We entomb our smartphones in thick cases and tempered glass screen protectors to save them from getting damaged, but even with all these measures, sometimes a device still needs to visit the good ol' repair shop for a fix. That's nothing too unusual.
Well, the real problem is that if you read through the fine print in Google's T&Cs for sending your phone in for a repair, you'll discover that there's a chance you might not get it back, and there's nothing you'll be able to do about it.
Google Will Seize Any Google Pixels Sent In For Repair That Are Found To Have Aftermarket Parts
I wonder what goes on through the minds of big corporations with profit margins which are already massive when they make decisions that are so deliberately anti-consumer. For instance, explain why Google has a self-repair program, yet is so opposed to repairs being made with aftermarket parts.
Here's what you need to know: Louis Rossmann, a YouTuber, went through the fine print of Google's Terms and Conditions for servicing and repairs and found a specific line that is quite mind-boggling.
You will not send in a Device containing non-Google-authorized parts – if You do, Your Device will not be returned to you.
Google Service & Repair Program Terms & Conditions
Needless to say, that's pretty wild to hear. To break this down, what Google is saying is that if you decide to replace the broken screen on your Google Pixel 7 by yourself (since you found it not too complicated) and you use a generic replacement display instead of OEM (because OEM is always more expensive), and then decide to send it in for an unrelated repair, like a battery replacement, your phone will not be returned to you.
That's right. The device that you might have paid cash for will simply not be given back to you. Google will confiscate your smartphone like an angry teacher. And it doesn't seem like there's any way for you to actually get this smartphone back. This current document has been this way since at least July 19th, 2023.
It's A Push To Give Google Money For Its OEM Parts
Unsurprisingly, this is just a ploy to keep money out of the pockets of third-party part manufacturers and keep it in Google's pockets. They'll likely make a statement talking about how this is to protect customers from using substandard parts, but I think we can all agree that's just the front.
This Is Just Like What We Found Out Samsung Stipulates Partnered Repair Shops To Do
This comes not too long after we heard similarly sleazy behavior from Samsung, where devices discovered with aftermarket parts were stipulated to be “disassembled”, which is somehow even worse. Samsung prefers to decommission your Galaxy smartphone as if it contains a nuclear warhead.
I wonder what these companies do after seizing and disassembling your device though. Do they salvage the parts that they can for even more profit? Sell it as a certified refurbished model? Who knows, but whatever it is, we know we don't like it.
