Consumer Advice

A lot of devices are digital, and their functionality is achieved through software.

They consist of one or two computer chips, some interface hardware and a power source, which is a battery for portable devices.

The computer chips are often application specific and may change from one production run to the next. The software changes as well.

To replace an electronic chip, requires unsoldering dozens of tiny leads in a circuit board which may be multilayered. and requires specialized and expensive equipment plus considerable skill.

Bottom line: It is uneconomical to repair a lot of todays electronic equipment. What they most likely do is send you a "refurbished" unit which is someone's recycled cell phone with a new, easily replaced part, such as the battery.

No one in their right mind would try to repair a cell phone.