| Many people question if it's worth the money to repair | | | | 2-year contract you would get a different subsidized |
| a damaged iPhone, so I am here to clear up any | | | | price (And yes, special limitations apply). The Early |
| misunderstandings that people have when it comes to | | | | Upgrade prices are also very high. For a 4th |
| the value of iPhone repairs. The truth is that it is | | | | Generation iPhone, you will pay $400 for a 16gb |
| always wise to repair a broken iPhone, even if you are | | | | iPhone, and $500 for a 32gb iPhone. A 3GS iPhone |
| going to trade it in on a 4th Generation model. | | | | with 8gb of memory would set you back $300. |
| First, some basic facts about how much an iPhone | | | | The frustrating part for iPhone repair companies is that |
| really costs. As many readers know, an iPhone's true | | | | most people have no clue that their broken phone is |
| cost is not the price you actually paid for it at the | | | | actually repairable in almost all cases. Customers who |
| AT&T or the Apple store when you sign a new 2 | | | | bring their broken devices into an AT&T store looking |
| year contract. The price you paid when you signed a | | | | for a solution are led to believe that they are forced to |
| 2-year contract is actually a subsidized price, so what | | | | buy a brand-new iPhone at high prices. Of course, this |
| you paid is actually reduced by AT&T since you are | | | | is money in the bank to AT&T and Apple. If your |
| agreeing to stick with them for another 2 years. You | | | | device was lost or stolen, indeed the only way to |
| can only be granted this subsidized price if you are | | | | replace it is to buy a new one. But there is no reason |
| eligible for an upgrade (which is about every 12-20 | | | | to take that kind of a loss on an iPhone that is merely |
| months). The true retail price of the current 4th | | | | damaged. Repairing your iPhone is completely worth |
| Generation iPhone, if you went into an AT&T or an | | | | your money. Anything else would be like buying a new |
| Apple store and did not sign a contract is $600 for a | | | | car because you get into a minor traffic accident. |
| 16gb and $700 for a 32gb. For a 3GS iPhone with 8gb | | | | In reality, most repairs for iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS |
| of memory, you will fork out around $500. | | | | can be done for less than $100. That means you can |
| Now AT&T does offer something called an "Early | | | | save over $200 if you repair your existing iPhone |
| Upgrade" with iPhones. This allows the customer to | | | | rather than agree to an early upgrade. All repairs for |
| purchase a new iPhone BEFORE their next upgrade | | | | the iPhone 4 are listed under $200, again $200 less |
| date by signing a NEW 2-year contract. For the new | | | | than replacing your device at the early upgrade price. |