[bduerst]

Isn't that the problem though?

That someone in a mall kiosk is more skilled and authorized to fix a phone than an entire Apple store full of Apple geniuses?

Edit: Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASP) have mall kiosks, for those doubting authorization.

[GuB-42]

That guy in the mall kiosk makes money by fixing phones. Apple makes money by selling new phones, and geniuses are paid to follow a script.

[ls15]

> That guy in the mall kiosk makes money by fixing phones. Apple makes money by selling new phones, and geniuses are paid to follow a script.

Telling customers that the phone cannot be repaired is deceptive though when it actually can be repaired. That's where I would expect regulators to step in.

The honest answer would have been: "We are not competent to repair your phone. Maybe someone else can repair it."

[rasz]

> Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASP) have mall kiosks

AASPs are prohibited from doing component level repair, they are only allowed to sent the phone to apple for anything more than major component (screen battery camera) swap.

The story would look exactly the same, motherboard problem = $560.

[bipson]

Ah, when talking about authorized:

Several repairs on iPhones and other Apple hardware are exactly that: not authorized by Apple, unless done by Apple itself.

[throwawayboise]

Skilled perhaps. Authorized? No. At least not by Apple.

[vangelis]

Harry Tuttle, cellphone repairman, at your service.