The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: madmax on March 16, 2016, 09:41:09 PM
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So my fancypants 5 month old Nexus phablet slipped out of my pocket while getting out of my car and shattered. I can't tell if it is just the glass ($10 replacement on Ebay) or the whole assembly ($150 Ebay, $175 + $25 shipping for Motorola to fix). I'm guessing it is the whole thing because I can see metal behind the glass.
Evaluating my options, I feel bad about spending $200 on a phone that was $400 new. The phone still works but has cracks running across the screen. I guess I could just slap on a screen protector to protect against crumbling glass and keep using it till I feel I got my money's worth. I'm also considering getting a cheap < $200 Android phone or even a feature phone. What do you guys think?
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If it still works it should be just the glass. Find a local 3rd part repairer, get a quote.
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I'd get it fixed. Once it's fixed the phone should last a good while longer. I had my LG recently repaired after I dropped it.
Any places nearby that repair phones?
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I have replaced phone screens a couple of times and we used some guys that have a stall in the middle bit of our local shopping centre. There may be something similar closer to you. They seemed fairly reasonable and cheaper than a new phone and less hassle than getting a new plan etc.
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I think I replied by mistake. Saw last post by alsoknownasdean not OP so this suggestion may not be so relevant. Apologies.
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I think I replied by mistake. Saw last post by alsoknownasdean not OP so this suggestion may not be so relevant. Apologies.
I dunno, it's pretty relevant to what Madmax needs. If you're not clever enough to figure out what parts you need to replace, take it to someone who is.
a stall in the middle bit of our local shopping centre
The word you're looking for is "kiosk". :)
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I've smashed my phone screen in the past and was able to find an online tutorial on how to replace it myself. So I ordered the parts and replaced and the phone worked fine, It was actually pretty easy.
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Im not big on aliexpress but that is the cheapest place to get new glass/screen. ifixit.com will give you the parts and the know how to fix it.
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I've smashed my phone screen in the past and was able to find an online tutorial on how to replace it myself. So I ordered the parts and replaced and the phone worked fine, It was actually pretty easy.
Note that if you go this route, different phones have varying degrees of difficulty. I've replaced screens on phones where the manufacturer used so much glue that half the time I ended up destroying the LCD while trying to separate it from the metal backing (not even the glass, just the backing!). Others, the unit opens right up and everything separates easily. Disassembly videos online will give you a general idea of how to take it apart, but often times they have previously taken it apart to make disassembly during the video go easier.
My current phone was combined from two other phones. I picked up a broken Sprint phone off ebay which had a smashed screen, and combined it with a Cricket phone (sticking the Sprint motherboard into it) of the same model that had a functional display. Both were cheap, since Cricket went out of business so the phones no longer worked. At the time, my phone was going for $300 (used, but in good condition) on ebay; I got the two broken phones for around $50 each. Much easier than trying to replace glass or the LCD.
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You can get new 5x and month of project Fi for $230 , would guess working but cracked one would get around 100 on eBay. Likely cheaper than fixing and you have new warranty etc
Sent from my Z958 using Tapatalk
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Thanks for all the replies, I ordered a $10 screen from Ebay will see how it goes. If I manage to screw up the phone in the process, I'm going the 5x route instead of paying $200 to fix it (I'm on Project Fi already).
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Did you buy it with a credit card? I broke the screen on my 2 month old phone in December and found that the Citi card I bought it with had a purchase protection benefit that reimbursed me for the $200 it cost to fix. I think my benefit was only good for 120 days from purchase but worth checking out in case your card offers a longer period.
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Yeah but it's about six months old unfortunately. Good idea though, I'll call and ask anyway.
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I applaud the attempt to fix it yourself. I fixed my old iphone a few times, including replacing a cracked screen for a few dollars in parts and an hour or two of how-to videos. I am much less intimated by any DIY electronics project now.
Let us know how it goes. Hopefully you are paid back in dollars and new skills.
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https://www.ifixit.com/smartphone-repairability
If it's a Nexus 6 or 5X, then the LCD is fused to the screen. If it's a 6P, then they seem less repairable.
My LG G3 (not on the list) had the screen fused to the LCD, so I had to get the whole LCD and display replaced. It was about $160 (Aussie) to buy the LCD on eBay, or $195 for it to be repaired at the phone kiosk at my local shopping centre.