I do like the idea of making the Phillips #0 screwdriver available in the Fairphone shop. This would reduce shipping cost because you’ll need one anyway if you need to replace a module. What does @Douwe think about this?
There are so many places, locally, where you could get a screwdriver like this. Also they come in many sorts and sizes and you can find one you like the best. I think we prefer to keep the amount of parts offered in the shop as low as possible to keep complexity of maintaining stock and shipping low as well.
One example: if we would ship a screwdriver: we’d need to have two types of packaging here: one for people who want a FP2 two with- and one for people who want a FP2 without screwdriver.
And many people won’t buy them, because they have no idea what a Philips #0 is, or because they are scared they would buy the wrong one. Maybe it could be sufficient to link to the iFixit store or something like that, but I definitely like the idea of providing a “FP2-proof screwdriver” via the FP shop.
Well, I did not suggest that the screwdriver should be included in some boxes and not in others. I was thinking of offering it as a separate item like the charger or the FP1 case back then.
However, a particular measure isn’t my main focus, it’s how to overcome the reluctance to disassemble the FP2. Right now I think we have module replacements under warranty without the old modules being properly checked beyond the Checkup tests. In other words: People replace (and throw away) working modules just because they cannot bring themselves to just give disassembly and reassembly a try (and end up doing just that – but no sooner than that the replacement module has arrived).
When customers end up on our side for support we often, depending on the issue, now ask them to remove the module from the phone in the first diagnosis step.
We get very little “resistance” (only so once in a while a question if it doesn’t void warranty, which it doesn’t). Customers are, after instructed to do so by us, quite willing to remove modules from the phone.
And as it seems most of them do have a Philips #0 or know where to get them…
What is important to tell customers we think is that you make clear that with removing a module and placing it back from the phone sometimes problems are easily solved and customers do not have to wait for a spare part to arrive or even worse send in the phone.
Maybe it is, but it also shows that most people probably do have a screwdriver in house that is needed (or they know where to get it without our interference).
It sounds all nice and fine that you shouldn’t have any fear of disassemblying the phone. There is a catch though. When I had bright spots on the screen on my first FP2 I took it off and put it back on. As many of you know, the first time you take off the screen it is kind of stuck. Apply a little force and it comes off. What happened after I put the screen back on was that the front speaker stopped working properly and, the bright spots stayed the same.
I’m now on my third FP2. The first was sent in twice, once for the speaker and bright spots on the screen,and, once for random reboots. The second was sent in due to random reboots, bright spots on the screen and microphone not working. Now I’m on my third and it is working fine (except a few bright spots on the screen).
I’m not afraid to use a screwdriver. (I replaced the battery, screen and speaker on my old iPhone 4S. And, you need more than just one screwdriver to do that.) I just don’t trust the built quality of the FP2. The bright spots are coming back on the screen (well known problem) but, I’m not going to disassemble the phone. I’m too tired sending the phone in. I’d rather wait as long as I can before I do it. And, hopefully I don’t need to. I’ll just live with the bright spots.
Most likely nothing will happen if I disassemble the phone. I do love the idea of the repairability of FP2. And, hopefully quality control is better now. If or when I really need to, I will take out my #0…
Lets hope so. I still haven’t lost hope. I just ordered a FP2 for my wife. And I know I’ll be the one who have to fix things if it’s a Failphone and not a Fairphone.
Ah nice to know that I wasn’t the only one with the bright spots on the screen And now my mic isn’t working too but I don’t want to lose my phone for ~3 weeks again … (cover is seperating too )
Sad to hear that. I see the bottom module is out of stock at the moment. So maybe you can use a handsfree set of some sort. For the cover there are options. I realized that they were not so strong so I ordered a few to have ready for when they break.
I guess I will be using the #0 screwdriver soon. It seems there are new cameras coming soon. Very excited!
Oh yeah, another classical problem.
See here and here and the solution.
Luckily this is an issue I haven’t had. I’m just clumsy and loose it all the time so I get cracks in the corners But the FP2 seems to be able to take a beating.
Aren’t there any better-known names for Phillips screwdrivers?
People may be assuming they’re more special than they are. In Denmark, they’re ubiquitous and just known as “star screwdrivers”.
My phone has bright spots too, I figured I must’ve pushed on it too hard at some point. When I got my Fairphone, I got a lot of random reboots, but they got significantly rarer with each software update, so I recommend to everyone to keep their phone updated and not assume it’s a hardware problem (whether it’s caused by Android or Fairphone, I don’t know).
As to why people get anxiety about disassembling it, I suspect it’s much like what teachers experience every day. When you don’t think you can learn something, you refuse to try, because trying requires effort. Also, I suspect people don’t want to think of themselves as electronics nerds. I was like that once, so I avoided learning about computers because I was ashamed of being interested in them.
The bright spots’ cause is not known yet. I don’t think it’s caused by user-induced-pressure, but what’s definite: Disassembling does not influence the bright spots either way.
And now my mic isn’t working too but I don’t want to lose my phone for ~3 weeks again … (cover is seperating too 
)