Cracked Your Smartphone’s Screen?

7 Practical Things You Should Do After Cracking Your Smartphone’s Screen

Joshua Lockhart

Perhaps a runaway elephant stepped on your recently dropped phone in a parking lot adjacent to the local zoo. Maybe your crazy ex-girlfriend tracked you down, took your phone, and threw it off a bridge just so she could ask you, “Why aren’t you returning my calls?!” in person. Or, well, maybe you just accidentally cracked your phone’s screen in a normal fashion.

But unfortunately, the obvious solutions are out: you didn’t opt in for phone insurance, phone financing isn’t practical, and you never signed up for an “upgrade anytime” plan. What can you do?

Here are seven suggestions to help you out.

#7. Ask Around For Temps

For whatever reason, some people are under the impression that – immediately after cracking their phone’s screen – they must get a brand spanking new phone. People, we live in a very social (and at the same time, so very anti-social) age. Why not just ask if anybody still has an old phone laying around that they aren’t using?

In most cases, it’s as simple as changing over the SIM card (or in other cases, a certain activation process is required). While compensation is always nice to offer, you may find a good Samaritan willing to dish out a non-used phone for you to use, pro bono. So get to posting on Facebook, tweet it out, and send out millions of emails. You never know who will be willing to assist!

#6. Push Through

So let’s face it, people. Your phone screen is cracked – not completely and totally removed. Is the text legible? Does the screen still respond to your touch? Are you getting scratched each and every time you swipe through your messages? No?

Well, why not stick it out?

Let’s be real, it’s not the end of the world. It’s entirely possible to keep using it until your contract is up (especially if said contract ends in something like three months). Give it a shot and see if you can push through.

#5. Perform A DIY Repair

No, you don’t need a new phone. In fact, you can simply just replace the screen yourself. If you head on over to a site like iFixIt, where there are several tutorials to get you started (as well as the parts you need). Benefits of this solution include the affordability and – if you’re the type – a feeling of accomplishment. Cons, of course, include the chance that you might mess something up…

The tutorials on iFixit are incredibly visual with both thorough image-based guides and in-depth videos. If you’re up for a little DIY project, go for it.

#4. Hire Someone To Do The Repair

While you could take your phone to the official manufacturer – say, for instance, the Apple Store – you’re going to pay through your nose. If you take a look atApple’s repair fees, you’ll see that they are pretty darn pricey if you’re out-of-warranty.

Little phone repair shops are popping up everywhere, and an easy Google search is bound to guide you to one. Then again, chain shops like RadioShack (yes, they are still in business) offer their own service which actually starts at $59.99. The point is that phone screen repair exists, and it’s also somewhat affordable.

#3. Trade-in Or Sell Your Broken Phone

Even thought your phone has a screen that has been completely destroyed, this doesn’t mean you can’t sell it. Many vendors like Glyde, Gazelle, and Gizmogul will buy your phone for a small fee. While it always varies, chances are you aren’t going to make much of a profit. However, the idea is to use that cash towards a replacement phone so that you can get it at a lower price.

It’s going to be easier for these companies to repair these phones since they likely have staffers and replacement parts in bulk, so they can spend less on the repair. This allows them to buy your broken phone for a lower price, fix it at low cost, and flip it for a marginal profit. Easy stuff.

#2. Scout Around eBay and Amazon

Yep, you may find a cheaper, older version of your phone on these sites – just pay attention to what you’re buying. Is it working? Does it actually have a functioning screen? (Wouldn’t that be funny…)

You may even be able to find something on Craigslist, but we understand how shady that can occasionally be. This is merely a reminder to look in the more obvious places for replacement phones, too.

#1. Just Buy A New One

Sometimes the most blatant answer is never given: just buy a new phone. Sometimes it’s good to splurge on yourself. Furthermore, the cost of a replacement phone plus the eventual new one you will get is actually more than just buying a new one right out the gate. Just keep long-term investments in mind.

What other solutions do you have for a cracked phone screen? What did you do the last time you cracked your screen?

Image Credit: hugovk Source: www.makeuseof.com