|
||||||||
The Cost of Glass Replacement. |
![]() |
|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|
#1 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: S6 1SW WTID UTO FTB
Posts: 6,326
|
The Cost of Glass Replacement.
How on earth do manufacturers get away with charging so much to replace the glass on a phone?
My wife's Alcatel Onetouch Idol 3 (in a case) slid off a chair arm and fell 20 inches on to laminate flooring and the glass (Dragontail) shattered like an egg (the LCD is fine). Fair enough accidents happen and it wasn't a manufacturing fault but when they are quoting "around" £90 for it mending you might as well just buy a new phone and have a change. Had it been £40 i would have heaped praise on Alcatel but just like everyone else they take the piss. |
|
|
|
|
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
|
|
|
#2 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,851
|
Quote:
How on earth do manufacturers get away with charging so much to replace the glass on a phone?
My wife's Alcatel Onetouch Idol 3 (in a case) slid off a chair arm and fell 20 inches on to laminate flooring and the glass (Dragontail) shattered like an egg (the LCD is fine). Fair enough accidents happen and it wasn't a manufacturing fault but when they are quoting "around" £90 for it mending you might as well just buy a new phone and have a change. Had it been £40 i would have heaped praise on Alcatel but just like everyone else they take the piss. An independent high street repairer may do it cheaper but even then £50 looks to be a typical price. Just a nice 'earner'. |
|
|
|
|
|
#3 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: S6 1SW WTID UTO FTB
Posts: 6,326
|
Thing is if it was £40 or £50 i think most people would be more than happy with that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#4 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,644
|
I looked into replacing the glass on my old HTC phone a few years and even ordered one (with the digitizer built in) for around £10 total.
There was a lot of labour involved with some specialist tools (heat plate) to get the glass/digitizer off the LCD. I did not bother in the end even though I'm an engineer. |
|
|
|
|
|
#5 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: S6 1SW WTID UTO FTB
Posts: 6,326
|
The glass and digitizer for the Alcatel Idol 3 can be bought for £17, after watching videos i dont fancy taking it on though.
Not to worry a new Moto G has just arrived for the missus, Alcatel can piss off. |
|
|
|
|
|
#6 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Central Belt
Posts: 12,274
|
3000 RPM in Dundee often do iPhone glass screen replacements for £35
|
|
|
|
|
|
#7 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,644
|
Quote:
3000 RPM in Dundee often do iPhone glass screen replacements for £35
|
|
|
|
|
|
#8 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 14,541
|
It's hard to do properly that's why, the glass and digitizer might only cost £20 to £30 but it's glued, so you have to spend about 1/2 hour heating and gently prying the glass with a plastic tool trying not to damage the case and then there's usually quite a bit of work getting it replaced.
You're looking at 1/2 hour labour, £20-£30 for the parts, then all the postage, effort and risk of them doing damage to any of the flat flex, case etc and then they need to make a profit out if it as well. It isn't just glass and it doesn't just unscrew or clip off and clip a new one on, that's why. |
|
|
|
|
|
#9 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2,875
|
Replacing the glass without replacing the digitiser as well is very difficult. You'll find that even a trained store member of staff won't get it 100% perfect.
These components are designed to be one hence why Apple would only ever replace the entire display assembly as opposed to just the glass. |
|
|
|
|
|
#10 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: West Yorks
Posts: 6,180
|
Quote:
An independent high street repairer may do it cheaper but even then £50 looks to be a typical price. Just a nice 'earner'.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#11 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,644
|
Here is a video of replacing the glass on an iPhone and what's involved for anybody interested (this is why I did not do my HTC one as it was the same sort of job):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gevCihZxFQ Or you can do it without all the specialized tools above (with a heat gun) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re5Df4SvjMs |
|
|
|
![]() |
|
All times are GMT. The time now is 17:49.

