Thorough component-level diagnostics is real technical work. It takes time, equipment, and experience. A free 'quick look' doesn't produce a reliable answer and often leads to incorrect repairs or unjustified estimates. Charging for diagnostics is the honest approach: you pay for actual work and receive an actual answer.
We identify the nature and cause of the fault, assess the scope of work required, and determine parts availability and cost. The result is a clear picture: what's broken, what needs to be done, what it will cost — and whether it's worth proceeding.
Up to 7 business days. In complex cases — such as sourcing schematics, load testing, BIOS/EC work, donor boards, or rare components — this may take longer. We communicate any extension in advance.
The diagnostics fee is non-refundable, even if you decide not to proceed with the repair or if repair turns out to be impossible. The diagnostic work has been completed in full regardless of the outcome.
The cost of diagnostics is deducted from the total repair cost when the repair is performed at our lab.
Electronics don't always reveal all their problems at once. A device may be working while carrying damage that only becomes apparent under load, after disassembly, during diagnostics, or following partial restoration.
This is common with devices that have experienced liquid damage, drops, overheating, power surges, extended use, or previous repairs.
Devices with liquid damage are particularly unpredictable. Corrosion can progress silently, and damaged circuits may hold together until the moment they're touched. A device that arrives working may reveal hidden damage during diagnostics, cleaning, or repair.
FishmanLab is not responsible for hidden faults that existed prior to handover but became apparent during diagnostics or repair. We inform clients of these risks before starting work, so you can make an informed decision.
We treat the privacy of data stored on devices with care. That said, in cases of severe board damage, data preservation cannot be guaranteed. We recommend backing up all data before handing over the device.
