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

Some new apps for ios 9 (Apple's new phone operating system)

Getting the new iPhone 6S along with ios 9? Here are 10 apps that get the most out of your new phone. ‪#‎DigitalDocDesMoines‬

http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/best-ios-9-apps/

Visit Digital Doc Des Moines today at:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/digitaldocdesmoines
Website: www.digitaldoc.com/DSM

Or stop by in person at:

Digital Doc Des Moines
1300 NW 100th St
Suite 5000
Clive, IA  50325
(515) 327-7037

iOS 9 reaches 20% adoption rate

A quick non-solicited ad for GSMArena.com.  They are a "no nonsense" website with a fantastic database of every phone on the market along with their technical specs.  Great resource for us in the device repair business.  Here's a nice article about the new iOS being promoted by Apple for all their phones.  We've loaded it on many of the models without issue.

http://www.gsmarena.com/ios_9_now_at_nearly_20_adoption_only_a_few_days_after_rollout-news-14068.php

Google AdWords - where is Deming when you need him?

As a student of Deming's statistical and quality principals throughout my professional life, I grew accustomed to looking at data with skepticism before using it to development my own strategies.  Who is the source of the data?  How many data points were used to reach the conclusions?  Is the data statistically significant or is it just random noise?  All important questions that today's "move it, advertise it, fix it later" crowd has never learned.  

Example:

Google AdWords marketing "expert" calls me to discuss my advertising campaign.  He talks confidently (he works for Google!) and has a plan for me.  As we go through my results, he points out that I had a conversion from a particular zip code so I should target that zip code.  ONE conversion.  I asked him if he didn't think that may ONE data point was a little light on developing a new strategy.  He said no, that I was wrong to ignore even a single data point and I was foolish for not throwing more money that way.

I asked him,  "so if a person happens to walk into my store and ask for a repair for an {insert esoteric phone model here - one where there are about 50 in the world made), then I should immediately shift my target market towards that phone?"  In light of the new spin, he wasn't so sure.  

Statistically speaking, until the # of data points approaches 30 or more observations, the results you are seeing are pretty random.  You can flip a coin and get 5 heads in a row and assume the world is all heads but over time, we all know that isn't true.

Before using data to make important decisions, look at it through Deming's eyes.  And if you don't know who Deming is, go find out.

Get your phone fixed today at Digital Doc Des Moines!
#DigitalDocDesMoines
(515) 327-7037

This is Awesome!!!!

Marshall (think guitar amps) has just released a music lover's phone...    gotta love the ingenuity of it!


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/mobile-phones/11745730/Marshall-launches-loudest-mobile-phone-on-Earth-for-music-lovers.html