Repair Sharks - The iPod Repair Guys

We are working on some new parts graphics for the site. The layout will include a picture of the iPod part and iPod model for each product picture to help identify which iPod it is for. We are also adding battery model numbers to each battery listing to help with identifying battery replacements. The battery pictures should be going up steadily over the next 1-2 weeks as we edit and upload the photography.

The overall re-branding is going well and we have made a lot of progress over the last two months. We are hoping to be fully transitioned with all re-branding by the end of March time permitting. We are putting in countless hours to bring you the best repair site on the web.

New iPod Battery Picture Layout

Repair Sharks parts are all inclusive.  Opening tools are included with all our iPod and iPhone parts. We ship two non-marring iPod opening tools in every package. These tools are provided to allow for a scratch resistant method of opening your iPod.  The tools are meant to take the damage rather than the delicate outer casing of your iPod or iPhone.

iPods and iPhones can sometimes be tough to open, we recommend additional tools that may help to open your device successfully.

Small screwdrivers – Flat head sizes 1.0 – 3.0, Phillips sizes 000 – 0

Razor blade – Single Edge Razor Blade

Guitar Picks – Thin guitar picks work well for opening an iPod

Opening your iPhone may require different techniques or tools not listed.

Repair sharks does not take any responsibility for damage you may cause due to opening or repairing your iPod. If you need assistance it is recommended to let a professional install the parts for you.

Tools for opening your iPod Safely

Today the UPS truck came to pick up another box of recycled batteries. The iPod battery recycling program has been working well since its release in mid 2008. We have been carrying on our best practices and building up the program to include the plastic packaging and used cardstock. Our numbers indicate we are effectively recycling about 80- 90% of packaging and 100% of all battery waste. . We are halfway done with our next battery recycling box and look forward to the continued efforts of the Repair Sharks team.

Here’s a picture of Ron holding one of Call2Recycles battery recycling boxes. This is where we store the iPod batteries after removal from repaired iPod’s. Each battery is individually wrapped in a battery bag to prevent any cross contamination or leakage of the chemicals inside.

iPod Battery Recycling Program

Environmentally Friendly iPod Repair

 Small electronics have increasingly filling our landfills with tons and tons of useless garbage. According to the EPA, 4.6 million tons of e-waste are dumped into US landfills each year. As we become more environmentally aware it is important that we utilize every resource we have to keeping our planet clean.

Repair Sharks, has been a part of a battery recycling program for over a year and has been recycling all plastic from battery packaging as well as plastic iPod Face Plates, and used iPod metal back plates. We also choose to use safe packaging while minimizing the weight and environmental impact of shipping products we use by shipping in 100% recycled mailers and recycling unusable paper shipping products we receive from customers.

Every company can do its part in helping the planet stay clean. iPod repair is no different and we will continue to evolve our techniques to better serve the community.

Sincerely,
The Sharks 

http://www.repairsharks.com

Repair Guys would like to congratulate Dan our head repair guy and owner of Repair Guys on his November 7th wedding!

We will be operating with limited staff from November 9^th through the 23rd while Dan is on his honeymoon. There may be a delay of 48-72 hours in responding to your parts or repair inquiry but rest assured all orders will be handled with care by our staff while he is gone. Any shipments of iPods will be secured daily. We will have a technician on staff throughout the two weeks making repairs however you may not be able to reach us on our 800 number while Dan is on his vacation.  Please leave a message or send us an email as we will have access to both throughout the two weeks.

Sincerely,

The Guys – soon to be The Sharks!

To all our loyal customers,

We will be transitioning our website to a new domain name and working name over the next month. The new name is Repair Sharks http://www.repairsharks.com. The new site is up and running as a duplicate of iPod Repair Guys currently. We will be updating the text and logos over this time frame to reflect the change in name and web address.

The reason for the change – Apple has asked us to refrain from using the name iPod in our web address and company title. We have agreed to do this to respect their dignified trademarked term of iPod. Our service will be uninterrupted during this time and we will continue to maintain the ipodrepairguys.com website until it is permanently redirected to the new http://www.repairsharks.com website.  

The new name will also reflect our expanded services with the Xbox 360 and create a more generalized repair center for the new product repairs we will be pursuing.

If you have any questions regarding the change feel free to contact us. We appreciate all our loyal customers and we look forward to bringing even better service to you as we grow to new heights.

Sincerely,
The Guys

1-866-979-4763
support@ipodrepairguys.com

It is often questioned whether it makes sense to purchase a new iPod or repair an old one. We always want the latest and greatest devices to add to our arsenal of portable media weaponry. When it comes time to weigh the cost and benefit of repair over that of replacement we need to consider a few options.

Why it makes sense to repair – Repairing your iPod has a few advantages including:

• Cost – usually the cheaper than buying new or even used.
  
• Environmental Consideration – repairing is a greener solution. It is a less environmentally impacting process. Repair shops only replace what’s needed rather than throwing out the old to buy a new device.
  
