People are really making counterfeit iPhones?

Yes, we’ve seen counterfeit – fake – iPhones come into Mission Repair for service. It never works out.

Unfortunately, bogus iPhones aren’t always so obvious. Sometimes they appear in seemingly legit online ads or real-world stores (NEVER at Mission Repair!) Regardless of where they appear, they’re out there, and the people who buy them are being ripped off.

Just how many fake iPhones are being sold in the U.S. is actually hard to pin down. Apple won’t discuss the issue, despite repeated requests for information. Anti-counterfeiting watchdog groups say the problem is big, but they don’t have numbers.

But the anecdotal evidence is there: There was the recent seizure of more than 40,000 counterfeit iPhones in China. Sales of the fakes are not uncommon overseas. Among those who have been caught peddling fake phones stateside recently are a father-son duo in Orange County, Calif.; a teen in Utah; and two stores in a Maryland mall.

Fake iPhones are just part of a much larger counterfeit-electronics problem.

“Counterfeit consumer electronics were the second-most-seized commodity in fiscal years 2013 and 2014, with an estimated MSRP (retail price) of around $145.86 million and $162.20 million, respectively,” said Matthew Bourke, spokesperson for the Intellectual Property Rights Center at Immigration and Customs Enforcement. And remember: Those numbers represent just seizures, not the real volume of counterfeit goods being sold, which everyone involved assumes is much higher.

However big the problem is, what should you do when that guy slides up to you at the bar and offers you a great deal on a phone for cash — or if you’re looking at what you think is an iPhone on sale?

Do yourself a favor, don’t buy it. While it may be a good deal, and it could quite possibly be legitimate, it’s most likely going to cost you big time in the near future. Fake iPhones are not repairable…like at all. We can’t get parts for them at Mission Repair, and we have no idea who even made them. Or worse yet, the phone is real, but let’s say it crashes after 15 minutes of use after it warms up. We see this a lot…and you’d never know what kind of odd issues that piece of electronics is having without knowing it’s origin. Buyer beware, and we’re just here trying to help you out.

Good luck, Ryan

iPhones – get ’em while they’re hot!

Good morning again,

After our fun at the Mission Repair company picnic yesterday, I got into my car, which is here I left my iPhone 6, and had this message:

Funny thing is that it let me take that screenshot. I guess it’s not too hot and tired for pictures! We see this a lot at Mission Repair. Customers have even claimed that their phones cracked due to extreme heat.

Virtually all manufacturers data sheets will list both the minimum and maximum storage and operating temperatures for their internal parts. In fact, many parts will be available in multiple versions designed to operate in more strenuous environments.

So for example an integrated circuit (IC) may be available in the following versions:

Commercial 0 to 70°C.
Industrial -40 to +85°C.
Military -55 to +125°C.

Needless to say, the cost goes up with increased performance. There are even chips specified for use in outer space. So for example a chip which costs $2 in the “Commercial” grade might cost $2,000 for the version rated for outer space! (As you can guess, your Samsung Galaxy S5 isn’t rated for a moon walk, but that’s probably ok.)

Let’s talk about the iPhone for a minute. According to Apple:

Use iOS devices where the ambient temperature is between 0º and 35º C (32º to 95º F). Low- or high-temperature conditions might cause the device to change its behavior to regulate its temperature. Using an iOS device in very cold conditions outside of its operating range may temporarily shorten battery life and could cause the device to turn off. Battery life will return to normal when the device is brought back to higher ambient temperatures.

Store the device where the temperature is between -20º and 45º C (-4º to 113º F). Don’t leave the device in your car, because temperatures in parked cars can exceed this range.

Remember that if it’s 87 degrees outside, it’s 132 degrees inside of your car on a hot clear day.

One needs to keep in mind that the temperature of the components is affected by two sources:

1) The temperature of the environment.
2) Self heating – some components generate a large amount of heat in operation, logic boards in phones are one example.

Please don’t leave your expensive electronics in your hot car like I did – especially when they are turned on – to avoid possible long-term damage and an extra trip into Mission Repair for a logic board repair.

Any questions? Give us a call 866-638-8402.

Take care, Ryan

It was a busy day yesterday for sure, thank you for your business!

