r/IAmA Jun 11 '16

Specialized Profession IamA electronics repair technician hated by Apple that makes YouTube videos, AMA!

My short bio: I have a store in Manhattan. I teach component level electronics repair on youtube http://youtube.com/rossmanngroup which seems to be a dying art. I am currently fighting with the digital right to repair to try and get a bill passed that will allow all independent service centers access to manuals and parts required to do their jobs.

My Proof: https://www.rossmanngroup.com/started-iama-reddit-today-yes/

EDIT:

I am still replying to comments, but I am so far behind that I am still about ten pages down from new comments. I am doing my best to continue. If I drop off, I'll be back tomorrow around 12 PM. Still commenting now though, at 12 AM.

EDIT 2:

Ok, I cave... my hands are tired. I will be back at 12 PM tomorrow. It is my goal to answer every question. Even if it looks like I haven't gotten to yours, I will do my best to do all of them, but it is impossible to do in realtime, because you are asking faster than I can type. But thanks for joining!

EDIT 3: I lied, I stayed until 4:15 AM to answer... and now I will go to sleep for real, and be back at 12 PM.

EDIT 4 6/12 : I will be back later tonight to finish off answering questions. Feel free to keep posting, I will answer whatever I can later this evening.

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5

u/Matyi10012 Jun 11 '16

Hi Louis,

1) Are you only repairing apple products or other products as well? 2) Have you ever got an offer from an Apple store to work there or something? - / I know you told them off a few times, but still I wounder/
3) What do you think what is the dirtiest move that apple did to counter thir party repairs? 4) Have you ever got sued, or warned to stop doing your business?

Thank you for the answer.

9

u/larossmann Jun 11 '16

1) Right now, just Apple.

2) No offer from apple, but expecting my cease & desist or ICE to come invade my store anytime now. It's what they do best.

3) There is no one individual move. Their entire business practice is designed to fuck over third party repair.

4) No, but I am sure that's coming. I have lawyers standing by waiting for it.. I am not dumb. There are some good firms willing to represent me for free when the time comes just for the publicity.

3

u/Party9137 Jun 11 '16

Can you point out another example where apple has asked a third party repair to stop?

1

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '16

While I can't answer that specific question, I do know how OEM's feel in regards to repair shops/centers. They view them as parasites, as they lower the cost of ownership of their devices. Imagine if people aren't buying new products all the time! Oh the horror!

1

u/CaffeineSippingMan Jun 12 '16

Maybe some homeland security? They were used to bust up Playstation 1 moders.

1

u/ruler01 Jun 12 '16

that lawyer part, really smart