It’s really simple: Add your repair evaluation to the shopping cart and check out. The email you receive will have a link to a page on our site that explains how to package it up and where to ship it. Whether you decide to make your own shipping arrangements, or elect to have us email you a shipping label, we will contact you via email to let you know when your device arrives at our facility. Shortly afterwards, one of our trained technicians will evaluate your device, and contact you to discuss the necessary repairs. You are never obligated to proceed with any repairs until we discuss them with you. If you approve the work, we will charge the same credit card or debit card used at checkout (less the evaluation fee you already paid!), perform the repairs, test out the device, and ship it back to you, usually within two or three business days, if not faster. If you decline the repairs, we will package up your device and ship it back to you un-repaired. During checkout, the shipping method you select will be for that last leg of shipping from us back to you.
Here's a more detailed look at the process:
Step 1: Device is Damaged
You go to use your IPOD or IPHONE and it doesn’t turn on, or you have dropped it and it’s quite evident what’s happened. Or perhaps it’s something in between! No matter. Regardless of the issues plaguing your device, we have the expertise in-house to repair it quickly, or we can evaluate it to let you know what repairs are needed. We have been in business for almost five years now, and we are the experts in IPOD and IPHONE repairs!
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Step 2: Order is Placed
Place your order on our secure website, or give us a call during normal business hours and we can take your order. An order must be placed BEFORE you send your device to us. When entering your order, be sure to include a working phone number so that we can contact you to discuss your device after we receive it, and include very detailed notes about the issue(s) you are experiencing in the ‘Comments’ field.
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Milliamp LTD – (Order Number)
5890 De Zavala Road Suite 107
San Antonio, TX 78249
Instructions for how to package up your device and ship it safely can be found here. We receive up to 100 devices per day, so it is critical that a printout of your order confirmation be included inside, and the order number is written on the outside of your packaging. This helps us match up your device to our records. After your device is removed from its’ packaging, we test it out, make a note of any issues, and send an email to let you know that your device has been received.
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Step 4: Device Evaluated
After your device is received, it is evaluated by one of our technicians. Even if you are sending your device in for a specific, known repair (e.g. new battery, replace screen, etc.), our technicians will check everything they can on your device, and we will bring any findings to your attention. After we evaluate a device, we will send you an email to give us a call so that we can discuss the findings in detail.
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Step 5: Repairs Approved or Declined
If your device is sent in for an evaluation, or you have prepaid for a repair and we find another issue, we do not proceed with any repairs until we receive your authorization to do so. We also do not keep your entire credit card information on file, so at the time of authorization, your payment details will be collected. If you decline repairs, you may actually receive a credit, and your device will be carefully re-assembled and moved to our shipping department and be returned.
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Step 6: Card Charged
If your device is sent in for an evaluation, and you have approved repairs, your credit card or debit card will be charged right before we conduct the repairs that you authorized. It may take a day or two for the charge to appear on your statement.
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Step 7: Device Repaired
A qualified, trained technician who is familiar with your model will be conduct the necessary repairs on your device. Devices are prioritized based on the date the repairs are approved, and then by date received.
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Step 8: Device Tested
After your device has been repaired, it is moved into our Quality Control phase, where everything that can be checked on your device will be checked. If for some reason your device fails testing, it will be sent back to the technician who performed the repairs for another look. No one else puts as much emphasis on testing at this stage of the process as we do, and we want your repaired device to be returned to you in perfect working order.
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Step 9: Device Shipped
Once your device has passed all of our tests, it is carefully packaged up and sent back to the same shipping address you provided to us, via the method of shipping you are asked to select when you place your order. We strongly recommend using a shipping method like UPS or FedEx so that you will receive a tracking number via email and can follow the shipment.
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Please do not let the multiple steps above confuse or scare you! We work with customers from all over the planet, day in and day out, thousands and thousands of times each year, and we have the repair/evaluation process perfected. We are a legitimate, hard-working, honest company with only your best interests in mind, and we hope to see your order and device soon!
Devices are usually evaluated within a few business days after they arrive, as we work on a first come, first serve basis, and the customer is contact shortly thereafter to discuss the repairs. Once a repair is approved, the repair is conducted that same day or usually the next business day. We like to be extra-vigilant and test the device overnight, and prepare to ship out that next business day. We have found that the most time is spent waiting for shipping or waiting for repair approval. If these two things go right, the repair process can be completed very quickly.
With your permission, we can simply charge the same credit card that you provided to us when your order was first placed. If you have another credit card that you would like to use, just let us know and we can charge a different card. A customer is never charged for repairs until we have received authorization from you to do so. You have our word on that.
If you decide that you do not want to have your device repaired, just let us know, and we will return the device back to you using the same shipping method you selected at checkout. We do keep the initial evaluation charge in this situation, to cover the labor spent to evaluate your device. You are never obligated to proceed with a repair.
We have a state of the art facility and walk-in location in San Antonio, Texas. But if you don’t live near us, do not be discouraged: we receive hundreds of devices each week from all over the United States, and from all over the world. The fast turnaround and dedication to perfection that we provide far outweighs the minor effort it takes to get your device to us.
Our repairs and parts are guaranteed for one full year from the date of purchase, excluding batteries, which we guarantee for ten years from the date of purchase.
We have found that the large majority of the iPod and iPhone parts that are being sold online range from inferior to worthless. We only install our own parts so that we can stand behind the quality of our repairs.
