Robin Hood Shoots An Apple On A Genius's Head

Darcy Patko captured with repaired 3G

The contract on my TELUS supported iPhone 3G expires in April 2013. I have learned my lesson and I will not renew it or enter any other contract of any kind. I happen to use my iPhone principally as a phone and sometimes as a camera. As things wind down in the business of magazine photography I do not need instant communication except perhaps a phone with a panic button if the heart shows overtures of giving out.

What this means is that I will not upgrade but will definitely downgrade to an “el cheapo” or as I will explain below, I will keep my not quite state-of-the-art phone as it has an excellent alarm chime that wakes me up in the morning without stressing me out!

The problem with telephone contracts is that you are stuck and if your phone happens to be an Apple product then you are subjected to a double problem where TELUS will tell you to consult with Apple while Apple will tell you it is a TELUS problem.

My phone would not charge. The last time it did this I bought a new outlet connection. This time around I went to the Apple Store in Oakridge. You cannot enter without consulting one of their geniuses. This particular genius was new as he had to repeatedly consult another of his kind. We finally put the phone on a desk charger. It was not charging. It was not the cord. It had to be the inside connection.

The solution, I was told was one with two options. The phone could be repaired for about $175 (if it could be repaired I was warned) or I could by a brand new 3G (no mention of an upgrade at all) for $375. I simply call that the Apple Blackmail.

This had to be a job for the Robin Hood of iPhone repairs, Darcy Patko. I called him up and left a message on his machine telling him of the problem. He called me back and we made an appointment for 3 in the afternoon at the Cambie at Broadway Starbucks.

I was drinking a wonderful tall whipped cream macchiato when I spotted my friendly Robin Hood with his portable repair kit (an airline size wheeled carry on). He was wearing his trademark hat.

Patko sat down and opened his kit. The tools where arranged in an orderly fashion. Patko explained that Apple makes nothing. All parts are made in China. If stuff is made in China, extra parts (brand new ones) can be purchased by anybody. I noticed that my iPhone was mostly modular. Patko removed the corroded old one and slipped a new one. Five minutes later and only $50.00 poorer I was calling Rosemary to tell her the phone was fixed

Patko can be found here. Or phone 604-700-6049

If you look closely at the bottom of the picture you might note an iPhone 4 with a wood back. Patko has a brand new company that sells kits (only a screwdriver is needed) to replace the not shatter proof glass back with a made in Canada (yes!) wooden back.  Lumberback

Take that you geniuses! And going back home my day presented me with another pleasant surprise.