The screen on my daughter's new smartphone cracked. She took it to a repair center in Tukwila, WA where she was told that they could not repair the phone, but they could sign her up for an insurance plan for $8 per month. The following day, I called the Sprint store and was told that the screen was "not replaceable". When I pointed out that the screen IS replaceable, they said that their "insurance company does not want them to repair screens because that could damage the phone."
That is one of the most absurd excuses that I've ever heard. When a customer turns in a phone for an insurance claim, the insurance company sends them a REFURBISHED phone. The damaged/defective phone is sent back, repaired, then sent to the next customer who files a claim.
I was able to get the phone repaired at a Sprint Store that was not being run by Sprint. The cost of the repair was $35 RETAIL and took about 20 minutes.
By not allowing their so-called "repair centers" to replace commonly broken parts (such as touch screens), they are forcing customers their customers to either buy insurance, buy a new phone or extend their contract to replace the phone. The cost of the insurance is almost THREE TIMES the cost of a repair, and they get the money whether the phone breaks, or not.
I should point out my qualifications. I am an avionics (aviation-electronics) instructor for a major aerospace manufacturer. I hold degrees in Information Technology, Electronic Technology and Aviation Technology. I hold an FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License with a Radar Endorsement (a license to repair almost anything that transmits) and have more than 31 years of experience repairing electronic equipment and teaching others how to repair equipment.
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