Russian Antimonopoly service accuses Apple of seizing the iPhone-repair market

Customers are not always happy with Apple’s policies when it comes to gadget repair: both components and services, while being monopolized by the manufacturer, still remain hardly accessible for many Russian Apple users. The situation could escape the FAS attention, especially after the claim was filed by a dissatisfied iPhone owner Dmitry Petrov.

 Petrov became an occasional victim of the uneven market sharing when he tried to get his Phone SE fixed in an authorized repair center. Instead of simply replacing the broken screen, it was suggested that he buy a new phone at half price (Phone SE costs about $700 on the Russian market). The whole incident violates the Russian Consumer Protection Code, Petrov says, as it is a primary duty of the manufacturer to ensure the shelf life of the product, which includes providing timely repair at reasonable price. “$350 for a broken screen is simply ridiculous, - he continues, - and shows how Apple is trying to make profit by grabbing this market niche. In the US, I would pay for the component only, and it would save me two thirds of the sum”.

The Deputy Head of the Antimonopoly Service, Andrey Kashevarov, confirms that the investigation on the company’s activity in Russia has already started. If Apple loses, it will mean a 1 million rubles fine for the Russian office (around $16.5 thousand) and 20 thousand for the company’s management (around $330), and the requirement to correct violations. However, the details of the investigation have not been disclosed yet.