How You Can Make Bank with Broken Phones
The cracked iPhone screen, with its web of glass shards that turn the digitizer into a kaleidoscope, is now practically as iconic as the iPhone itself. Phones slide out of pockets and slip from our butterfingers onto unforgiving concrete and cold, hard tile. The latest rumors predict that the next iPhone’s back panels will be made out of liquidmetal, a zirconium, titanium, nickel, and copper alloy that may make drop damage less of an issue. But for now, with a few good tools and a bit of repair know-how, you can make a tidy business out of replacing people’s shattered glass panels and bent bezels.
Jonathan Edwards (no, not this one or that one) of Shickshinny, Pennsylvania (and yes, that’s a real place), has managed to quit his “day job” and is now self-employed, doing phone hardware repair full time.
He started about six years ago, jailbreaking iPhones for family and friends. But he quickly discovered that jailbreaking was more tedious than he’d thought. He hated spending hours Googling and trying to get other people’s software hacks to work.
Then one day, a friend asked Jonathan to fix a shattered screen on a first-generation iPhone. “It was a pain in the butt,” Jonathan says, as changing the display assembly requires disassembling almost the entire phone, “but about 4 hours after receiving the parts he had a fully functional iPhone.” He found the hardware repair much more satisfying than jailbreaking—it has clear, measurable, exciting results.
In the years since that first repair, Jonathan has fixed and customized hundreds of phones: not just iPhones, but also Androids, Palms, and Blackberries. He’s even fixed a couple of computers. In fact, he’s doing so much business that, last week, he opened up a brick-and-mortar location in Shickshinny.
His Pro Tech Base Tool Kit is the heart of his tool collection. “To be honest, I don’t even recognize some of the tools in the base kit or the other kits,” he admits, “but the metal spudgers, lit up magnifying glass and unique screwdriver bit set was worth every penny. Side note: the Pro Tech Base Kit makes you look like a doctor. Seriously, people take one look at your tools and fully believe you can do anything! Unbelievable ‘street-cred.’”
Jonathan offers some advice for anyone looking to turn iPhone repair into a business—he suggests you “get the screw tray, the 54-bit driver kit and the lit-up table magnifier, take your time, [and] always have the guide in front of you.” You can see his full story here, including a few more tips for new iPhone repair businesses, send him an email, or call him at (570) 702-4991.
We love to hear about people starting businesses with iFixit tools—after all, while we believe everyone can fix their stuff themselves, we know not everyone will. And small repair operations like Jonathan’s keep devices working longer and raise the profile of repair. If you’ve started a repair business, tell me about it.
Comments
Cool story bro, I too jailbreak and fixed friends phones but never had the heart to charge them anything, it was a hobby than I stoped, always found an excuse :) becouse I got too many “friends” that way , I should follow your steps :).
Have a nice day
i want to know how to repair iphone
Our iPhone device page is a pretty good place to start, Din! We have step-by-step repair guides for all iPhone models.
I’ve always charged a flat rate for repairing phones/game devices and found that the more you do the faster you get. Then it becomes profitable. The great thing about iPhones is everyone seems to have one and every second person has a broken one. So now at parties I will notice that someone has a broken phone tell them I can fix it and they tell their friends. It’s great!!
Just called Jonathan. Seemed like a nice guy. I have no time to repair much of anything outside our home improvement business right now, and pavers took a toll on my phone. I’m sending mine to him!
I used to fix iPhones, iPods, laptops n such a year ago all from deciding to try and fix my own, just got a bit short of time as still worked mon – Fri and had 2 toddlers and a dog so had little time to spare, now I’ve got a broken iPhone and laptop so maybe it’s a sign lol
Ive tried fixing things. I kind of enjoyed it. For sure I’ve lost the fear and apprehension. I’d like to know what people charge for such work. Do people buy rechargeable pieces one at a time, a few at a time? Good side biz.
I have thought of this, but sometimes the cause (of an iPhone not working) is not obvious, and I don’t know how to properly diagnose one. But also, with the instructions, it would be easy to fix, but I don’t actually have any experience at it, and don’t know anyone that would let me fool around with their phone, just as practice, even if it were already broken.
An example might be: person says “phone fell into the sink, now it doesn’t work” The screen isn’t shattered, so what is wrong? I don’t know, do you?
Cool Story, i too have a similar story like that , im currently a wastewater mechanic in NC state and everybody in my family has a iphone , i started jailbreaking and unlocking for the family and the word got out, next thing you know people started calling me to jailbreak following that i dropped my iphone and found the ifixit page not only did it help me by being able to follow the pics but also could order the tools and parts too. I still work in the water industry but have a steady part time working from the comfort of my home or travel to clients homes or even grocery stores to do the Job. Feel free to email and ask questions im here to help to.
I want to know how to repair phones
I love tinkering with electronics, jail broke a few Ipods and such the thing is im 14…… So no one trusts me, I cant afford parts, and don’t have any tools. So I admire people like you who share there skills with others. So good luck with future endeavours!
I would like to start my own repair shop, tell me how and guide me.Thanks
Hey, I was wondering if you fixed somebody’s phone wouldn’t break the warranty?
my name is chase, i am 14. I started jail breaking at age 13. I saw really cheap bumper cases and colored iPhone backs on amazon and started to sell them for more at my school. When opening up the phones to put on new backs i was really interested and i saw how to fix iPhone screens on YouTube and on this site. I charge 50$ and get them off eBay for 25$. I get the money in advance and order them from California. One week later i put on the screens. They take me about an hour. Also the tools are very cheap on eBay. Now that i have done like 10 or more iPhone fixes, i am buying phones that are broken of eBay and i am going to put custom colored screens on them and sell them for some $$$
So far I’ve fixed two broken, unwanted iPhones an old iBook, and I’m starting in on an iMac G5 next.
All are working and perfectly functional.
The phones aren’t terribly hard to repair, and they’re worth a little money on Amazon after all is said and done.
My family are all Apple fanatics, so they’ll never stop buying their products—meaning I’ll always have something to repair! I’m excited to do more and make a little money.
I’m even thinking of setting up a little workstation in my office.
I have a blackberry curve screen cracked how much you will to give ? ive a black and gold slide up broken screen
I started by replacing my own back cover, I found a cheap supplier (of good parts) and started by placing ads in local classifieds. I sold out of stock very quickly and got lots of calls for broken LCD’s as well so decided to import those as well. Your guides have proven to be invaluable! Thank you!!
Could anyone give me some help on where I should look for reliable iPhone parts? I’ve checked a few sites but I’m not exactly sure which would be best.
I am currently 13 years old and have an iPhone repair business (www.ifixyourphone.tk) I have booming business and it has only cost me no more than $10.00. My mom and her boyfriend knew a couple of cheap marketing tricks and the tools came with the parts. The hard part is how you practice on devices and make sure you don’t “screw up”. You just have to stay organized and calm!
im 18 i started fixing iphone 2 years ago after i got tired of breaking my iphone and having to pay apple 200 dll every time, very soon i started gaining experience by fixing friends iphones and soon after i began g setting ads on craigist and flyers i also have contacts that work on verizon att and they always send me customers.Knowing how to fix iphones has helped me make the same money as a kid my age who works 40h per week at mcdonalds.the only difference is that i only work 1/5 of what he works.:P
Is there not a training course u can go on showing you how to repair iphones, ipods etc?
a great job I can say … repairing Phone is the first job which allowed many things .. good job br
I want to start repairing iPhones in Yeppoon. I want to know how to start and what equipment and outlay I need. Thanks.
Comments are closed