Been in Kenya and South Africa and it's just like that, but most in Kenya.

Bart Bervoets
"Lee Babcock" wrote in message
...
Jim Land wrote:
Interesting web page about electronics repair in other cultures, such as
China and Africa:

http://www.janchipchase.com/repaircultures
A cellphone is small enough that you can open a repair shop with a
little knowledge and a little flat surface to work on. Need spare parts?
Cannibalize another cellphone.

Schematic? Service manual? It's easier to ask a friend about common
faults and repair techniques. (Hmmm. Come to think of it, that's what we
do here!)

Authorized repair station? Yes, they exist, but there are a lot more
independent technicians doing a lot more business on the streets.
Cheaper, quicker, more available.
Jim.... I live in Toronto, a very multi-cultural city and people here from
lesser developed countries will pay to get something fixed rather than
trow away and buy new.
We have lots of independent electronic repair shops here owned by people
from these countries and they seem to be flourishing. Shops are usually
very small, off the beaten track, and the techs are very good at their
work and often very creative in making repairs.
They always have bins of products that they cannibalize for parts.
Forget OEM or new parts, their goal is to make it work.
Interesting in that most of the long established main stream repair shops
are long gone.
Regards
Lee