Techwizard Mobile Phone Repairs

Could you live without a mobile phone? Have you broken yours and discovered the shock of not having one to hand?

90% of our readers use mobile devices and 21% are reading this with a cracked screen.

It is also estimated in reports that 38% of us have cracked a mobile screen at least once and that 43% don't bother to repair them!

Are you one of the 21% using a broken phone?

These expensive ‘must have’ devices have improved but they still don't bounce very well or survive a drop down the toilet.

If you have the inevitable accident and your mobile breaks then help is close to hand at TechWizard in the Johnstown Shopping Centre.

Here they’ve seen all the issues associated not only with mobile phones, but tablets and laptops too. Well versed in fixing our accidents we talked to Jeff about his services.

Are Johnstown residents prone to accidents?

"No worse than others we saw in Navan. We all have accidents. They break them and we can fix them."

What’s your background?

"I worked for many years in the IT industry dealing with hard drives, circuit boards and I’m very familiar with the components of computers and phones."

Why set up your own shop?

"I decided it was time to work for myself, hours are more convenient and I like the customer interaction. The skills from my previous job are well suited to this service and I’ve also got the contacts from the suppliers in the IT industry."

What’s the most common issue you fix?

"Broken screens and battery replacements are the most common fixes we perform but it varies between the age groups."

Teenagers

"Teenagers typically come in with charging and battery issues or they’ve simply got them wet. People can use mobiles in light rain but not for long periods. They forget their trouser pockets get wet and the phone inside is then exposed to moisture. Electrical parts such as the power jack is exposed and we all know water and electrical circuit boards don’t agree with each other."

Adults

"Parents are more money conscious and often they’ve ‘googled’ solutions but aren’t confident to repair their costly device. They’re wary of ‘fake parts’ and ‘unscrupulous’ traders. They also chose cases that are practical."

Elderly

"The more elderly usually come in for advice on how to use the phone such as volume settings, operating the phone book or connecting to the internet. Sometimes they're looking for advice on what to buy."

Gone are the days of a simple ‘Nokia’ phones which would last a week between charges and we’ve come to accept the repeated daily charges with an 18 month battery lifespan.

With frequent use the power jack can be damaged and becomes a tricky item to repair.

Can you fix everything.

"If we can’t fix it there’s no fee and advice is free. We can resolve most things within the day if we have the parts. If we order them from authorized distributors we often have the customer return with their phone so that they can still make use of it until the part arrives.

Some manufacturers prefer us to send them the phone for repair which is understandable since people have paid a lot of money for the latest device."

Are some phones easier than others to fix?

"Definitely. iPhones and HTC mobiles are definitely designed to be difficult to disassemble without skill, patience and tools. Manufacturers want you to buy new mobiles or send them direct to certain suppliers and not to use third party replacement parts.There’s a balance between the cost of a new phone and the replacement part, and we’re very open in advising customers of their options. "

Could you spot a fake, reconditioned or previously repaired phone?

Is there a Danger buying fake spare parts?

"Cheap often means poor quality.

If it’s a power cable, plug, battery or replacement screen that’s too cheap to turn down then it should raise an alarm. If you’re buying a product at a bargain price and the genuine one is much more costly there’s going to be a difference in performance, life span or safety. Not all phone cables charge all phones even with the correct socket type."

"We know what we’re buying, who we buy from and customer confidence is our priority. We’re here to stay and we're definitely not going to risk customer satisfaction and our reputation."

How quick are your repairs?

"If we have to send off for repair such as a broken screen on a high value mobile then it’s 3 to 5 days but if we have the part it can be done in a morning.

A battery change for most androids and windows devices is relatively quick and takes minutes. iPhones are designed to be time consuming and difficult so take an hour or so with many tiny parts to remove.

On occasions is not the battery that's at fault but the customer's connecting cable can be faulty or even the phone case can prevent the cable from being inserted properly.

Several mobile phones, and laptops too, are sealed and not intended for owners to repair. We think is totally unacceptable and customers are sometimes annoyed when they discover this. "

What should you do with a wet phone?

"Switch it off and if it’s possible remove the battery. There are myths on the internet about placing it in a bowl of rice overnight so that the rice absorbs the moisture. It’s much better to place it in a warm airing cupboard or if you’re really in a desperate hurry then use a hairdryer but don’t get the phone too hot. "

Do phone accessories sell well?

"We have a range for many of the most popular phones. We try to keep up with what customers want. The teenagers tend to change them like a fashion whilst adults tend to make long term use their priority. "

Do you sell phones?

"Yes, we keep a very small selection but we can order them from reputable suppliers with our own trade discount to be able to compete in this market."

"We can obtain manufacturer refurbished and also 2nd hand phones which we check ourselves before supplying to customers."