OT - Cracked Phone Screen

Eggcelsior

nolaegghead said:

So my geek holster got old and loose and my Galaxy S5 started falling out frequently.  Eventually I cracked the screen.

I found out the outer glass is different from the inner display, commonly caused the digitizer or something.  I bought the outer Gorilla glass for about $15 with tools.  I didn't do my research and, while using a heat gun to melt the adhesive, broke the digitizer taking off the outer glass.  I find out this is a delicate operation - a high percentage of attempts break the display. 

Anyway, I see the factory OEM display is around $200.  I find a used but "in new condition" digitizer with the graphics card and outer glass for $120 on Amazon.  I bought that and fixed my phone in about 30 minutes.  As good as new.  Total repair cost, $135.

Bought a new holster, and the pop-out problem is fixed, phone is almost a year and a half old now.  Will probably get the Samsung Note when I'm eligible.  

I don't waste my money on the insurance.  Never had and this was (knock on smoke wood) my first broken phone.  My buddy broke his iPhone 5s and he had been paying $10/month on insurance.  After another $160 core charge, he got a fixed phone. 

I got a quote for 75 to fix my S3. I researched doing it myself and it would cost around $65 due to not owning any tools(many guides recommended a heat gun and laser thermo to prevent frying the digitizer). I went ahead and had it done by the local guy and he fried the digitizer. It cost him $135 in parts plus whatever free labor. I only paid $75 for a brand new display. 

In regards to insurance, you'd be amazed at what the upcharge is since companies are just paying an insurance company to cover them. When I worked at Best Buy, every single Service Plan from $50 to $300 cost me $4-$10. I had it on my phone and used it once when I cracked the digitizer in my pocket. New phone was 50 bucks. Then I canceled it because the refurbished phone is no longer covered. Now that I know how much it costs to fix these things I'll never get it again. I'll also never get a subsidized phone again. That is where the real rip-off is.

fence0407

@Eggcelsior - I too used to work for BB. I remember the employee discount on the service plan for a tv was roughly $2. The normal customer would pay $200 for that same plan.

Eggcelsior

@fence0407 yup. I believe our pricing was cost +10%. I put a 2k audio system in my car for around 600 bucks. Accessories were where it's at. I stocked up on Monster Cables. I would blow through my paycheck on Home Theater/audio equipment. Ahhh, to be a teenager again.

fence0407

Eggcelsior said:

@fence0407 yup. I believe our pricing was cost +10%. I put a 2k audio system in my car for around 600 bucks. Accessories were where it's at. I stocked up on Monster Cables. I would blow through my paycheck on Home Theater/audio equipment. Ahhh, to be a teenager again.

I was giving away Monster cables and any other accessories I could penny up for for birthdays and Christmas's during my tenure! I felt like I should invest in the company that invested in me - they sent me to "Black Tie sales training" lol.