• Features – in some cases there are features available with the older iPod that aren’t available in the new. Take the 5^th Generation iPod Video for example. You can have video output through the headphone jack whereas newer models like the iPod Classic are required to use a Apple Universal Dock Connector.
  
• Sentimental Value – believe it or not a lot of people are attached to their iPods. Why replace something that has been given to you, just because it breaks, when you can keep it working for many many years.
   
• Repair can make your iPod look like new again – A new faceplate and backplate will have you looking like new again. Let a professional replace your front and back covers and you will have a new iPod again!

When it makes sense to replace – replacing your iPod is sometimes necessary.

• In cases where parts are no longer available
  
• When cost exceeds – If the price of a repair is higher or near that of a new Apple iPod.
  
• In need of larger storage capabilities – With the conglomeration of large libraries of music there is a need for more space.

• Need for more features – We can understand the desire to move to a more robust iPod. Going from an iPod 4^th Generation to an iPod Touch is a nice upgrade. The new features available in the Touch and Touch 2G are a big step up from the old photo generation iPods.

New generation iPods are getting more sophisticated. Additionally, they are also getting easier to break. With the addition of flash memory to many of the newer Nano, iPod Touch, and iPhone single repairs are getting pricier. There is no replacing of a bad hard drive anymore. Many of the boards have the memory in place and require full replacement of the Mainboard and memory modules. Screen replacement, a common repair, can require the replacement of multiple parts such as the digitizer and midframe.

Luckily for consumers repair options are available for almost any generation iPod. These iPod Repair Guys will have you working like new once again. With costs rising for new cutting edge devices, who wants to have to replace it when it breaks?

iPod Repair Guys offers a unique blog to discuss repairs and repair options. Click here for our blog.

iPod Repair Guys

http://www.ipodrepairguys.com

Don’t be fooled, even though our prices are one of the most competitive you will find on the web our service is also one of the best customer focused experiences you will have with a repair facility. We have built many great relationships with our clientele and look forward to talking with anyone looking for repair advice. We offer the no “bull” experience. We are honest and straightforward with everyone we deal with and that’s not just talk. We will do our very best to keep costs down for you while not compromising quality.

To be honest sometimes we work on our customers individual iPods for a few hours to ensure they test properly under all conditions including continuous playback over long periods. iPods can be tricky devices sometimes and we like to make sure we hand back a device that will work long after it is repaired. We are not a 15 minute repair shop. Do you really want someone that handles your valuable data and precious iPod as if it was a five dollar calculator? We don’t think so and are pretty sure you don’t either.

We aren’t in the business of bashing our competition but we also like to tell it like it is. Don’t be fooled by repair shops offering “free labor.” I mean do you think anyone would be in business if they gave away all their services? Of course not, the prices of the parts include the labor charges. We choose to break down that cost for you. It helps our customers save money when they are just looking for parts or in retrospect certain cases when extensive work is needed. For example, water damaged units can sometimes have multiple issues depending on the severity. We can clean and de-oxidize the mainboards, repair certain types of damaged battery connectors, and clean dirt and debris. You would be surprised how much corrosion can happen from just a little bit of moisture inside an iPod. The de-oxidation process can be harmful to certain components if not handled correctly. We take the necessary precautions to prevent and minimize collateral damage to iPods while reconditioning them.

“Handling your iPod like it’s our own” isn’t just a statement we make, it’s what we practice and believe in.

A great business isn’t built with large volumes of mediocre service. It’s built with great service all the time.

We know that sometimes issues arise after repair and that is why with iPod Repair Guys you won’t be left hanging with your concerns. We are not a one-off repair factory we look to build our most valuable asset with every repair and parts sale, customer loyalty. That is why with repair and parts from iPod Repair Guys you are covered. Give us a try you won’t be disappointed.

Email – support@ipodrepairguys.com
Phone – 1.866.979.IPOD (4763)

Sincerely
Your friends at iPod Repair Guys

It’s important that our customers are informed as to how we handle every device we receive. The below is a breakdown of our repair process and the steps we take to ensure complete customer satisfaction.

You might have read on our website that we handle each repair as if it was our own. Well you can believe it. Our pride is in our work and every repair is handled as if it were unique. We are not an assembly line of repair techs but rather a team dedicated to one thing, your happiness. With that comes individual attention to detail whether it before, during, or after your repair experience with us.

Here at iPod Repair Guys we also understand the nuances of the web. We want you to feel as comfortable as possible with all our services and are constantly striving to improve our site appearance and structure in order to bring you an easy to use interface. We also understand some of the concerns you might have when dealing with a repair center such as ours. So please don’t hesitate to ask us anything regarding your repair or our processes.

Setting up a repair

Setting up a repair request is easy. In most cases repair requests can be handled via our Free Diagnostic Service or Repair Services links on our website.  

Mail-in Diagnostic Service – Free!

What is Diagnostic Service and when should I choose this option?

