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Samsung
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Samsung Group is a Multinational Conglomerate founded in 1938. Their product portfolio ranges from consumer electronics to heavy equipment. The company is best known to consumers for their electronics such as Televisions, and Mobile Phones, as well as their home appliances such as Refrigerators, and Washing Machines.
Basic Information | |
---|---|
Founded | 1938 |
Industry | Conglomerate |
Official Website | https://www.samsung.com/ |
Consumer Protection Profile[edit | edit source]
Repairability[edit | edit source]
Status: Concerns
Concerns have been raised over Samsung's business practices towards serviceability that trade organizations like iFixit, Repair.org[1] and repair industry professionals Like Jesse Cruz the owner of VCC Board Repairs [2] Fromer Samsung Indepent Genuine Service Program technicians, like ADRDaniel owner of Advanced
Device Repair[3] [4] have described of as Anti-consumer[1][3], and Anti-competitive.[3][1]
Category: Smartphones
- The majority of Samsung Phones have components glued in place, making disassembly, and reassembly difficult.[5][6]
- Samsung has imposed strict conditions on Authorized repair vendors, such as requiring technicians to fully dismantle devices[7], and submit handwritten letters if they encounter non-genuine parts during repairs.[8]https://www.404media.co/content/images/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-23-at-9.13.41-AM.png - a portion of Samsung's genuine parts authorized service provider contract or Independent Service Provider Network (for smartphone repair shops) which requires complete disassembly of any devices found to contain 3rd party parts. this means legally, authorized service providers are contractually required to not reinstall any 3rd party replacement part. this causes these business if they choose not to breach their contract to return customers property disassembled or require customers to pay to have a genuine samsung part installed independent of necessity. This practice causes the customers who have previously choose to purchase non-authorized repair parts and service unexpected and undue stress in convince and repair costs.
- Genuine self repair Smartphone displays available through Samsung's self service parts store[9] are 2x times more expensive ( Samsung Genuine Part :$370.95[9] Mobilesentrix: $182.02[10] ) than identical, new parts from third parties such as Mobilesentrix, who have allegedly purchased from Samsung's own manufacturing or service partners having 95% of the global market share of OLED display manufacturing [10] [11] "These "service packs" from mobile sentrix are without a doubt new OEM samsung displays" according to a Fromer Samsung authorized technician[4] "With no viable aftermarket parts and few refurbished screens to compete with, alongside control of the pricing and supply, Samsung has few reasons to make replacements affordable for phones it and its shareholders want people to keep buying new. " [11]
- Samsung's self service repair part selection for their flagship models (such as the galaxy s24 ultra for example) provide no photos, detailed descriptions or distinction between tools[12] for these models services or parts[13] for said model.
- Samsungs genuine parts store lists exactly 100 sub models of Galaxy s24 using their alternate longer, 14 digit, and more confusing model numbers in their part compatibility charts these numbers specifying carrier, region, sub region & color distinctions which are in no way necessary or useful information to any buyer of self service parts. [14] where as comprehensive list of all models (in the table below) from all regions lists only nine distinct models with their legible 7 digit part number: [15] for the display replacement in question the part is universal to all submodels. [10]
- Samsung's self service repair part selection for their flagship models (such as the galaxy s24 ultra for example) provide no photos, detailed descriptions or distinction between tools[12] for these models services or parts[13] for said model.
SM-S928B, SM-S928B/DS, SM-S928U, SM-S928U1, SM-S928W, SM-S928N, SM-S9280, SM-S928E, SM-S928E/DS |
Category: Home appliances
- according to ifixit Samsung repair documentation, schematic diagrams and service parts were cited their survey in collaboration with PIRG[17], and Repair.org[18], of professional repair technicians as "difficult to find service documentation" [19]
- Repair manuals surveyed repair professionals where able to acquire from manufactures including samsung: "Even when they get access to those manuals, technicians sometimes don’t find the information they need. Repair manuals are often lacking fault codes and schematic diagrams needed to complete repairs." [19]
Examples of Anti-consumer practices[edit | edit source]
- Opposition of pro-consumer legislation in the United States [citation needed ]
- Retroactive implementation of forced arbitration clauses in a mid-cycle update to its OneUI 5 Android Software [citation needed ] , limiting users' legal power.
- Imposition of strict conditions on "authorized" repair vendors[3], such as requiring technicians to fully dismantle devices, and submit handwritten letters if they encounter non-genuine parts during repairs.[20] Additionally, disallowing authorized repair vendors to assist customers with filing claims or conduct repairs for in-warranty hardware issues on customers Samsung smartphones[3].
Other allegations include practices like having technicians deliberately scratch customers' TVs with tools to void warranties, and astroturfing online.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://www.ifixit.com/News/96162/were-ending-our-samsung-collaboration#:~:text=It's%20with%20a%20heavy%20wrench,party%20parts%20and%20tools%20distributor.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/@VCCBoardRepairs
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ITmGXHSmL0&t=53s- Louis reads samsung Authorized independent service technicians complaint about samsung in an email from ADRdaniel
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://www.youtube.com/@ADRdaniel
- ↑ https://www.ifixit.com/News/44164/what-you-should-know-before-you-fix-samsung-phones
- ↑ https://www.theregister.com/2021/03/12/ifixit_samsung_galaxy_s21_ultra/
- ↑ https://www.404media.co/samsung-requires-independent-repair-shops-to-share-customer-data-snitch-on-people-who-use-aftermarket-parts-leaked-contract-shows/
- ↑ https://www.theverge.com/samsung/2024/5/23/24163372/samsung-repair-snitch-aftermarket-parts
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 https://samsungparts.com/products/gh82-33385a#
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 https://www.mobilesentrix.com/oled-assembly-without-frame-compatible-for-samsung-galaxy-s24-ultra-service-pack-all-colors
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 https://www.ifixit.com/News/16303/samsung-iphone-x-oled-screens-too-expensive
- ↑ https://samsungparts.com/products/gh82-33544a
- ↑ https://samsungparts.com/products/gh59-15734a
- ↑ https://samsungparts.com/products/gh82-33385a
- ↑ https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s24_ultra-12771.php
- ↑ https://samsungparts.com/products/gh82-33385a
- ↑ https://pirg.org/campaigns/right-to-repair/
- ↑ https://www.repair.org/restricting-access
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 New article from ifixit https://www.ifixit.com/News/71693/appliance-repair-pros-struggle-to-find-lg-and-samsung-documentation The investigation by US PIRG, iFixit and Repair.org https://www.regulations.gov/comment/FTC-2022-0061-0033 Which is sourced from the below letter to the united states FTC https://valkyrie.cdn.ifixit.com/media/2023/01/30193712/Repair-Coalition-Letter-for-FTC-Energy-Guide-Ruling-ANPR-R611004.pdf
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNIcJhy8L44&t=87s