Diagnostics, pickup and warranty
Repair Policy
Understand how diagnostics, quotes, pickup, delivery, deposits and warranty work at Fix My Gadget.
This repair policy explains how Fix My Gadget handles diagnostics, quotes, pickup and delivery, repair approval, part replacement and warranty. It is written clearly so customers know what to expect before booking a repair.
1. Diagnostic process
Many faults look simple from the outside. A laptop that will not turn on may have a charger issue, battery issue, charging-port issue, BIOS fault, shorted component or motherboard fault. A cracked display may also have hinge, back-cover or cable damage. For this reason, we inspect before we give a final quote.
The diagnostic process may include visual inspection, power testing, charger testing, external display testing, battery checks, drive checks, RAM checks, thermal inspection, liquid-damage inspection, BIOS checks and board-level fault tracing depending on the symptom.
2. Quote before repair
After diagnosis, we explain the likely cause and quote before repair. We do not proceed with paid work until the customer approves the quote. This protects the customer from surprise costs and protects the technician from replacing parts without approval.
3. Diagnostic fee
The diagnostic fee is R350. It is waived when you proceed with the approved repair. If the customer declines the repair, if the device is not repairable, or if the customer chooses not to continue after inspection, the diagnostic fee remains payable.
4. Pickup and delivery
Fix My Gadget offers pickup and delivery across Johannesburg as a paid service. The cost is quoted upfront. Customers may also bring devices to the workshop in Kibler Park by arrangement. Pickup and delivery does not make the diagnostic free, and it is not a free service.
5. Warranty on most part replacements
Most part replacements, including screens, batteries, keyboards and similar parts, carry a 3-month warranty. Warranty applies to the part or workmanship related to the approved repair. It does not automatically cover the whole device or unrelated faults.
6. What warranty does not cover
- New liquid damage after repair.
- New physical damage, drops, cracks or pressure marks.
- Power-surge damage or charger damage after collection.
- Software changes, malware, failed updates or customer-installed systems.
- Unrelated faults that were not part of the approved repair.
- Third-party opening, tampering or attempted repair after collection.
7. Special-order parts and deposits
Some screens, batteries, keyboards, palmrests, MacBook assemblies and TV parts must be ordered specifically for the model. A deposit may be required for special-order parts. The customer is informed before the order is placed.
8. Data protection
Customers should back up important data where possible. We try to avoid unnecessary data access during hardware repairs. For software, storage or boot repairs, data risk may be higher and will be explained where possible.
9. Repair-or-replace advice
If repair is not sensible, we will say so. Sometimes a device is worth repairing because the part cost is far below replacement value. Sometimes replacement or responsible recycling is better, especially when the device is very old, heavily damaged or uneconomical. For responsible recycling guidance, see TechRecycle.
10. Booking a repair
Send the device model, photos of the fault, a short explanation and your area. This helps us advise faster and quote pickup where needed.
Book with clarity
Need a repair quote?
Send the model number, photos of the fault and your suburb. We will advise on the next step.
Repair examples
How the policy applies to common faults
If a laptop screen is cracked, we still check the hinges, back cover and display cable before quoting, because replacing only the panel may not solve the structural problem. If a MacBook does not charge, we check the charger, cable, battery condition, charging port, board behaviour and signs of liquid damage before assuming one part is faulty.
If an iPhone battery drains quickly, we consider battery health, charging habits, device age, software behaviour and whether there are other faults. If a TV or monitor powers on with sound but no picture, the likely cause may be backlight, panel, board or power-related. Each fault needs inspection before the quote is final.
This is why the diagnostic process matters. It protects customers from paying for the wrong part and helps us give honest repair-or-replace advice. When a device is not worth repairing, we will say so. When repair is sensible, we explain the part, cost, lead time and warranty position clearly.
Responsible replacement decisions
Some devices should be repaired; others should be replaced or responsibly recycled. If the repair cost is too close to replacement value, or if the device has severe board damage, repeated liquid damage or multiple unrelated failures, replacement may be the better decision. Customers who choose not to repair should still protect data before selling, donating or recycling the device.
How this page supports the repair process
This page is part of the customer trust structure of the Fix My Gadget website. Repair pages explain faults and services, while policy pages explain how the business handles communication, approval, privacy, pickup, delivery and warranty. Both are important. A customer should be able to understand not only what we repair, but also how the repair process works before handing over a device.
Clear policy pages also prevent confusion. They explain that diagnostics are not blind guessing, that repair only proceeds after approval, that pickup and delivery is quoted upfront, and that warranty applies to most part replacements rather than every possible issue on a device. This helps customers make calm decisions and helps the technician focus on proper work.