At 35 years old, Wilmer Becerra has managed to build a successful technology resale business with a story worthy of a screenplay. However, his name was only transferred to his hometown in 2020, with the outbreak of the pandemic Bucaramangain Colombia after becoming popular around the world due to his talent for repairing devices from the famous technology company Apple, which led to him having problems with the empire he founded Steve Jobs.
“They tell them that their iPhone can't be repaired and that's why they're looking for me,” he told the British media channel BBC about his Wiltech business, which has managed to expand to other Latin American countries such as Peru, Mexico, Ecuador . Bolivia and more.
Wilmer Becerra's success led to him getting into trouble with Apple. Photo: @wiltech_oficial/Instagram
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Who is Wilmer Becerra, owner of Wiltech?
The company history of Wilmer Becerra He was born in 2008, when the birth of his first child forced him to abandon his electronics studies at the Industrial University of Santander in order to earn money. In this way, he started repairing laptops in the Gratamira shopping center, where he gradually gained more experience.
Although his income improved, his boss did not pay him his salary on time, so he gradually decided to buy his own equipment with which he could start his business. His plan to become independent was finally pushed forward after his employer fired him when he demanded fair payment of his payments.
After resuming his studies and teaming up with a fellow university student, Wilmer Becerra decided to open his own restaurant, Wiltech. Although the place was small, he received two to three computers per week, which was enough to meet his obligations.
First Wiltech office in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Photo: @wiltech_oficial/Instagram
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Out of ambition or, as he told El Tiempo, “because he wanted to do everything very quickly,” Becerra broke up with his friend and decided on something bigger: returning to the Gratamira shopping center, but now as his own boss. With his savings, he started his small room, where three computers arrived per day rather than per week.
After a good phase, the first ups and downs appeared. It all started with a failed investment of 40 million pesos (more than $10,000) suggested to him by a friend and with which he ended up being scammed. In addition, the presence of technology dealers caused many PC sales operations in Gratamira Mall to move into the repair sector, increasing competition and reducing their revenue.
Wilmer Becerra started repairing technical items at the age of 25. Photo: @wiltech_oficial/Instagram
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The happiness of the apple
Amid a series of complications in his business, everything seemed to change one day in 2012 Wilmer Becerra. A desperate tourist came to him with his MacBook – a laptop from the famous Apple brand – which, he was told by the same company, would be very expensive to repair. “The computer wouldn't turn on, I told him I didn't know the brand and had never repaired one before, but he insisted. “I told him he could give it to me if he wanted and I would try to fix it without promising him anything,” he said in an interview with the BBC.
Nevertheless, he accepted the challenge and began analyzing the laptop for days until he managed to find the defect: the processor had suffered a short circuit, which he was able to fix. Since it was his first time repairing this kind of equipment, he didn't know how much to charge, so he dared to charge twice the usual amount.
Wiltech specializes in repairing all types of Apple products. Photo: @wiltech_oficial/Instagram
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“The customer surprised me because when I told him the price, he didn't even ask for a discount. I said in amazement, “The guy doesn't even ask for a discount and everyone generally cries.” “Where does this 'man' come from? He's extraterrestrial. “One who is used to everyone saying, 'A little discount, please,'” Wilmer told El Tiempo.
In this way, he gradually got more of these computers at the same time as iPhone phones came onto the market, giving him more profits. “Suddenly I thought, ‘The business is cell phones. They love computers, but they love iPhones even more,'” he said.
Added to this was his beginnings on social networks, where he began sharing videos while repairing Apple products, as many people tend to doubt how and with what they repair their technical items.
In fact, one of the most popular publications he published was on how to check if your iPhone screen is original or generic.
Wilmer Becerra's Wiltech operations have expanded to Mexico, Peru, Chile, Ecuador and other countries. Photo: @wiltech_oficial/Instagram
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The pandemic and your dispute with Apple
Although his videos gained views, they improved with the pandemic, as did his business. Because he needed optimal equipment, he received more and more computers and telephones, even from countries like Mexico. This led him to expand his branches: three in Colombia and another eight in the rest of Latin America.
His success caught the attention of Apple, which threatened to sue him as they claimed he was misusing the trademark. Nonetheless, Wilmer Becerra advised and responded to the company. “Is it a crime to repair devices that Apple says no longer have a solution for? “Can’t the owner of an iPhone decide for himself where to repair the devices he owns?” he said.
He then continued his successful business, which will allow him to complete the upcoming opening of his first store in Bogotá. “I work for the user that Apple doesn't serve. “This is obviously a grain of sand in the desert, but it is also an act of rebellion against the excessive consumerism in which we live,” he told the BBC.