing electronic devices the opportunity to complete their own repairs, using the same manuals, parts, and tools as Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Service Providers.
“We believe the best technology for our customers and for the planet is technology that lasts, which is why we design our products to be durable and rarely require maintenance or repair,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer.
“But when a repair is needed, we want customers to have many options for safe, reliable, and secure repair. That’s why we’re excited to launch Self Service Repair in Europe, giving our customers direct access to genuine Apple parts, tools, and manuals.”
To start the Self Service Repair process, a customer will first review the repair manual for the product they want to repair. Then, they can visit the Apple Self Service Repair Store and order the necessary parts and tools.
Every genuine Apple part is designed and engineered for each product, and goes through extensive testing to ensure the highest quality, safety, and reliability. The parts are the same ones — at the same price — as those available to Apple’s network of authorized repair providers. For certain repairs, customers will receive a credit when returning a replaced part for recycling.
The Apple tools available to customers on the Self Service Repair Store are the same as used by Apple’s repair network. They are custom designed to help provide the best repairs for Apple products, and are engineered to withstand the rigors of high-volume, professional repair operations where safety and reliability are the utmost priority.
The high-quality tools offered through Self Service Repair include torque drivers, repair trays, display and battery presses, and more.
Apple will offer tool rental kits for £49, so that customers who do not want to purchase tools for a single repair still have access to these professional repair tools. The weeklong rental kits will ship to customers for free.
The new Self Service Repair will sit alongside the thousands of service providers, some of which are authorised by Apple and others that run as independent businesses.
Apple says that it still expects a visit to a professional repair provider to be the “safest and most reliable” approach “for the vast majority of customers”. The new service is intended “for individual technicians with the knowledge and experience to repair electronic devices” it said, given that it can require precise and potentially damaging work with very small and intricate parts.
The rules for warranty will stay the same. If a customer does a repair and damages the device, that will impact the warranty, but the fact of carrying out the repair will not change or limit the ability to get other repairs done under warranty later on.
