Phone Repairs Are Getting Ridiculous - Here's Why

Question

In front of me, I have three iphone 4 water damaged 15s. Ouch, that was painful and stupid, but necessary for this experiment. I've destroyed each iPhone with the same force in the same places to answer an important question: Who should you be getting to repair your phone?
Let's call this one phone number one. I've set a cheap-looking green background to represent the fact that this one we're going to get repaired by whoever will take the least amount of money. Phone 2, this middle yellow one, will be repaired by someone charging a fair price. I'll set a deep red wallpaper for phone 3 because this one is going directly to Apple, likely expensive. We’ll see who does it the cheapest and who does it the best.
First, let’s make some phone calls. Starting with Phone Garage, they quoted Ł320 for an official Apple screen and Ł180 for a non-genuine one, plus Ł75 for the back. Next, a place with a poorly kept Facebook page offered Ł180 for a non-genuine screen and threw in a free screen protector, but they don't replace just the back glass—they do the full housing. E Mobile Repair is our cheapest option.
Then I spoke to a supposedly Apple-certified Repair Center. They quoted Ł300 for a genuine Apple screen, explaining that Apple hardware locks parts to specific phones, making it less repairable by third parties. They confirmed Apple makes a profit on parts, charging Ł439 for a genuine mid chassis and Ł400 for a screen.
Next, I checked Apple’s official repair costs: Ł289 for a cracked screen, Ł169 for back glass damage, totaling Ł399. Surprisingly, Apple’s official repair wasn't the most expensive option.
Now, let’s get the ball rolling. First, I went to the cheapest repair place. They were quick, promising a one-hour repair for the screen. However, they didn’t offer back replacements, so I had to go to another place for that. They said they’d need to order the part, delaying the repair. This wasn’t ideal.
Next, I went to the place that used official parts. They quoted Ł450 for both the screen and back, but later said they couldn’t source the parts and suggested waiting indefinitely.
Finally, I contacted Apple. They don’t have a store in my area but sent me to an approved service center. They quoted Ł399 for the full repair and said it would take three working days. While not the cheapest, this route guaranteed original parts and warranty retention.
The results were clear. The cheapest repair cost Ł255 in total but involved multiple trips and waiting for parts. The quality was subpar—the screen protector was misaligned, and the screen had poor viewing angles and responsiveness. The back repair left glue visible around the edges and inside the camera.
The mid-tier option was unreliable. They couldn’t source parts and didn’t provide a clear timeline.
Apple’s official repair, while not the fastest, provided the best quality and warranty retention. The phone looked and functioned like new, with all original features intact.
In conclusion, the repair industry is tricky. While the cheapest option might save money, the quality and reliability are questionable. The official repair, though more expensive, guarantees the best results and retains the phone’s warranty. The middle option is often a compromise that may not be worth it. For most people, going through Apple or an Apple-approved service center is the best choice, ensuring quality repairs and peace of mind.