Apple won't buy your smashed old iPhone, but iCracked (YC W12) will— and they'll pick it up from you too

by Y Combinator9/9/2013

Apple is expected to announce iPhones this week, and some people are already lining up to get them.

The mania surrounding the anticipated iPhone 5S and 5C will prompt many to upgrade their phones, but what if yours is in less than pristine condition? As in, smashed in a thousand pieces?

No worries. A California startup called iCracked can fix it on the spot for you. And now it’s launching a full-scale buyback service for older Apple devices.

iCracked began as a casual college repair service but now has a network of hundreds of repair technicians called iTechs who make house calls. They can meet you and revive your busted-up iPhone, iPod, or iPad, even if it’s in shockingly bad shape. They can also buy your device.

“We think buyback is going to be the biggest part of our business,” iCracked co-founder Anthony Martin tells CNET. “Out ultimate goal is to manage the complete life cycle of your device.”

iCracked has licensed affiliate technicians in the US and 10 other countries. They undergo intensive training before they can be summoned for on-the-spot repairs, which typically take 10 to 30 minutes and cost anywhere from $70 to $170. Starting next week in the San Francisco Bay Area, they will offer in-person buyback services too.

In an increasingly crowded marketplace for used devices, that’s a convenient way to sell your old iPhone. But iCracked is also hoping to offer protection plans for about $6 a month with a $20 deductible.

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  • Y Combinator

    Y Combinator created a new model for funding early stage startups. Twice a year we invest a small amount of money ($150k) in a large number of startups (recently 200). The startups move to Silicon