Cell Phone Repair - some notes from the front

Digital Doc repairs over 10,000 phones in Iowa every year.  We have stores in Davenport, Des Moines, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids.   Here are some learning points related to the industry and the business of repairing phones:

1. When smartphones were invented, it launched an entire market for phone repair.  Today that market is around $4 Billion a year.

2. The early repair stores were small business owners.  Many small businesses and jobs were created by the smartphone invention.

3. Today the larger retailer/franchises are moving in although they still only represent less than 20% of the total market for repairs.

4.  As retailers/franchises take more market share, they will be able to leverage their purchasing volume to drive middleman market-making distributors into better pricing arrangements and ultimately dominate the repair market.

5. Certification processes take 3 months at Digital Doc.  It takes that long to cover the range of phones on the market, soldering processes, computer repair skills, etc.  If someone tells you they use "certified technicians", ask them how long their certification process takes.  Most are a week or two at best and cover 3 or 4 popular phones.

6. Do not buy phone insurance from your carrier when you buy the phone.  The monthly payments combined with the deductible will cost you $300 a year.   Most repairs we do are under $150.

More later...

Marty Morrow
Owner, Digital Doc Des Moines
1300 NW 100th St
Clive, IA 50325

Cell Phone Repair Videos - not as easy as it looks

As the owner and operator of an electronics repair operation in Des Moines, Iowa, I have come across most of the repair videos that are out there in the ether (aka Youtube).  Here are a few observations:

1. the phones being used in the videos have been opened before.  There is no mention of the factory glue and/or tape you must overcome in a real phone.  This is where you can easily tear flex cables if you don't know what to pull on.

2. they always show the process of removing screws but never how to manage the set of screws once they are off.  Many phones have different sized screws for each hole and if you're not careful, you can end up getting confused.  If you put a long screw in a hole meant for a smaller screw, you can ruin the motherboard.

3. there are many steps skipped.  Anyone in the repair business knows to unhook the battery first.  Yet many of these videos skip this important step.  Taking parts off while the battery is still attached can easily blow out filters and ruin the device.  Many an iPad has been ruined by skipping this important step.

4. there is never any trouble shooting required in the video.  What do you do when you replace a screen and the front camera suddenly stops working?  What do you do if the GPS doesn't work after a repair on an HTC One M8?  These issues come up ALL the time and anyone who is a DIY'er will not know what to do.

Bottom line - get your device fixed by professionals and leave with a minimum of a three month warranty on all work.  Get your phone fixed at Digital Doc!

Marty Morrow

Owner, Digital Doc Des Moines

1300 NW 100th St

Clive, IA  50325

515 327 7037

Plentiful harvest

As the early yield results come in, I'm seeing 170-210 bushel yields for corn.  Quite remarkable.  Iowa continues to feed the world.  I have an opportunity to drive through our great state most every week.  I always love this time of year.   I wish more people could come as close to their food source as Iowans do every day.  It is quite humbling and gives you a feeling of gratitude for the things that come our way.   I took this picture just a few days ago...

May you take the time to enjoy harvest season.  If you find yourself behind a semi hauling 10,000 bushel of corn to market, don't be anxious to pass, be grateful that the world has such smart and dedicated farmers.  Give them some room and enjoy the ride.

Digital Doc Des Moines
We fix all things electronic - get your phone fixed today!

1300 NW 100th St
Clive, IA  50325
515 327 7037

The Maturation of the Phone Repair Industry

Ever since Apple invented the smartphone in 2006 (releasing in 2007), the phone repair industry has taken off.  In the last eight years, repair shops have cropped up in every major metropolitan location around the world.

Most of these stores were started by entrepreneurs with vision but not much capital.  Mom and pop shops with low overhead and owner/operators fixing phones with a helper or two.

As the market has matured, major players have started to jump in.  Digital Doc is one of those players.  Digital Doc is a franchise owned by Family Video, owners of other franchises like Marcos Pizza and StayFit-24 fitness centers.

Digital Doc has four franchise locations in Iowa.  Together we repair over 10,000 phones each year somewhere within the state.

Larger volumes allow us to negotiate better pricing for spare parts and then offer that to our customers.  Our network of repair stores also allows us to tackle the toughest challenges as we can swarm around repair challenges in any location.

Check out the Digital Doc right here in Des Moines!  Get your phone fixed today!

www.digitaldoc.com/dsm