They will all repair your device – an authorised Apple service centre, a good, quality repair shop and a lower-quality one too. The question, though, is how well, for how much money, and whether there's a catch somewhere.
Apple offers plenty of support and service options for its products. Choosing the ideal one is up to you. In the Czech Republic there is no Apple Store where you could take your device in person, or send it, to sort the problem out directly with the company. So you have to visit a repair shop. It can be either authorised or unauthorised. If you bought the device, e.g. an iPhone, from a mobile operator, you have to go to the operator first.
See the prices of individual repairs at a quality repair shop.
How much will it cost?
Let's not kid ourselves: this is the most common and, for many people, the most important question. It's also what sets a good, quality repair shop, even an unauthorised one, and an authorised Apple service centre apart from a poor-quality repair shop. If your problem is covered by the warranty or by consumer protection law, the repair won't cost you anything. If it isn't covered by the warranty, the price will depend on the type of repair.
If you come in with a problem that is covered by the warranty, an authorised Apple service centre won't ask you for any money – it settles that directly with the company afterwards. If, however, you take a warranty problem to an unauthorised repair shop, you need to expect to pay for the repair.
An authorised Apple service centre is more expensive, a quality unauthorised repair shop is cheaper, and both have their advantages
With repair shops, besides whether the parts are genuine, it's important to take into account the warranty on out-of-warranty repairs. A good, quality repair shop can also be recognised by the long warranty it gives on such repairs (as appleguru.cz does, for example). This warranty is your assurance that the replacement part is good quality and that the repair shop stands behind it. The worst thing you can come across is poor-quality parts at an unreasonably low price; it's best to avoid these altogether, because they may not work correctly.
What's more, a poor-quality repair shop doesn't even give a warranty on such parts, and it usually doesn't give one on its work either. Why? Because it doesn't trust them, any more than it trusts itself. Its technicians don't have to go through any training, and so on.
The American company's products are not among the cheapest, so you shouldn't begrudge spending a little extra on quality service. With poor-quality components you reduce not only the value of the device but also how comfortable it is to use.
Professional, fast and with a warranty
A quality MacBook repair shop will not only repair your MacBook but also clean it, or extend its capabilities with more powerful hardware. A top iPhone repair shop will also supply protective cases for your phone, or apply a glass screen protector there and then so that the display doesn't break next time.
So a quality Apple repair shop is professional, fast thanks to its booking system, inexpensive for bulk repairs, and on top of that comes with the warranty already mentioned. A top repair shop will fit your MacBook, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch or Apple TV with new genuine parts and give a warranty on both its work and the components themselves.
And what are the prices at a quality Apple repair shop – appleguru.cz? Take a look at the price list for iPhone, MacBook and other repairs.
Important note before you visit a repair shop
Whether you choose an authorised or a quality unauthorised repair shop for your MacBook, iMac, iPhone, iPad tablet or iPod touch media player, it's a good idea to have your Apple ID and password ready. And before you set off from home, make sure your device is backed up. No repair shop, not even an authorised one, is responsible for lost data.
