Apple to setup Repair center in Russia after iPhone owner sues them

Apple plans to provide a full repair service in Russia for all iPhone damages as the result of a lawsuit filed by a Russian iPhone owner who found himself in a dilemma. Dmitry Petrov had damaged the screen on his handset but found his options quite limited without an Apple repair center in the country. He could not get his warranted device’s screen fixed or replaced.

The lawsuit involves not only Apple but also its chain stores and service companies. Petrov refused to pay extra to get his already warranted device exchanged through an outside provider, declined to get his device exchanged for a new one, and refused to use the services of an outside center for an extra fee of up to 30,000 rubles ($469). Instead, he sued Apple for violating consumer rights and asked for the necessary smartphone replacement screens to be available in Russian service centers.

He argued that Apple violates Russian laws on consumer protection as the company is not providing the supply of necessary spare parts for repairs. Currently, when Apple equipment breaks down in Russia, the majority of customers are given entirely new products in service centers. However, in the case of a broken display, 100 percent of products are neither replaced nor fixed.

Apple does not have a retail sales network in Russia, which is why the company is planning on building a “centralized” repair center in Russia that could cost $1 million to $2 million to put up. Repairing a damaged iPhone screen requires calibration equipment that is complicated, big and expensive. It also requires access to iOS.

iPhone’s share of the total portfolio of Russian smartphone sales was roughly 17 percent in the first quarter. According to analysts, the main incentives for the purchase of iPhones is brand loyalty & by creating a complete cycle of iPhone care and production, Russian iPhone users may become more loyal to the brand. There is no word on when Apple expects to build the center and have it open for business. Stay tuned for more information on this as we will update the article.