WJD Repairs: growing across borders with a hands-on repair approach

The company’s growth reflects the rapid transformation of the European secondary mobile market. Through strategic moves like launching an Irish base post-Brexit and committing to in-house, high-precision repairs such as iPhone reglassing, WJD Repairs has carved a niche where many competitors see only limitations.

WJD Repairs operates full-service centers in both Ireland and the UK, with independent business units focused on technical repairs and device sourcing. The company supports a wide range of partners, including insurers, trade-in operators, marketplaces, and distributors, who depend on quality, traceability, and consistency throughout the device lifecycle. SecondaryMarket.news sat down with founder William Dalingwater for an in-depth discussion on how WJD Repairs was built, what makes it different, and where the company is heading next.

Company background and core activities

SecondaryMarket.news: William, let’s start at the beginning. How did WJD Repairs come to life, and how has it evolved into the company it is today?

William Dalingwater: I started WJD Repairs back in 2015. It was just me, buying faulty PlayStations, fixing them, and flipping them on eBay. That early experience taught me a lot about online resale, repair workflows, and margins. Eventually, I shifted to mobile phones, initially still through eBay, before leasing my first warehouse and opening two retail shops.

These shops were mainly for local repairs: schools, small businesses, and walk-in customers. The real turning point came when I discovered a niche in buying lower-grade phones and tablets from trade-in operators. These devices were often written off as faulty. We’d repair and upgrade them and then resell them wholesale or online, especially into Europe.

Post-Brexit, things got complicated, so I made the decision to open a new company in Dublin to keep access to the EU market. Now, the UK business focuses on specialist B2B repairs, and the Irish side handles sourcing devices directly from consumers and trade-in partners, managing programs and reselling to insurers and retailers. Both companies are now fully operational with their own teams, but they share a common foundation: transparency, traceability, and quality.

Workforce and operational scale

SecondaryMarket.news: Can you share more about the current size and structure of your teams across the UK and Ireland?

William Dalingwater:

Both in Ireland and the UK, we operate with dedicated, locally managed teams, each focused on either technical services or device sourcing and sales. This structure gives us the agility and resources to support major clients, adapt quickly to changing demand, and deliver responsive, high-quality service in both regions.

Our staff include experienced repair technicians, quality control specialists, customer service reps, warehouse professionals, sales and account managers, finance, and operations managers. Everyone is employed locally in both countries, ensuring we stay fully compliant and build strong relationships with our clients.

Our structure is flexible, allowing us to rapidly scale up during peak periods or for large projects. Training is a core part of our culture, especially for our technical team. We run comprehensive in-house training and frequent quality audits to maintain consistency and drive continual improvement.

European expansion strategy

SecondaryMarket.news: With a base in the UK and now Ireland, what are your broader plans for growth across Europe?

William Dalingwater: Opening in Dublin was a strategic response to Brexit, but it’s now a powerful driver of growth. We’ve expanded to two buildings there and built a full in-house repair team.

We’re also managing trade-in programs not just in Ireland, but for partners across mainland Europe. We’re investing in logistics and warehousing infrastructure to streamline cross-border movement of devices. There’s serious demand for partners who can offer compliant, traceable, and fast service.

Right now, we’re actively exploring new operational hubs. Germany and France are at the top of our list. It’s about serving clients faster, more locally, and with fewer shipping complications. Our marketing and ops strategies are tailored for each region, and we always operate with full traceability and local compliance.

Competitive differentiation in the market

SecondaryMarket.news: The secondary mobile repair space is highly competitive. What sets WJD Repairs apart?

William Dalingwater: We keep everything in-house, including advanced services like reglassing. This means our partners benefit from top-tier quality and cost control, with no need to manage multiple suppliers. Our flexibility is another strength. Many companies reject complex or lower-grade stock. We actively seek it out. We turn around devices fast, typically 24 to 48 hours and stick to strict service-level agreements.

Each client gets a dedicated account manager and direct, honest communication. No smoke and mirrors. We’re crystal clear on what a device can and can’t do, and our grading is spot-on. Our clients trust us because they know there are no surprises.

Also, our leadership team has hands-on experience at every stage: from buying and repairing to packing and selling. That insight helps us offer genuinely practical, real-world solutions.

OEM authorizations and compliance

SecondaryMarket.news: Do you hold any OEM authorisations, and how do you approach compliance in your services?

William Dalingwater: We don’t currently have OEM certifications. A lot of the repairs we do, like reglassing, simply aren’t supported by OEMs. That said, consumer attitudes have shifted. Refurbished is no longer seen as second-rate. It’s normal.

We’re big supporters of right-to-repair. Most high-quality third-party parts today are as good as OEM. Insurance firms especially want cost-effective, reliable repairs, and they often prefer refurbished parts over costly OEM-only options.

We still follow OEM specs and use the same machines and tools that OEM providers use when available. Our Irish business is fully compliant across all EU countries for WEEE, battery compliance, and eco-fees. For us, trust comes from transparency and consistent performance, not necessarily an OEM badge.

Ensuring consistent quality standards

SecondaryMarket.news: How do you maintain consistent quality across repairs, especially for sensitive tasks like screen refurbishment?

