Aug 18, 2020 17:00:00

Apple extends independent repair program to Mac

Apple has announced an 'Independent Repair Provider Program' that enables

Macs of its own PCs to provide repair services to independent vendors other than Apple. Previously, Mac users had to use Apple or an authorized service provider to have Apple repair their Mac directly, but it's now possible to get Mac repair services from non-Apple vendors.

Apple expands independent repair shop program to Mac computers-Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-repair/apple-expands-independent-repair-shop-program-to-mac-computers-idUSKCN25D1F7

Apple's Chief Operating Officer announced that the Independent Repair Program has now expanded to cover Macs-Patently Apple
https://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2020/08/apples-chief-operating-officer-announced-that-the-independent-repair-program-has-now-expanded-to-cover-macs. html

Starting in 2019, Apple started the 'Independent Repair Provider Program' that allows Apple products to be repaired by independent repairers other than the Apple Store and authorized service providers, but only for the iPhone.

Apple supplies legitimate parts & repair tools to third-party repairers-GIGAZINE

Apple's expansion of the Independent Repair Provider Program to Macs is believed to be driven by increased Mac sales. 70% of sales of Apple's Mac in the third quarter of 2020 increased by 21.6% year-on-year as the number of household PCs sold increased as many people moved to remote work from around March 2020 70 It has reached 799 million dollars (about 740 billion yen). According to a report by research company IDC , the market share of Mac has expanded from 6.3% to 7.7%.

Jeff Williams, Apple's COO, said, 'We wanted to make sure we had a safe and reliable solution when our device needed repairs. In addition to the thousands of repair sites we've added over the past year, we've decided to broaden the scope of our repair program, and we look forward to providing Mac users with a convenient and reliable repair experience.'

Apple's independent repair provider program is the result of years of protest from repair rights groups . In addition to Apple's technology for repairing and diagnosing your Mac, Apple will provide genuine Apple parts, tools, and manuals for Mac repairs to repairers who participate in the program.

Nathan Proctor, head of repair rights for the Public Research Interest Group, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting workers, said, ``We welcome the expansion of repair services for Macs, but some stores may be burdened by the conditions for participating in the program. It's a good thing.' If a non-genuine repair company participates in the independent repair provider program, they must agree to Apple's unannounced audits and inspections and have to go through a repair shop inspection for up to five years after leaving the program. Apple also requires repairers to share information about their customers.

Apple has announced that it will launch an independent repair provider program for Macs in the United States, followed by expansion in Canada and Europe.