Dish Network is one of two leading satellite television providers in the United States, and it’s also an internet service provider ever since it first launched its DishNET offering. Starting today, however, Dish is thrusting itself into an entirely new category: smartphone repair. No, that’s no typo, Dish on Tuesday morning announced the immediate availability of “Smart Phone Repair,” an on-site handset repair service that will send a technician to your home to fix your broken smartphone.
It seems like an odd move at first, but it’s actually quite smart and I’ll explain why.
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I’ve been testing Dish’s satellite television service for a while now, and there has been one thing in particular that has always impressed me. Yes, the service itself is solid and yes, the Hopper DVR is a breath of fresh air in a market full of terrible set-top box offerings. But what has really stood out for me so far is the on-site service I’ve received.
From the first visit when a Dish technician installed all my gear to the last time someone came to upgrade my box to the newest version of the Hopper, I have had nothing but terrific experiences with Dish’s staff. They’re professional, they’re friendly, they work quickly and they’re courteous. They even wear special cloth socks over their shoes while working inside your home so they don’t track dirt anywhere.
With that in mind, think about how Dish’s new offering might change the game.
When you break your smartphone now, you have three choices. First, you can ignore the cracked screen or whatever else you broke, and you can keep using the phone. Second, you can bring it into the store or send it away and pay to have it fixed. Finally, you can go to a third-party repair shop and pay them to fix it.
None of these options are optimal. Presuming you actually want to fix your phone, going back to the store where you bought it takes up time and you might not even get your phone repaired on site. If you have to send it away instead, you could be without a phone for days or even weeks. Third-party repair shops generally work much more quickly, but they’re often just as expensive and you still have to take time out of your day to go get the repairs done.
Now, consider this new option. Go to Dish’s Smart Phone Repair site, schedule a service call for the same day or the next day in most areas, and then go on about your business in your own home, office or wherever else you want them to meet you while someone comes and performs the repair.
The bad news is that the service is a bit limited to start out. Only iPhones are supported for the time being, and that excludes all of Apple’s latest models — the service is currently available for the iPhone 5, 5c, 5s, 6 and 6 Plus and repairs start at $75. Dish says that additional smartphone models will be supported soon, and all repairs include a 60-day guarantee.
Dish’s full press release follows below.
DISH Delivers ‘Smart Phone Repair’ on Your Turf
DISH technicians fix mobile phones at customer’s location
Available to consumers nationwide, no TV subscription required
DISH offers upfront pricing, high-quality screens and batteriesENGLEWOOD, Colo., May 3, 2016 – With millions of Americans swiping across shattered smartphone screens, DISH has deployed its nationwide fleet of professional technicians, capable of reaching any U.S. home or business, to repair iPhones for consumers nationwide whether or not they are DISH customers.
Available today, “Smart Phone Repair” from DISH delivers a technician directly to a customer’s door. DISH’s network of skilled technicians in all 50 states will repair cracked screens and replace batteries on Apple’s iPhone 5, 5c, 5s, 6 and 6 Plus. In the coming months, DISH intends to expand its service to include additional devices and smartphone accessories.
With transparent pricing and trusted technicians, DISH has eliminated the hassle and uncertainty of smartphone repair for consumers nationwide.
“Fixing your phone shouldn’t mean losing your phone for days on end, so we come to you – whether you’re at the office, the gym or even the coffee shop,” said John Swieringa, executive vice president of Operations. “DISH is uniquely positioned with the technical know-how and ability to respond to a customer’s needs in every state across the country.”
DISH uses high-quality replacement parts from respected third parties. Repair prices are consistent across the country and offered upfront as customers explore available services on www.dish.com/smartphonerepair. Additionally, DISH offers onsite corporate events, providing a convenient solution for large-scale repairs on enterprise smartphones and employees’ personal devices.
“Instead of paying $650 or more to replace a smartphone, our technicians step in to extend the life of the phone when a screen shatters or a battery loses its charge,” added Swieringa.
DISH offers appointments seven days a week including same-day and next-day availability, and guarantees all repair work with a 60-day warranty. Customers reserve their onsite service with a one-time $35 “Drive to Me” travel fee that allows their technician to repair one device or many during the visit. DISH’s “My Tech” online appointment tool allows smartphone repair customers to view their technician’s name, photo and a countdown to their tech’s arrival. Customers may even track the DISH vehicle as it travels to meet them.
