Meet Brandon Ngai of Simi iPhone Repair in Simi Valley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Ngai.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I fixed my first iPhone when I was 16. A family friend gave me a broken iPhone 3G that was damaged and wouldn’t turn on. My parents wouldn’t get me an iPhone at the time, so my incentive was to fix it up and use it myself. I was able to do so, and unbeknownst to my parents I activated the phone on a T-Mobile prepaid plan, which at the time required quite extensive software manipulation because the iPhone was only available on AT&T. A few months later when they found out, the device was confiscated and I was subsequently grounded!

It wasn’t until a couple years later I got the idea to start a mobile phone repair service. Back in high school I had built a few websites and the idea came into my head to create a website for a mobile phone repair business and see if I would get any calls. I posted a few ads on craigslist, and created a Yelp and Google business page, along with the website. I started getting a few calls every week, and this escalated to a few calls a day. Now, anywhere from 5-10 iPhones come in on a good day. The record is 15 devices in one day!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Most businesses experience growing pains, and I think that’s happening for me right now. It’s been one of the slowest quarters since I first started the business. Repairs have slowed down, and new competition have moved into town. Although business isn’t nearly as good on the repair side of things, it’s taught me how to adapt and find other revenue streams. I think the cause of a failing business or even just failing financially is due to a lack of diversity. You cannot expect the same venture/enterprise to be profitable all of the time. Although repairs are a portion of what I do, I am also involved in buying/selling phones and tablets as well as an ecommerce business selling repair parts.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I specialize in everything from broken screens, to battery replacements, charging port repair, home button repair, antenna repair, and much more. Pretty much everything that can break in your iPhone I can fix. There are a few aspects of my business that set me apart from everybody else in the industry. I use original parts and offer lifetime warranty on all of my repairs. As far as I know, all the other repair shops in the area use aftermarket (non original) parts which are low quality knockoffs of the originals. Most shops only offer 30-90 day warranty on their work, but I guarantee mine for however long you use the device. I’m able to do so because original parts don’t fail like aftermarkets do. Another thing that sets my business apart is being mobile. I travel to the customer’s work, house, or I can even work out of my vehicle. This makes the repair experience much less troublesome for the customer, and most repairs can be done in 30 minutes or less! I think I’m most proud of the customer base I’ve acquired. I have customers that have been with me since their iPhone 4’s. I’ve gotten to know my repeat customers (or frequent fliers I like to call them), and being in such a small town I see everybody around.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up I was shy and didn’t talk too much. I still am. Business has taught me how to deal with people and it reminds me how important good communication skills are. I will never be an outgoing person, but effective communication and a smile on your face can go a long way in business and in life.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://iphonefixsimi.com/
• Phone: 805-501-8037
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Simi-iPhone-Repair-717197591725776/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/simi-iphone-repair-simi-valley-6

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