What inventory recommended on low budget?

[layoric]

I'm going to be starting out in the cell phone repair service area. Didn't have a lot of money to stock parts so decided to get one of those hotplate devices that assist in glass repairs. Also ordered a bunch of iPhone glass for different models, and a couple for Samsung.

Knowing I don't have a lot to invest in inventory, but also NOT knowing what the most popular models are for repairs, what would be best to have for inventory parts on hand? Based on readings online and the market share, I bought iPhone 5-6plus and a couple samsung 4,5 glass parts. What do those of you who've done it for a while recommend to stock? I'm a home business, people come to me and I also go onsite.

Thanks for any input -

 

[SprinterTech-WI]

how much experience do you have doing glass only repairs?
Most who do this professionally won't do glass only, but rather refurbish their own screens (the time and costs involved are not what you want to be doing while the customer waits). not to mention about 20 percent of the screens will have issues and defects discovered after glass removal so you never want to count on the lcd being 100% when you can not fully inspect it nor know how the digitiziers condition is.



if you're planning on doing glass only you'll want obviously loca remover, all the frames and loca with a gun preferably, a larger uv blacklight for the larger phones.
i recomend a laminating machine to really do it right but thats 1500 so may be a little steep innitially.
you'll also want a selection of backlights and screen level components for any that are damaged.

still haven't found a good way to do the s5 as you're asking for trouble doing it in frame but the frame design makes it nigh on impossible to cut the lcd out of the frame without damaging it. and most lcds ive seen fail within 90days that any other shop has done or worse they did in framr and after a few months the board shorted out.

as someone who's been in the cell repair game professionally for years (over 6 already... yikes!) and doing hundreds of repairs a month i would recommend starting with full assembly replacements and practice on your pulled screens to hone your skills then you can refurb your pulled ones.

in this industry you need quality, timely, and affordability without all 3 it's not going to work.... seen 6 companies open and fail in the last 3 years because they lacked those three things.

 

[kwest]

Two of each color and model full assemble.

 

[layoric]

Thanks, but that's still the problem, of not being able to afford the cost of each model / color full assembly part, not to mention all the additional parts needed. I could have a few of the more popular ones, and possibly some lights / frames, but still don't know the most popular ones, and definitely not those for my area. As mentioned previously, just took a guess on iPhones as being it, but wouldn't know which model is mostly used.
If money wasn't an issue, sure, I would just throw a couple grand at one of each part/color, but it is. Especially since things are quite slow right now.

 

[SprinterTech-WI]

Thanks, but that's still the problem, of not being able to afford the cost of each model / color full assembly part, not to mention all the additional parts needed. I could have a few of the more popular ones, and possibly some lights / frames, but still don't know the most popular ones, and definitely not those for my area. As mentioned previously, just took a guess on iPhones as being it, but wouldn't know which model is mostly used.
If money wasn't an issue, sure, I would just throw a couple grand at one of each part/color, but it is. Especially since things are quite slow right now.

then start with 2ea of iphone 5c, 5s, 6 and 6 plus. 1ea s4, s5 and iphone 5.
if you're that tight on cash you could do 1ea.

from a business aspect I'd recommend building your cash reserves up before making a new business venture... esp as you need to be able to fix anything thats messed up... had a new guy get hired last month... his first iphone he accidentally put a screw in the wrong spot and shorted the mainboard... thankfuly it was only 1 we were refurbing but that has happened before where we have to just buy.the customer a new device.

 

[Steve Morse]

The last comment is right on spot for what I would recommend for a small startup - I would also recommend getting some iPad digitizers as these are inexpensive and probably will be needed. Samsung digi's are so pricey that usually you can simply order when you need for delivery the next day.