Questions for Louis

[ytesfay80]

I figure we could use this topic to ask larossmann any questions we have.

I have a couple of questions.

1) When you started doing repairs where did you get most of your macbooks to work on?(ex. ebay,craigslist)
2) Do you plan on making any videos on bios reflashing, setting clean ME region or other anything else bios related?

 

[Puevig reven]

I would love to see a video on BIOS!!

 

[JorgePayar]

I would love to see a video about that too

 

[george-a]

Thats a very interesting topic regarding ME region. Luis mentions that the various ME guides found online are crap which hopefully means that he ll make one that corrects this situation ))

 

[JorgePayar]

Sorry guys but Louis is ignoring us since 2 weeks ago

 

[larossmann]

I got most of them buying from ebay and quickly learned that I was paying $400 to buy something worth $550 when it worked that had $200 worth of shit wrong with it.

Then transitioned into offering the service to others based on my ebay feedback. It was only fro basic issues. The idea was parts in stock, I will show up where you are, I will fix it while you're there, and you don't pay if it doesn't work.

That slowly moved over into fixing everything. I strongly recommend working on machines you get for close to nothing, or products for end customers. Do NOT buy crap off ebay, you are competing with millions of people who drive the price up. Do NOT deal with other repair stores, they will give you the worst garbage on earth and expect it to be free and done in a day. End customers are where it's at - Apple tells them $750-$1250 and their data will be erased. You tell them a few days and $350 and they are happy.

In terms of BIOS stuff, 99% of the problems are not BIOS based. I take my programmer out once every two months if that.. and wind up realizing the issue wasn't even the BIOS.

 

[ytesfay80]

larossmann Thanks for answering.

I have another question.
I plan on doing mail in repairs in the future. Which shipping company do you use to send your packages and could you tell me on average how much it costs to ship your package (including the packaging materials) to someone across the US?

 

[JorgePayar]

larossmann Thanks for answering.

I have another question.
I plan on doing mail in repairs in the future. Which shipping company do you use to send your packages and could you tell me on average how much it costs to ship your package (including the packaging materials) to someone across the US?

He uses USPS

 

[ytesfay80]

Has this already been answered in a video? If so, could you link me to it.

 

[JorgePayar]

No,I did a order of amtech flux to Louis and it came by USPS

 

[ytesfay80]

larossmann dukefawks aprendiz
If you had to rank the top 5 board repairs you get what would they be with 1 being the most common (ex, blown backlight fuse, bad isl6259)?

 

[aprendiz]

1.- Bad ISL (sense resistors around isl)
2.- Bad display connector
3.- Bad SMC
4.- All together....

 

[larossmann]

depends

pre youtube

1) bad backlight fuse
2) bad backlight fuse
3) ultrasonic
4) ultrasonic
5) bad backlight fuse

post youtube

1) bad SMC
2) bad backlight due to short inside the board
3) bad SMC
4) bad PCH
5) dead CPU

and you bet 4 and 5 can suck it.

In all seriousness I do get a bunch of bad ISL6259 area, bad display connector, and bad SMC. I'd say those three are my most common.

 

[ytesfay80]

​larossmann dukefawks aprendiz
Could you post a list of the model numbers for the lcd screens of Macbook Pro from say 2011 on up?
Louis said he uses the LP133WP1-TJAA for all macbook airs 2010-2015.
I currently need a screen for late 2013 MBP Retina. What would be the best place to purchase these from?

 

[aprendiz]

I hate to do screen replacement, so don't do it........

 

[ytesfay80]

Okay.
I have a question, if a customer sends you a board that isn't turning on after liquid spill and you fix the board but find out that the screen is dead and needs to be replaced would you charge them for a board repair and tell them they need to get the screen replaced as well.
I figure that would be an issue since they wouldn't want to spend over $500 to get the computer fixed since they only planned to pay for a board repair.

This has probably happened to one of you guys so how would you handle that situation?

larossmann aprendiz

 

[ytesfay80]

Also, when I look for lcd connectors and cables on aliexpress there are people that sell connectors and cables for each year of the macbooks. Are all the connectors and cables that have 30 pins the same?

 

[Aldizi]

Thats a good question!. Louis has a video where he says if i fix your device for $150 does that sound agreeable to you? I think this works both ways. So if the customer agreed or can spend up to $500 to get the whole macbook fixed. you should try to explain the situation to get the most out of him possible and lets assume he cannot simply afford it, your going to have to make a call if this customer is worth it to you or not. IE is he good customer? did he give you time to fix the unit? do you think he'll bring more business in the future? all of these variables should be considered. If you think its worth the squeez bundle the repair and make less on the job. Think about it this way your going to get repairs where their is a clear short on the dc jack that you can fix in 2 minutes and if your like me our board repair is a flat rate? I think this is what balances out these kinds of situations.

 

[Glenn]

Do you only repair MBP/MBA or you do imac and mac mini