There comes a time in every phone’s life, to make the decision to repair or replace.
A 2015 study by a Gallup Panel found that 44% of American smartphone owners automatically replace their phones every two years, driven by the contracts offered by major wireless providers Verizon, AT&T and Sprint.
For 2% percent of Americans the decision is powered by technology; there is a glistening gadget on the horizon, a new marvel that will expand the minds and unfathomably enhance existence.
And the majority of smartphone users, 54%, wait until their phones become outdated or break.
Two forces compete for this population. Phone manufacturers develop technological improvements faster and push them in aggressive marketing campaigns in order to encourage replacement, rather than repair. And coming up fast is the cell phone repair industry, which has experienced steady growth for the last 15 years, particularly in the last five years.
An Ungainly Bunch
A Nielsen study found that of the estimated 70% of adults in the U.S. who own a smartphone, a third will either lose or break their phone at some point. Sadly, the average iPhone sustains damage 2 ½ months after purchase.
The most common disasters involve a cracked screen or spilled liquid, with cosmetic and functional damages also common. Too often people assume that a phone is irreparable after an accidental drop or liquid encounter.
Save a Few Bucks, and the Environment to Boot
The average iPhone price jumped to $687 in 2015, while Android devices settled in at an average of $254. High costs are not surprising, since smartphones are miniature computers, more powerful today than the combined capacity of NASA’s 1969 moon launch team.
However, people don’t realize that a broken or damaged phone can be repaired at all, and often for under $100. Considering the cost of a new phone, if you want to revive the one that has served you well, it makes sense to investigate a repair. Notwithstanding the allure of a new phone, resuscitating the old one keeps it out of the trash.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that Americans create nearly 2 ½ million tons of e-waste that is trashed. In spring the EPA issued a hopeful statement: phone recycling had increased from 30% to 40% in one year. Recycling recovers copper, silver, gold and palladium, not only keeping these elements out of landfills, but also giving them continued utility above ground.
Before you decide to commit the cash to a new phone, get a free estimate from a licensed repair facility. Professionals at iParts & Phone Repair will evaluate phone damage and consult on the viability of repairing your device. Even if you ultimately decide to invest in a new phone, it might be worth a small investment to keep your old phone out of a landfill…with the added benefit of having a spare in case a statistical tragedy strikes.
