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There's a US-nationwide chain called "ubreakifix". I brought my Pixel phone there to have a broken screen replaced, and they wanted my passcode. I told them the

There's a US-nationwide chain called "ubreakifix". I brought my Pixel phone there to have a broken screen replaced, and they wanted my passcode. I told them they were insane, and they acted as if I was the first person who ever declined. I can't believe they even ask, especially when there's no need for it whatsoever for a screen replacement.

miketery 5y ago
Similar thing for me, was best buy about 4 years ago in NYC. Handed an iPhone for. screen replacement. They wanted a password. Them: "what's your password" Me: "I'm not giving that to you" Them: "We'll have to wipe your phone then" Me: "Fine by me" Me: pickup phone next day, screen fixed all data still there
schoolornot 5y ago
Opposite experience here w/ two uBreakiFix stores and a Pixel 3. Neither time I was asked to provide the PIN. The first time I asked and they gave me a strong "no". No factory wipe, etc.
- lkbm 5y ago
  Same. I've had them replace phone screens for me multiple times--both in Austin and Atlanta--and neither location asked for the PIN nor reset my phone.
waheoo 5y ago
The usual reasoning behind this is to confirm the phone is properly functioning before opening it up. Lots of people try to scam repair shops bringing broken phones in. On top of that repairs can often break fingerprint scanner connections and depending on the screen type its good to check camera functionality after screen replacement.
- dheera 5y ago
  > confirm the phone is properly functioning They could have the user unlock the phone in front of them without revealing the code to confirm this.
  - snuxoll 5y ago
    Of course they can, but that means having the user come in to unlock the device and potentially sending them home again if you have to do additional repairs after testing it with them. It’s all a balance of convenience vs privacy. Best solution is to wipe the device before repair, which is what I have done every time but it’s a hassle even when I have a backup to restore.
  - caymanjim 5y ago
    In my case the screen didn't work at all. I couldn't backup the device, log out of any accounts, etc. I still wouldn't have given them the passcode if I could have done that, but if my only option were to backup and wipe the device before the repair, I would have reluctantly done that. In this case I had no way to secure the device at all, and I couldn't wipe it remotely because the only critical thing on it was my TOTP app (which I've since replaced with one I can sync/backup).
daniel_reetz 5y ago
Can confirm this, and they wouldn't accept my Samsung without it. I gave them a fake PIN and things went fine.

miketery 5y ago

Similar thing for me, was best buy about 4 years ago in NYC. Handed an iPhone for. screen replacement. They wanted a password. Them: "what's your password" Me: "I'm not giving that to you" Them: "We'll have to wipe your phone then" Me: "Fine by me" Me: pickup phone next day, screen fixed all data still there

schoolornot 5y ago

Opposite experience here w/ two uBreakiFix stores and a Pixel 3. Neither time I was asked to provide the PIN. The first time I asked and they gave me a strong "no". No factory wipe, etc.

lkbm 5y ago
Same. I've had them replace phone screens for me multiple times--both in Austin and Atlanta--and neither location asked for the PIN nor reset my phone.

waheoo 5y ago

The usual reasoning behind this is to confirm the phone is properly functioning before opening it up. Lots of people try to scam repair shops bringing broken phones in. On top of that repairs can often break fingerprint scanner connections and depending on the screen type its good to check camera functionality after screen replacement.

dheera 5y ago
> confirm the phone is properly functioning They could have the user unlock the phone in front of them without revealing the code to confirm this.
- snuxoll 5y ago
  Of course they can, but that means having the user come in to unlock the device and potentially sending them home again if you have to do additional repairs after testing it with them. It’s all a balance of convenience vs privacy. Best solution is to wipe the device before repair, which is what I have done every time but it’s a hassle even when I have a backup to restore.
- caymanjim 5y ago
  In my case the screen didn't work at all. I couldn't backup the device, log out of any accounts, etc. I still wouldn't have given them the passcode if I could have done that, but if my only option were to backup and wipe the device before the repair, I would have reluctantly done that. In this case I had no way to secure the device at all, and I couldn't wipe it remotely because the only critical thing on it was my TOTP app (which I've since replaced with one I can sync/backup).

daniel_reetz 5y ago

Can confirm this, and they wouldn't accept my Samsung without it. I gave them a fake PIN and things went fine.