Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on Sound & Video Contractor
Samsung can’t catch a break when it comes to repair. Hot on the heels with iFixit’s termination of its partnership with Samsung, Best Buy is now shutting down its authorized service provider program with the company. The program, similar to iFixit’s, provided Best Buy with authorized parts and documentation from Samsung to repair devices.
The Verge acquired a screenshot of a message sent to Best Buy Geek Squad employees informing them of the program’s termination, reading “Samsung ASP is ending in all SASP locations,” and directing employees how to proceed from there. Further, Best Buy spokesperson Katie Klister provided The Verge with the following comment:
“We know how important it is to our customers that we’re there for them with the right services and expertise for their technology, and we’re currently working together with Samsung to evaluate the best way to support our mobile customers with authorized services and repairs.”
No official reason has yet been given for the program’s termination, though Samsung has come under scrutiny over the past few weeks by repair advocates. iFixit revealed that Samsung had particularly unique requirements for a repair partnership, which included documenting the information of customers whose devices contained third-party parts and reporting the information to Samsung. On top of that, iFixit has accused Samsung’s pro-repair rhetoric of being nothing but lip service, as the repair company was provided with limited quantities of parts, most of which were prohibitively expensive.
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