Consumer Advocacy Archives - Where to Repair

Is Phone Insurance Worth It? Stop Wasting Money in 2026

Baseball resting on an infield beside a smartphone in a stadium, illustrating the cost comparison between accidental phone damage and paying for phone insurance.

I used to own a chain of AT&T stores. The local VP pushed us to add insurance to every single activation. Here’s what the carriers don’t want you to know — and a simple twice-a-year strategy that could save you $200 or more.

Should I Repair or Replace My Phone? What Big Tech Doesn’t Want You to Know

Cracked smartphone on a repair workbench with tools beside it and the text “Repair or Replace? What Big Tech Doesn’t Tell You,” highlighting the choice between fixing a broken phone or buying a new one.

Before you upgrade, there’s a cost nobody talks about — the research spiral, the price shopping maze, the salesperson, the trade-in gap that quietly costs you hundreds. And the people selling you new devices are the last ones you should ask for advice. Here’s what the real decision actually looks like, and how to find someone you can trust.

Stop Paying for Phone Insurance. Here’s What Smart Consumers Do Instead.

Smiling consumer using a smartphone while working on a laptop at home, representing a smart alternative to paying for phone insurance.

The phone insurance industry collects $13.3 billion a year, and 65–80% of policyholders never file a single claim. Consumer Reports recommends most people skip it. We compared every carrier plan, ran the real cost math, and found 5 smarter strategies that protect your phone and keep hundreds of dollars in your pocket.

Reuse, Recycle & Join the Movement: Your Complete Guide to Responsible Tech Care

Community tech recycling event where diverse volunteers donate and sort used phones, laptops, and electronics into reuse and recycle bins as part of a responsible e-waste and device donation movement

Reuse, Recycle & Join the Movement: Your Complete Guide to Responsible Tech (2026) Part 3 of 3 – The Tech Care Pledge Series Published: February 9, 2026 | Reading time: 7 minutes Reuse, Recycle & Join the Movement: Your Complete Guide to Responsible Tech By Rob Link, Founder & CEO, Tech Care Association In PartContinue reading “Reuse, Recycle & Join the Movement: Your Complete Guide to Responsible Tech Care”

Big Tech Decides When Your Stuff Breaks. Right to Repair in 2026 Can Stop Them.

Smiling repair technician holding a smartphone in a repair shop, illustrating consumer frustration with Big Tech lock-ins and the impact of 2026 Right to Repair laws.

Big Tech Decides When Your Stuff Breaks. Right to Repair in 2026 Can Stop Them. Big Tech Decides When Your Stuff Breaks. Right to Repair in 2026 Can Stop Them. 🔧 The Affordability Crisis Has a Hidden Cause: Big Tech Before you pay $329 for a repair that costs $80 elsewhere—read this. Your FIRST callContinue reading “Big Tech Decides When Your Stuff Breaks. Right to Repair in 2026 Can Stop Them.”