iFixit and Samsung are splitting up, ending an effort that began nearly two years ago to provide better tools, parts and resources for DIY repairs.
An electronics repair company announced today that it is cutting ties with Samsung, accusing the company of not doing enough to make its hardware easier to repair.
“It is with a heavy heart that we have decided to end our partnership with Samsung. Despite significant efforts, Samsung's approach to repairability does not align with our mission,” the statement read. “As we sought to build this ecosystem, we consistently faced obstacles that called into question Samsung's commitment to making devices easier to repair.”
The partnership was expected to work like this: Samsung would provide replacement parts for its phones, and iFixit would provide the tools and know-how to install them. Independent repair shops would also be able to get hold of these parts and fix broken kit as part of the program.
In fact, iFixit was frustrated by the high prices and scarcity of spare parts made by Samsung. According to iFixit, repair costs were so high that users preferred to buy new phones rather than repair existing models, which suited Samsung. Moreover, repairing the phone hadn't gotten any easier over time and still relied on glued-in parts.
iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens explained there were other issues as well. RegistryPrimarily, these independent repair shops had to enter into secret agreements with Samsung in order to participate in the program and receive replacement parts.
The agreement, called the Independent Repairer Agreement, requires repair shops to do some surprising things, such as reporting customer contact details, device details, and a description of what needs repairing to the Korean giant, immediately dismantling the device if unauthorized parts are already inside, and notifying Samsung that third-party electronics are being used. The folks at 404media say they have obtained a copy of the agreement.
“We have repeatedly asked Samsung about the terms of their independent repairer contracts and they have repeatedly refused to disclose them to us,” Wiens said. El Reg.
“I've never felt comfortable recommending Samsung's Independent Service Provider Network or Wireless Industry Service Excellence certification to independent repair shops,” Wiens added. The certification, known as WISE, is a $200 training course that's mandatory for repair shops to fix Samsung phones.
“Their refusal to be completely honest with us was a major factor in our decision to stop doing business with them directly,” Wiens continued. He also didn't like that Samsung required disclosure of customer information to order replacement parts, and that buyers of parts had to sign a statement saying they had read the manuals. Of all other manufacturers, Samsung was the only one that demanded this level of scrutiny, the CEO said.
iFixit says that in hindsight, it probably should have seen this coming: In 2021, it worked with Samsung on a Galaxy upcycling initiative that fell through on the Korean side, which also led to the aforementioned DIY repair partnership that has now fallen apart.
“We clearly didn't learn our first lesson, and two years ago we were convinced they were serious about repairs,” iFixit said.
“Samsung is committed to offering our customers high-quality, accessible device care with flexible options to suit their needs, including walk-in, mail and 'we come to you' service,” a Samsung spokesperson said. Registry.
“For those who would like to take advantage of our self-repair program, we offer SamsungParts.com, powered by Encompass, an easy one-stop shop for Samsung certified parts, tools and information for certified products. We're proud of the work we've done with iFixit, but we can't comment on the specifics of our partnership at this time.”
The end of the partnership doesn't mean that iFixit will no longer provide resources for repairing Samsung phones, it just means that the organization will no longer work directly with the Korean company. iFixit says it will continue to sell parts and repair kits, including original and third-party parts, and will continue to provide manuals and repair guides.
Samsung isn't the only tech giant iFixit has partnered with. The company also currently partners with Microsoft on Surface devices and Logitech on computer mice. So far, it looks like these partnerships will continue, but in the future, iFixit will likely be a lot more tolerant of pranks played by its so-called friends.®