IQOS Repair Available in China as Geek Repair Enters the Device Service Market
On June 21, Geek Repair, a leading online maintenance platform in China, announced its online IQOS electronic cigarette device repair service, officially entering the electronic cigarette repair industry. It is reported that the IQOS maintenance technology was independently developed by Geek's Telecom Intelligent Research Institute in the UK, aiming to solve the common issues of IQOS smokers, such as heating stick detachment and charging failures. Currently, Geek is the first service platform in China to provide IQOS device maintenance.
According to reports, IQOS is known as the "iPhone" in the electronic cigarette industry and is a product of Philip Morris International, the world's largest tobacco company. It has invested over $3 billion in research and development, resulting from the efforts of more than 400 scientists and industry experts. This device can reduce harmful substances produced by traditional smoking methods by 90% without affecting indoor air quality. With continuous upgrades, IQOS has an increasing number of clusters. According to Philip Morris's 2017 annual report, the number of IQOS users increased from 1.4 million in 2016 to over 4.7 million in 2017, a growth of over 235.7%. In November 2018, the price of the new IQOS 3.0 electronic cigarette also rose to a high of 120,000 yen. Today, the IQOS craze has spread from across the ocean to China.
Most smokers in China are familiar with IQOS, especially the younger generation in the new wave. Currently, most IQOS electronic cigarettes come from abroad, and maintenance and after-sales issues require complex procedures. It is against this backdrop that the demand for maintenance of IQOS electronic cigarette devices has arisen.
After a long period of observation, Geek recognized the global trend of IQOS. They began researching electronic cigarette device maintenance technology, with IQOS being the latest research achievement of Geek's BAT Intelligent Research Institute. Geek Repair technology experts stated that although IQOS is well-made, it is prone to issues such as heating chip breakage, tar infiltration causing flashing lights, and extended battery life after long-term use. However, with professional maintenance technology, most IQOS devices can be well repaired.
With IQOS costing thousands of yuan and reaching users after a long journey, encountering unknown faults without reliable maintenance and after-sales support can quickly lead to a loss of value, wasting users' money. However, with the safety endorsement of Geek Repair's maintenance brand, users now have a safe repair channel to choose from. Currently, Geek Repair has launched IQOS maintenance services in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, and users in other cities can also opt for mail-in repairs. Prices are generally reasonable and affordable.
According to data from IT Juzi, as of June 2019, there have been 14 financing events for electronic cigarette companies in China, with a total financing amount of approximately 574 million yuan. With the influx of capital, the electronic cigarette market is becoming increasingly hot. Additionally, the National Standard Information Public Service Platform shows that the mandatory national standard for "electronic cigarettes" has been reviewed and is expected to be released this year. With the government's issuance of relevant regulations for the electronic cigarette industry, electronic cigarettes will move towards normalization. Multiple favorable factors from capital and policy are drawing attention to the electronic cigarette industry. "The future of the electronic cigarette industry looks promising, and we hope to provide professional services as an after-sales guarantee for users," said the market research head of Geek Repair.
It is understood that Geek Repair is a well-known internet repair platform in China, with on-site mobile phone repair as its core business, along with various services such as smart device repair, laptop repair, and on-site installation, boasting deep experience and a solid foundation in the repair industry. IQOS serves as Geek Repair's entry point into the electronic cigarette repair market, and as their research scope continues to expand, Geek Repair will gradually launch maintenance services for more electronic cigarette device brands.
