iFixit ends partnership with Samsung after two years due to 'differences in approach to repairability'

iFixit, a company that sells repair parts, has announced that it will end its two-year partnership with Samsung and will not renew the contract. iFixit explained that the reason for ending the contract is that 'Samsung's approach to repairability is not aligned with our mission.'

We're Ending Our Samsung Collaboration | iFixit News
https://www.ifixit.com/News/96162/were-ending-our-samsung-collaboration

iFixit and Samsung announced that they would partner to offer a 'program for users to repair their own devices' in August 2022. Through iFixit, independent repairers and individual users could purchase repair tools and genuine Samsung repair parts at the same price as partner repairers, and also access online repair guides.

Samsung partners with iFixit to start selling repair parts, Galaxy S20, S21, Tab S7+ are eligible, but flagship S22 is not supported - GIGAZINE

However, iFixit commented, 'Despite our best efforts, we are unable to deliver on that promise. Despite our considerable efforts, Samsung's approach to repairability is inconsistent with our mission.'

According to iFixit, Samsung was unable to deliver genuine repair parts to repair shops at a profitable price and in sufficient quantities. In addition, the parts were too expensive, so many consumers chose to replace their devices rather than repair them. In addition, the Galaxy's battery and display are pre-glued, and in order to replace them, customers had to prepare parts with the battery and display pre-glued, which resulted in higher costs.

As the partnership with Samsung ends, iFixit will no longer be a distributor of Samsung parts and tools after June 2024. In addition, information such as online manuals that have been published so far will not be deleted from iFixit, but the information will no longer be updated. However, sales of Samsung parts and repair kits will continue, and the quantity limit on parts sales will be lifted.

'We're disappointed that Samsung isn't cooperating, but we continue to move toward a more repairable future,' iFixit said.

There are also reports that there were problems with the contracts that Samsung offered to repairers, including iFixit, for repairing Samsung devices. According to IT news site 404 Media , in exchange for selling repair parts, Samsung required repairers to provide Samsung with the user's name, contact information, mobile phone serial number, and details of the complaint and repair. In addition, if non-genuine parts were installed, they were required to remove them and report them.

The contract shows that 'independent' repair through this program isn't independent at all. And if you're a customer, you think you're going to an independent shop but that shop is required to share your information directly with Samsung pic.twitter.com/Yoxn8HRFra

— Jason Koebler (@jason_koebler) May 23, 2024

According to The Verge , iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens acknowledged that Samsung shared users' email addresses and lists of purchased parts with the company. Wiens said, 'This information is not necessary for any other partnership, and we will not share your information with other OEMs,' and that Samsung is the only company that is requesting a contract that requires the sharing of customer information.

Wiens told The Verge that it was unclear whether Samsung's obligations to repairers were included in the contract at the time of writing. In the US state of Minnesota, a state law recognizing the 'right to repair' will come into effect in July 2024, but this law clearly prohibits manufacturers from registering or approving repair parts, which could result in Samsung's contract being in violation of the law.

404 Media and The Verge have reached out to Samsung for comment, but have not received a response at the time of writing.