Samsung phone owners looking to get repairs now have fewer options as Best Buy is reportedly shutting down its Samsung repair program.As The Verge reports, the initial tip came via a Reddit thread; “Samsung…terminated their cell phone repair program with Geek Squad the other day with very little notice or information,” reads on post. “Oh shit i thought that was just our store,” responded another poster.Another thread then noted that Best Buy had ceased online scheduling, while Geek Squad employees weighed in to say they were in the midst of sending back Samsung components. At least one employee was happy about it since Geek Squad staff had trouble getting Samsung parts, “and clients didn’t want to wait for stuff to be shipped in. Whole thing was a shitshow.”We checked ourselves with a few ZIP codes, and Best Buy locations no longer show up in Samsung’s Service Locator service; it only shows UBreakIFix and Battery Plus locations. Best Buy’s Samsung service web page also appears to be down, as per The Verge. Both companies tell The Verge that the relationship is not completely dead, though their statements are somewhat vague.
Recommended by Our Editors
This comes less than two weeks after iFixit called it quits with official Samsung repairs. Effective June 17, iFixit will no longer partner with Samsung on repair parts and guides, in part because it doesn’t think Samsung wants customers to be able to fix their phones “at scale.”Best Buy, meanwhile, laid off a significant number of Geek Squad employees in early April. Shortly after, Best Buy announced it would launch an AI-powered “self-service” customer support option in late summer.
Like What You’re Reading?
Sign up for Fully Mobilized newsletter to get our top mobile tech stories delivered right to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
