A documentary explores allegations of Apple's deceptive business practices, particularly in regards to repair costs. A customer was told by an Apple Store that their MacBook Pro would cost over $1,200 to fix, but a third-party repair expert was able to fix the issue in just a few minutes for free. The documentary also highlights Apple's use of non-standard screws, glued-in batteries, and other tactics to make repairs more difficult for third-party repair shops. The right to repair movement is gaining momentum, with 17 US states introducing legislation to force companies like Apple to provide repair manuals and spare parts to third-party repair businesses. Apple has denied systematically overestimating repair costs and insists that its customers are best served by its own certified experts.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Apple is one of the most valuable companies in the world.
2. Apple customers are fiercely loyal to the brand when it comes to computers and electronic gadgets.
3. Many Apple customers have shared similar experiences of being overcharged for repairs at Apple Stores.
4. A customer was quoted $1,200 to fix their MacBook Pro at an Apple Store.
5. The customer took their MacBook Pro to a third-party repair store, where the repair cost was significantly lower.
6. Lewis Rossman, a computer repair expert, diagnosed the problem with the MacBook Pro and fixed it for a fraction of the cost quoted by Apple.
7. Rossman found that the problem was caused by a bent pin on the screen connector, which was easily fixed.
8. Apple declined to provide a spokesman to respond to the allegations, but issued a statement claiming that their customers are best served by Apple's certified experts using genuine parts.
9. Apple denied systematically overestimating repair costs.
10. Many customers have reported similar experiences of being overcharged for repairs at Apple Stores.
11. iFixit, a third-party repair business, has 125 employees and makes $21 million a year.
12. iFixit sells tools and repair manuals over the internet.
13. Kyle Wiens, the owner of iFixit, is a leading spokesman for the national right to repair movement.
14. Apple uses non-standard screws to make it harder for customers to repair their products.
15. Apple glues in batteries, making it harder for customers to replace them.
16. Apple's operating system detects non-authorized home buttons and prevents the phone from working.
17. Apple has sent legal threats to third-party repair businesses that publish repair manuals or schematics.
18. 17 U.S. states have introduced right to repair legislation that would force Apple and other companies to provide repair manuals and spare parts to third-party repair businesses.
19. The right to repair movement has put a spotlight on some of Apple's predatory business practices.