PRE-ARRIVAL INSTRUCTIONS

Coming to an event? Please read this first!

Thanks for your interest in coming to a Tucson Repair Cafe event! To give your item the best chance of a successful fix, please follow the following steps:

​

​Step 1: Have one of these items? We recommend the professionals: ​

• Phones, tablets, laptops, and printers are very difficult for us to repair because they are usually locked behind company hardware and require proprietary tools to fix. 

  • Jewelry and watches are also hard for us to repair since we do not have jewelry solder or small watch part tools. 

  • Additionally, we do not have any parts on hand to fix things like broken screens or buttons. 

• For all of these items, we recommend a paid repair service!

• If you want us to look at your item anyway, we recommend finding and buying a repair kit from Amazon. Make sure it has a tutorial video! 

  • ​(Upset about this policy? Read up on the Right to Repair Act and learn about what you can do to make it easier for items to be repaired!) 

​

Step 2: Google your problem, find your item’s manual

• Check Google first to see what the issue might be.

• Try to find the product manual for your item, which helps us understand it. Have it pulled up on your phone for the event.

​

Step 3: Try and buy any needed parts 

• If you need a new screen (see #1) or need a new specific part installed, try and buy them beforehand so we can help you install it.

• Don’t know what to buy? Don’t worry, we can help you at an event so you can get the item and come back next time to install it! 

​

Step 4: Try these tried and true repair methods 

• While you wait for a second Saturday, we recommend: 

  • Turning your item on and off again: 

    • ​We’ve had multiple items arrive and they’re not broken! Sometimes this is all it needs. 

  • Cleaning your item:

    • ​Dusty DvD players, vacuums/Roombas with hair caught around a spinning part, we’ve seen a lot of items that just need a little bit of cleaning. For electronics, try canned air or 70% isopropyl alcohol to clean. 

  • Get excited!

​

Remember, we will always look at your item, although we can’t guarantee a fix. We’re happy to help you. 

See you at an event soon! See here for upcoming events.

​