William Dalingwater: It starts with training. Every technician goes through structured hands-on training and regular refreshers. We have standardised checklists for every repair and multiple quality control stages from visual inspection to functionality tests, data wipes, and cosmetic grading.

We use the same specialist machines used by OEM-authorised repairers. Repairs follow OEM manuals wherever applicable. We also conduct random spot checks and keep photographic records of all repairs for full traceability.

Parts come only from vetted suppliers. It’s a mix of the right people, the right tools, and strict processes that keeps our quality consistent.

Typical customer profile and relationships

SecondaryMarket.news: Who is your typical customer and what makes them stick with WJD Repairs?

William Dalingwater: Our clients include insurers, trade-in operators, marketplace sellers, corporate buyback programs, and large retailers.

What makes us different is how closely we integrate with their operations. We take time to understand how they work and tailor our service accordingly. That could mean custom workflows, repair cycles, or even packing requirements.

Our whole team, including me, has real experience with every stage of a device’s lifecycle. That empathy helps us offer smarter solutions. Clients stay with us because we’re reliable, honest, and willing to work with devices others won’t touch.

Advanced Apple iPhone screen repairs

SecondaryMarket.news: Tell us about your Apple iPhone reglassing service. What does the process involve?

William Dalingwater: Reglassing means we remove the broken glass from an original iPhone display and replace it with new glass, without touching the underlying display panel. This preserves display quality, brightness, and touch functionality.

It’s not a patch job. It requires specialised equipment, dust-free rooms, and experienced technicians. But it delivers OEM-level results at a fraction of the price.

Trade-in operators and insurers love it. They get a like-new result that’s far more cost-effective than replacing the whole screen. Plus, it’s sustainable: we’re reducing waste by keeping original components intact.

Manual versus machine-based repairs

SecondaryMarket.news: You’ve chosen not to fully automate reglassing. Why?

William Dalingwater: Automation has its place, but nothing beats a trained technician’s eye. We use a production-line model, where each technician handles a specific step. That specialisation creates consistency without sacrificing human judgement.

Some issues, like glass separation or adhesive bubbles, are just better caught manually. Our failure rates are lower because of this hands-on approach.

Automation can miss subtle things or react the wrong way to anomalies. It’s good for high volumes, but if you remove the human element completely, you open yourself up to quality risks.

Turnaround time and pricing sensitivity

SecondaryMarket.news: How quickly can you turn around a typical screen repair, and how does the cost compare?

William Dalingwater: For screen repairs, we average 24–48 hours. Bulk batches, say 50 to 500 units, are usually processed within a week.

In terms of cost, our reglassing services are up to 60% cheaper than full screen replacements. That’s a huge saving, especially for price-sensitive partners like insurers or marketplace resellers who operate on tight margins.

We offer flexible pricing models to help clients balance speed, quality, and cost.

Reglassing versus polishing and buffing

SecondaryMarket.news: Why do you choose reglassing over polishing or buffing screens?

William Dalingwater: Polishing thins the glass and can introduce structural risks. It also exposes devices to liquids, which even with UV glue and molds, introduces contamination risk.

Reglassing, on the other hand, fully restores the screen. You remove the damaged part and replace it entirely. That means integrity, brightness, and touch are preserved. It’s more consistent and delivers a better, longer-lasting result.

Apple-only screen repair focus

SecondaryMarket.news: Your reglassing is Apple-only right now. Any plans to expand?

William Dalingwater: Yes, we started with Apple iPhones and have since added tablets and watches. The real challenge was scaling the process while maintaining quality.

We’re now piloting reglassing for other brands with select partners. Once we’re confident in the process and scalability, we’ll roll it out more widely.

We adapt fast to new models, which helps us stay ahead of the curve.

Balancing service and wholesale units

SecondaryMarket.news: How do your service and wholesale units work together?

William Dalingwater: The UK side, repairs and technical services, focuses on high-quality repairs for other companies. The Irish side, sourcing and wholesale, buys devices and sells them across Europe.

Together, they let us adapt quickly to market changes. For example, if the wholesale market softens, we can focus on repair services. It keeps our overall operation balanced and resilient.

Grading and refurbishment in wholesale sales

SecondaryMarket.news: Do you sell devices as-is or refurbish everything?

William Dalingwater: Both. Every device is assessed. If it’s got minor faults, we repair it. If it’s cosmetically clean and functional, we might sell it as-is. Heavily damaged devices are stripped for parts internally.

This helps us extract maximum value from every unit while keeping waste to a minimum.

Future vision for WJD Repairs

SecondaryMarket.news: What’s your long-term vision for the company?

William Dalingwater: Refurbished is becoming the norm. Consumers are open to it, and there’s real policy momentum behind repairability across Europe.

My goal is for WJD Repairs to become the go-to name in Europe for high-volume repairs, recommerce, and trade-in. We want to set up more operational hubs across the EU, especially in Germany and France.

But it’s not just about growing. It’s about doing it right: compliance, sustainability, and transparency are non-negotiable. I want us to be the company that not only keeps up but leads.