There’s no reason to throw away a broken phone anymore, with the addition of the new Fix-A-Phone store in Austin.

Fix-A-Phone, 111 Fourth Ave. NE., is a cell phone repair shop that can fix almost anything from cracked screens to software problems, says owner Julie Matter.

“We can fix almost anything unless the frame is broken or bent,” Matter said.

The store had a soft opening on April 4 and their most popular fixes have been cracked screens, earpiece, speaker and camera replacements.

Matter added the shop can fix phones with bent frames, but the phone may or may not work right because the “frame is what really stabilizes the phone and keeps everything in its place.”

To repair the phones, manufacturer, or OEM, parts are ordered from an intermediate dealer, which are top-of-the-line, Matter said. The fix is guaranteed for six months afterward.

It takes about one to two hours to repair most fixes, Matter said, though it largely depends on the parts and difficulty of the fix. If the parts need to be ordered, it might take a little bit longer.

“The standard Galaxy and iPhones can be within two days, usually depending on what time we order them,” Matter said. “[We] make sure we order the exact colors and everything and exact right parts.”

She added people love the fact they can come in and their phones are fixed within an hour or that one of their technicians, Al Stewart, is able to fix the phone without losing data and information.

Fix-A-Phone is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays by appointment. They are also looking at adding Saturday hours in June, perhaps 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Matter said.

“We’ve had truck drivers have issues and they get Al on Facebook and he’s come in and fixed their phones for them,” Matter said.

But it’s not just Austin. Matter says the store is competitive with other repair stores around the region. Matter said an average base price could be about $150, but it depends on the model and how much the parts cost.

For example, older phones such as an iPhone 5, 5C or 5S will be cheaper to fix, but newer phones like an iPhone 6S, will be more costly. Matter said there’s usually more supply and demand for iPhones because of their popularity.

“I hope it takes off and becomes profitable so we can keep a locally owned store in the area for fixes,” Matter said.

Matter works at the store as often as she can and has other staff members working there when it’s open. Her two brothers, Phil and Randy, her nephew Josh and his friend Al work at the store.

Matter previously managed a Verizon store and attributes her “old school” style of helping people to her previous work experience.

“We had a huge following because we spent a lot of time helping customers and making sure they were happy,” Matter said. “I truly believe in taking care of my customer.”

She added she spent a lot of time helping customers learn their phones and figuring out how to save money on their monthly bills, which she is also able to do at her new store, as they sell other products such as DirecTV, Dish Network, Century Link Internet and home phone, Anovia credit card services, and Vivint Home Security Systems.

“I can do it with different home services and since I have cell phone background I can tell them, ‘No, if you do this and this, you can save some money,’ and that’s what it’s all about these days for everybody because we’re all budget conscious,” Matter said.

They also have accessories like phone cases and glass screens, which is another line of defense for protecting cell phone screens.

“I’m really open to suggestions in what the community is looking for,” Matter said.

Matter recently moved back to Austin to be closer to her family, after living in California for six years and several years in Owatonna.

Her brother, Phil, has a degree in construction and was able to remodel the building into the current store. Randy is also a big help with moving, cleaning up and helping with many other activities, she said.

“It’s great. They’re my backbone,” Matter said. “It’s kind of a fun thing that you’ve got a local home girl back home and with her family, just fixing phones.”

She added she loves the community and being near her family.

Her nephew Josh Novak and his friend, Stewart, also work at the store. Stewart is a technician who has experience with computers and cell phones and recently went to Ohio for more training. He also manages the store’s website and Facebook page.

“We want to make sure they’re done right and they have quality parts in them,” Matter said.

If the phone is beyond repair, the store can recycle them to the appropriate areas for customers. They will also take “junk” phones in and practice with them.

“We can practice pulling them apart and playing with them for training … if we have a phone like it,” Matter said. “Mostly, we just recycle them.”

Fix-A-Phone can be reached at 507-433-7070, on Facebook at Fix-A-Phone Austin, MN, or www.fixaphoneaustin.com.