The tech repair industry stands at a critical crossroads. While consumer demand for repair services continues to grow, several significant barriers prevent our industry from reaching its full potential. At the Tech Care Association (TCA), we believe that by uniting our 1,700+ members and thousands more independent tech repair professionals across the nation, we can overcome these challenges and create a thriving ecosystem that benefits repair businesses, consumers, and the environment.
WHY THE TCA SHOULD LEAD THIS FIGHT
As the leading non-profit trade organization for tech care professionals, the TCA is uniquely positioned to champion this industry-wide movement. Our 501(c)(6) non-profit status means we’re not driven by shareholder demands or profit motives—our sole purpose is advancing the interests of our members and the broader tech care ecosystem. This structure allows us to focus entirely on advocacy, industry unification, and creating tangible benefits for repair professionals across all 50 states. Unlike for-profit entities, every resource we generate goes directly toward fighting for right to repair legislation, negotiating with tech giants, developing alternative supply chains, and creating new business opportunities for our members. By uniting under the TCA banner, repair professionals gain a powerful, mission-driven advocate whose success is measured not by profits, but by the prosperity of its members and the sustainability of the tech care industry.
It is important to note that we already partner with other likeminded organizations and seek to partner with any and every organization that is working to make the industry stronger.
Let’s examine the four most pressing issues facing our industry today—and how collective action through TCA can help us overcome them.
RIGHT TO REPAIR: Building on Recent Momentum
The right to repair movement has gained significant traction, with Washington State recently becoming the sixth state to pass comprehensive legislation—and the strongest to date. This landmark victory provides companies like yours with greater access to parts, tools, and documentation needed to repair their devices.
However, most of us still lack these basic rights. Major manufacturers continue to implement software locks, parts pairing, and other tactics that make repairs unnecessarily difficult and expensive. These restrictions affect 54.3% of repair shops according to our recent survey, limiting your ability to serve customers effectively.
By working together through TCA, we can amplify our collective voice in state legislatures across the country. Our growing membership gives us the legitimacy to testify before lawmakers, share real-world impact stories, and demonstrate how repair restrictions harm small businesses and consumers alike.
GOOGLE AD RESTRICTIONS: Following the Locksmith Playbook
Many repair shops struggle with Google’s restrictive advertising policies, which often treat legitimate repair businesses like potential scammers. This significantly impacts customer acquisition and drives business toward manufacturer-authorized options.
There’s a proven path forward. In 2017, locksmiths faced similar challenges but overcame them by working together as a formal industry organization. Through collective action, they established the “Local Services” certificate and “Advanced Verification” process, allowing legitimate businesses to prove their credibility through business licenses and proper documentation.
TCA is positioned to negotiate with Google on behalf of the entire tech repair industry. By establishing industry-wide standards and verification processes, we can help legitimate repair businesses regain visibility while protecting consumers from actual scammers. Our collective bargaining power is far stronger than any individual shop or agency could achieve alone.
TARIFFS: Navigating Rising Costs While Creating Opportunities
The recent tariff increases on imports from China (34-54%), Vietnam (46%), India (26%), and South Korea (25%) present significant challenges for our industry. These tariffs directly impact the cost of devices and repair parts, potentially forcing price increases that could deter customers.
However, this challenge also presents an opportunity. By working together through TCA, we can:
- Advocate for specific exemptions for repair parts, arguing that they support small businesses and extend device lifespans, reducing e-waste, and making our economy more resilient
- Push OEMs like Apple and Samsung to increase domestic manufacturing, creating more accessible supply chains
- Develop group purchasing power to negotiate better terms with suppliers
The data shows consumers are increasingly turning to repair rather than replacement as device prices rise. With historical pricing trends showing aftermarket components becoming more affordable as device models age, our industry is positioned to thrive despite these challenges—if we work together.
PARTS AVAILABILITY: Creating Alternative Supply Chains
Parts availability remains one of the most significant barriers to repair, with 48.1% of shops identifying it as the biggest threat to the industry in our recent survey. OEM restrictions, serialization, and error messages continue to limit access to quality components.
At GRE2025, the TCA announced an exciting new initiative by one of our partners to address this challenge head-on. By leveraging our collective purchasing power and industry connections, we’re working to establish alternative supply chains that provide reliable, high-quality parts at fair prices.
Additionally, as right-to-repair legislation continues to advance, we’re positioned to negotiate directly with manufacturers as a unified industry voice. Rather than thousands of individual shops facing these giants alone, the TCA represents a powerful coalition that can demand fair access to parts, tools, and documentation.
But only if we all work together!
United We Repair
BUILDING A COALITION FOR CHANGE
The challenges facing our industry are significant, but they’re not insurmountable. By uniting under the TCA banner, repair professionals gain strength in numbers and a powerful voice in shaping the future of our industry.
In the coming weeks, the TCA will be announcing several major initiatives to address these challenges directly. We’re building coalitions with environmental organizations, consumer advocacy groups, and other stakeholders who share our vision of a sustainable, accessible tech repair ecosystem.
Together, we can transform the tech repair landscape, ensuring that local repair shops thrive while providing consumers with the affordable, accessible repair options they deserve.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT TODAY
The time for action is now! As the challenges facing our industry intensify, so does our resolve to overcome them—together. The Tech Care Association invites your business to become an integral part of this growing movement by joining our 1,700+ members nationwide.
Whether you operate a repair shop that could help by becoming a CAPACITOR ($100/yr) level member, RESISTOR ($250/yr), or higher membership tiers, or maybe you are an industry partner that can strengthen our ecosystem by starting at the MANGANESE ($1,200/yr) level, the NICKEL ($5,000/yr), or maybe you want to go all in and become our first COBALT ($20,000/yr) level member, your participation directly empowers our collective voice. Every membership strengthens our ability to advocate for right to repair legislation, negotiate with tech giants, develop alternative supply chains, and create new business opportunities that benefit us all. Our recent survey shows that 92.3% of our members rely on repair work for the majority of their revenue—your livelihood is exactly what we’re fighting to protect and enhance. Don’t face these industry challenges alone. Visit our website today to select the membership tier that’s right for your business and join the thousands of tech care professionals who are proving that united, we repair not just devices, but an entire industry’s future.