Hello friends,

It was an interesting day yesterday, we are all feeling the after-effects of a busy day here at Mission Repair in Olathe, Kansas. Periodically throughout the day, I’ll “check in” with my other locations just to make sure that they are doing what they are supposed to be doing and to make sure to be a good “backup” for them as they progress through their day.

I clicked on my Mission, Kansas location and pulled up the webcam over there at 1:30 and saw this:

A line of customers with a few waiting for their repairs to be completed. I then talked to the Store Manager Jake over there who was in the thick of it.

“You should see the lobby, we are packed!” There was a flow of customers from open to close, and there was a large demand for iPhone 6 screens that I can see.

From a business standpoint, I love seeing this; however I know that mad rushes can cause delays and a bottleneck in the tech department. So today I’m doing everything that I can to make sure this store has all of the support it needs, and we are transferring a huge batch of parts to them as we speak.

Thanks again to everyone that showed up yesterday, and we’re off to a great start today.

Need to contact my Mission, Kansas store? You can call them directly at 913-284-0994.

Take care, Ryan

Just double check that pricing…

Hello all-

I’ve got a new iPhone 6 that’s giving me trouble. The home button is acting funny, luckily I’m still under warranty and I’m going to be able to get it replaced from Apple under warranty. That’s great news for me albeit Apple will swap my device and I’ll have to restore it from a backup, but in the grand scheme of things I’ll get it done.

Mine is a bit “sticky”. I’d open it myself, but it’s under warranty so I don’t want to risk it!

What I found interesting though, is Apple’s repair pricing for their iPhone lineup if you’re NOT covered under warranty. For example, they would charge me $329 for the home button issue if it was out of warranty.

I dug a little deeper and looked at the iPhone 5s, 5c and 5 repair pricing and I was blown away. $269. Really? $269?!? iPhone 4 repairs are $149? Here at Mission Repair we’re doing the iPhone 5 line of screen replacements on these devices for $92 each. Apple is charging $269? Seems a bit over-priced to me, AND the customer doesn’t get their phone back, but rather a “blank” replacement. So there’s a lot of work that needs to be done to get the data back on there for some people.

We don’t erase your data, unless you ask us or authorize us to do so; so you’re going to get your device back in the same configuration that it was sent in. That’s the good news. And oh yeah, our price doesn’t make you want to lose your mind. Screen repair pricing is based on reality, not fantasy.

Bottom line is that it pays to double check your pricing, and we’re happy to be an essential part of the iPhone repair movement. After all, we’ve been here since the beginning and we’re here to stay.

Take care, Ryan

Super Bowl Sunday Is A Frightening Event For Your Phone.

The big game is this weekend! On Sunday, February 1st the Seattle Seahawks take on the New England Patriots and it is a day many football fans dream about all year long. With Superbowl Sunday also comes large amount of delicious food, lots of drinks, fun times with friends and family, and one more thing… a cracked phone. That’s right. It is a frightening time for your phone! Whether you have an iPhone 6, Galaxy S 5, HTC One, Nokia Lumia, etc. While Mission:Repair is here for you if anything happens to your device, we have also come up with a few tips on how to prevent any accidents during the game.

1. Keep your phone away from beverages. It is so easy for a drink to get knocked over in a intense football game. While everyone is huddled around the TV sharing a couch, beverages are bound to get knocked over so play it safe and steer clear of laying your phone down by full cups.

2. Keep your phone away from food. This may sound weird but you’d be surprised. If you’re checking Facebook on your phone over a plate of food, there is a chance your device could drop into cheese dip, baked beans, etc. It’s safest to keep it away from the delicious food.

3. Don’t hold your phone in your hand during the game. Sounds simple right? It may be harder than you think. During the game, be sure to leave your phone in your purse or pocket. This will prevent it from being spiked when celebrating a touchdown.

4. Protect the phone. If you don’t already have a case or screen protector on your device – now may be a good time to purchase one. While cases can’t completely prevent your device from being cracked or damaged – it can help reduce the chances of your phone resulting in a cracked screen.

These tips may be a bit extreme and accidents are bound to happen during an exciting event like the Super Bowl. If for any reason your phone becomes a victim of a cracked screen, is damaged by water or has any other issues after the big game – be sure to call the experts at Mission:Repair (866-638-8402). We repair just about any smartphone on the market and our certified technicians know their stuff. We will repair your device and get it back to you good as new.