Diagnostic Service can encompass most repair requests. If you are uncertain what your repair may entail or what is wrong with your iPod this is the service for you.

Our diagnostic service includes the following:

1.      Free Diagnostics of your device – We thoroughly test your device and prepare for our next step the repair quote.

2.       Repair Quote – We outline all your options for repair and provide you with a written quote prior to us performing the work. This allows you to make the decision whether you would like to repair your iPod or not.  We welcome interaction with our customers and encourage them to reach out to us if they have any questions. We will do the same on our end so don’t be surprised if we call you to discuss your repair.

3.      Making the needed repairs – Upon receiving your repair quote confirmation we will make all the necessary repairs.

4.      Testing your iPod – We put your iPod through a series of tests to ensure it is working correctly and that there are no further issues with the unit.

5.      Shipping it back to you – Getting your iPod back in your hands in just a few short days is our goal. Most of our repairs are completed same day as receipt and shipped out the next day. As with all our repairs return shipping is included!

Mail-in Repair Service Option

What is the repair service option and when should I choose this?

Our second repair option is for those of you that know what is wrong with your device. With this option you can use our easy iPod identification tool and identify the service and costs for a particular repair.  As our business is constantly evolving we may not display all our repair services on our website. In that case, please contact us for a direct quote for repair. We stock over a 1,000 products and our procurement team is ready and able to find most any part available for your repair.

1. Choose ‘iPod Repair Services’ from the left toolbar on our homepage
2.  Choose your iPod Version – Our graphic interface makes it easy to find the right repair services for your version iPod
3. Select your repair services
4. Choose how to get it to us – We offer two ways to get your iPod to us. The first, you mail it in to us, the second we mail you the packaging and postage to get it to us. It’s that simple.
5. Complete Checkout – We offer secure and reliable payment via Paypal. We accept all major credit cards and Paypal accounts. Your information is important to us and that’s why we keep your financials where it belongs in your hands. We do not have access to your credit card or banking information.

Self-Repair Option

The Self-Repair Option is offered to customers who are confident with their repair skills and would just like to purchase a replacement part. We offer a wide array of products for 1^st through 6^th Generation iPod’s, Nano, Mini, Touch, and iPhone. Please browse our parts catalog on our website or contact us if there is a product you are looking for which you don’t see. There is a good chance we have it.  

Useful links

iPod Diagnostic Service

iPod Repair Service

Parts

We know how much it means to our customers to actually speak to a human sometimes. Please feel free to call us or write to us with questions.

Thank you,

The Guys

With the ease of portability of your iPod it is essential to take proper care of the device to ensure long life and the hopes that you will never need a service such as ours. We know this is sort of working against our business but our customers are important to us. We are here for you if you need us but for obvious reasons it’s even better for you if you don’t.

Here are some steps to ensure your device will be working for years to come.

1. Keep it in a case – There are a variety of cases available for iPod’s but we recommend one with padding or a hard outer shell. There are benefits to both types.
   1. Padded case which is usually found on sport model cases will cushion your device in case of a drop or collision and will help protect your hard drive, screen, and mainboard from shock damage. The fallback of some of these cases (material based) is that moisture can sometimes penetrate especially after long periods of time in rain or a wet climate.
   2. Hard Case – These cases lock around the device and provide a good barrier for moisture penetration around the shell of the iPod case. These also protect the screen from scratches and normal wear and tear. These types of cases offer limited shock protection however since they are generally made of a hard plastic.
      
2. Limit shock damage – iPod shock is one of the leading causes of damage. You can easily crack your LCD, damage your hard drive, and mainboard. Internally the components are extremely delicate and just the right jolt can do significant damage. It isn’t uncommon for multiple components to break during a hard fall.  
   
3. Water is your enemy – We have seen many water damaged iPods. Repairs can range from a battery replacement to a combination of parts including the mainboard, LCD, and Hard Drive due to liquid exposure. Keep your iPod dry at all costs. They aren’t water tight and there are multiple points of entry for moisture.
   
4. Backup, backup, backup – We can’t stress this enough. With any hard drive based device it is absolutely necessary to keep a duplicate of your important files stored safely. Whether it is a PC or iPod regular backups should be scheduled. At iPod Repair Guys our repair specialists are experienced PC technicians as well. They report the number one cause of customer headaches is hard drive failure. An external hard drive can make up backing up simple and give you peace of mind every day that you don’t have to worry about losing your important data. 
   
5. Watch the connectors and jacks – The headphone jack can be damaged easily so use caution when inserting your headphones and audio/video cables. Stress on the jack can cause the internal connectors to not make solid contact and result in the loss of audio quality, loss of the left or right channel, or all audio. The bottom dock connectors are easily stressed and damaged as well. Be careful inserting and removing your dock cables. Damage to this connector generally results in full mainboard replacement.

As always iPod Repair Guys is here to make your repair experience a little less painful. Feel free to contact us with any questions regarding repair of your iPod or visit our website at http://www.ipodrepairguys.com