In some cases, yes. Battery replacements for many of the iPod models can be safely done using one of our battery replacement kits. However, more recent Apple devices like the iPod nano, iPod touch, and iPhone have batteries that are soldered in and/or are very difficult to open without breaking. More complex repairs such as LCDs, outer glass screens/digitizers, hard drives, scroll wheels, headphone jacks, etc. are best left to our experienced technicians to perform.
We suggest that you carefully check over your device before you package it. Make a note (or pictures) of any cuts, nicks, smudges, dents, dings, scratches, or damage that may or may not be obvious. The more that you can keep the device from shifting around inside the packaging during transit, the greater the chance it will show up here without additional damage. Once the device is in our hands, we take great care to prevent scratches and other damage while the device moves from one stage to the next (including the final step when we package it up and send it back to you), but it always helps if you have a good picture of its overall condition before sending it to us.
What do you do with my defective/damaged parts?
After we perform a repair, we toss the damaged part into a bin for proper disposal. However, we realize that some customers want to have the damaged part back, and we will be happy to do that, just let us know in the ‘Comments’ field during checkout.
If you are planning to send us your device (using your own shipping method [Option 2] or a pre-paid return shipping label that we will email to you [Option 3 or 4]), please find our shipping address below, as well as some simple instructions for packaging up your device so that it arrives at our location safely:
1. Backup (synchronize) your music and/or data with on your device with your computer. In most cases, you will not lose any music and/or data during the battery replacement process or evaluation, but we recommend a backup just in case.
2. If possible, charge up your device fully.
3. If you are sending an iPhone or an iPod touch, either disable or provide us with your 4 digit passcode.
4. If you are sending us an iPhone 3G or 3GS, please remove the SIM card from your phone and do not send it with your package. If you are sending us a 1st Generation iPhone, we do recommend that you include your SIM card and leave your phone activated, as this greatly increases the number of functions we can test with your device when it is here.
6. Slide the power switch to the ‘Off/Hold’ position and place a small piece of masking tape (don’t use Scotch or duct tape, which can mar the surface) over it to prevent the device from turning on during transport.
7. Remove all covers, cases, clips, ear buds, headphones, etc. from your device and place your iPod or iPhone only into an anti-static bag (preferably) or a sandwich bag and seal shut to protect the device from any moisture or water damage.
8. Please take the time to package up your device so that it arrives safely. Do not place it in regular mailing envelope or it will break free (and it is not pretty). Surround your iPod or iPhone with several layers of foam or bubble-wrap (no shipping peanuts, please!) and enclose in a sturdy (200-pound test is strongly recommended) cardboard box. Please do not place your device in a soft-sided envelope or mailer or your device will arrive damaged!
9. Enclose a print-out of the Order Confirmation that was emailed to you after checkout inside the box and seal with shipping tape. If you want to receive your old battery back after a battery replacement has been completed, please let us know on this sheet of paper. By default, we will properly dispose of your old battery unless you indicate that you want it sent back with your device.
10. If you have the time, we’d greatly appreciate an email to service@milliamp.com letting us know (1) when you shipped your device, (2) what carrier (e.g. USPS, FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc.) you used and (3) if applicable, the inbound tracking number of your shipment.
11. Place a shipping label on your package and send to:
Milliamp LTD – XXXXX (where ‘XXXXX’ is your order number)
5890 De Zavala Road Suite 107
San Antonio, TX 78249
800-809-8133 (Toll-Free)
210-568-7473 (Local and International)
Note 1: Please use our official company name, Milliamp LTD, on the shipping label – we don’t want anyone else to know that there is a valuable iPod or iPhone inside the box!
Note 2: Please do not ship your iPod or iPhone in the original box that it came in. We hardly ever use the same box that your device arrives in for the return leg, so please keep this in mind when you choose your packaging.
Note 3: If you select Option 3 or 4 and want to have us email you a return shipping label, please be aware that (1) it may take up to 24 hours for this return shipping label to be emailed to you after your order is placed, and (2) you must open and print out your return shipping label within ten days after you receive it, or the label will no longer be active.
Note 4: If the link to your UPS label doesn't work, look for %3d near the end of the url and replace it with an equal sign =.
Once your package arrives in our shop you will receive an email from us letting you know that your device has been checked into our system and added to the queue to be evaluated by our techs. You can expect this email by the close of business on the same day the shipping service shows your package as delivered, we receive a large number of packages and as soon as yours has been opened and checked in you will hear from us.
The sooner you ship us your device, the sooner we can perform the requested service and get you jamming again! We typically can work with your device within a few days after it is received and then contact you with an update immediately afterwards. We will ship it back to you on the next business day after it passes rigorous testing using the shipping method that you selected during check-out.
No need to waste money and choose 'First Delivery' when sending us your device so that your package arrives at the crack of dawn. This approach does not get a device checked into our shop much faster than any other package that arrives on that same day because, in the event that we are not yet open when the carrier makes that early morning delivery attempt, they will re-deliver your item along with the group of other packages that are sent to us on a daily basis.
If you are sending us a device, and also ordered a kit or other accessories, these additional items will ship back along with your device, unless you request otherwise.
Milliamp LTD will make at least two attempts to contact you by email or telephone if we have not received guidance from you on how you wish to proceed with any needed repairs. Devices that are left at our facility for more than 90 days from the day they were received will be automatically recycled, and they will not be sent back to you.
If you have any questions about the status of your device, please contact us at 800-260-6896 or send an email to service@milliamp.com.
