Google itself will now repair your broken Pixel or Pixel 2, but it’ll cost you

• The Google Store has opened a 'Repair Center' so users can mail in their broken Pixel and Pixel 2 handsets for repairs.
• The service can take roughly seven to 10 business days, and repairs can cost a decent amount of money.
• Google also provides a list of various troubleshooting tips to help you fix problems on your own.

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Since the release of the original Pixel, Google has partnered with uBreakiFix repair shops to fix broken handsets. But starting today, the Google Store opened up its own "Repair Center" for customers to mail in their damaged Pixel and Pixel 2 handsets to be fixed.

The Google Store's Repair Center is currently available for all U.S.-based customers who need work done on a Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, or Pixel 2 XL that is out of warranty. The Repair Center will very likely grow to include the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL when they're announced on October 9.

The process for mailing back your device is pretty straightforward. First, you verify that the broken handset is a Pixel or Pixel 2 by inputting the phone's IMEI or serial number. After you confirm your exact model, you can select what type of damage you would like repaired.

You can find all of the various options in the screenshot below:

Once you've selected everything that applies, you can choose to either mail the device to Google using with your own shipping container, wait several days for the company to send you shipping supplies, or decide to take the phone into a third-party shop.

After agreeing to the Repair Center's various terms, you will be given a repair cost estimate. This will vary depending on what's wrong with your phone, but a simple cracked screen will run you more than $200. 

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One thing to note is that if you do plan to mail in your smartphone for repair, Google will completely wipe the handset before it performs any maintenance on the device. So before you send it in, make sure you back up your Pixel and any important data. It's also important to know that the repair process will take Google at least seven to 10 business days once you've mailed the company your Pixel.

But before you go through any of the above steps, you should check Google's various troubleshooting guides found at the bottom of the Repair Center website. If you can find a solution to a problem that you're having, it'll save you a couple hundred dollars and almost half a month without your smartphone.

What do you think about Google opening up its own repair centers? Is this what the company needs to stay competitive with what Samsung and Apple which both offer repair services? Let us know in the comment section below.

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