This Blog post has been reprinted by permission from The Forge Flyer from Baltimore

“I dropped my iPhone recently and the front glass cracked in about 25 places. But it was still usable. Price for to get it fixed at the Apple store: $200. Which is what I paid for the phone in the first place (well, my employer paid for it). Also, you have to make an appointment just to drop off your broken item at the Apple store in Towson. That seems a little weird to me.

So I ordered a kit from Amazon for $17 to fix it. That didn’t go so well (I couldn’t get all the screws out and then I couldn’t get it back together correctly) so I called MacMedics down by BWI. Normally it would have been about $90 to fix it but because I already had the new glass and the digitizer, they only charged me $49. And they fixed it the same day. Yay!

My MacBook froze up and started beeping at me at about the same time and luckily it was still under the extended warranty and Apple fixed it well, so no complaints there. ”

MacMedics Announces New Lower Prices For Same-Day iPhone 3G and 3G S Glass/Digitizer Service

iPhone 3G Glass/Digitizer Repair $89.95
iPhone 3G S Glass/Digitizer Repair $99.95

You can drop your iPhone 3G or 3G S off by 10:00 AM and we’ll most likely be able to have it ready for pick up by 4:00 PM. We also offer flat-rate $10 FedEx Ground shipping if you’d like to have your iPhone shipped back to you (We also have low-cost FedEx Express shipping options if you want your iPhone back quicker! We’re also happy to to use your FedEx account number and ship back via the FedEx service of your choice)

iPhone repairs are super popular and tons of sellers of Do-It-Yourself iPhone parts, tools, supplies, and videos have come out of the woodwork.

There are three huge things to consider:

1. Is the part you are buying the correct part for your unit AND is it a “real” part? Many sellers from eBay and Craigslist are selling “High Copy” parts, which are usually far inferior in quality.

3. If you “do it yourself” you’re undertaking the risk of damaging or destroying your iPhone. The people that make the videos are usually the same people selling the iPhone service parts, and they make it look super easy in the video. Why? They want you to think it IS easy so you buy the part from them. Also don’t forget that internal parts of an iPhone are very delicate and sensitive to static. We know this and take every precaution in our Apple inspected Mac Lab.

We’ve blogged about iPhone repairs many times before. So you can read our past posts here.

We love helping Mac Medics clients get their iPhones and iPods back to them quickly. We repair dozens of iPhones and iPods every week, and in the majority of the cases, the unit is fixed within a few hours of being dropped off here in our Millersville, Maryland Mac Lab.

There’e no need to send your iPod away to the West Coast or anywhere else (we hope it’s not some fly-by-night basement repair place) for that matter when you have a local, reliable, and trustworthy iPod/iPhone/Macintosh repair center right here in Central Anne Arundel County right near Arundel Mills Mall and BWI Airport.

Don’t forget that Facebook “Fans” of MacMedics get $10 off iPhone and $25 off Macintosh repairs. Make yourself a “Fan” right here and find out what all the buzz is about!

Here’s a testimonial that a nice guy who was heading to Afghanistan sent us. Nothing better than getting an iPhone back in the hands of a member of the Armed Forces.

“Mr. Stibolt,
 
I don’t know if you will remember me or not, but I am the U.S. Military member whose iPhone your company fixed the day before I left for deployment. Having my iPhone fixed same day was very helpful! I just wanted to thank you and your company personally again. Having my iPhone with me here overseas allows me to communicate with my family back home without worrying about big phone bills. I will be sure to mention MacMedics to every Mac or iPod/iPhone owner I see! So, thanks again and I look forward to doing more business with you in the future.

Sincerely,
Damu M.”

When MacMedics performs an Apple Warranty or AppleCare repair for one of our clients, Apple sends a follow up e-mail to ask how we did. These are some of the mini-reviews that we have received.

#1 The service I received at MacMedics was very good and they always called me and left messages updating the status and progress of my computer.
—–
#2 I loved being able to walk in talk to a rep and have the work started right away. They have great customer service they always keep me up to date on their progress and explain their work and my service options every step of the way.
—–
#3 They were awesome. Nuff said. Dana runs a great show there.
—–
#4 They were fantastic. The service was quick the people were friendly and willing to answer all of my questions.

These are anonymous comments, so if one of these Apple Warranty or AppleCare reviews for MacMedics is yours, thank you!

If you need Apple Macintosh please consider visiting MacMedics in Millersville or Lanham instead of trekking to your local Apple Store. You never need an appointment, we’re 10 steps from your car, We’re cheaper, we’re faster (most warranty repairs are completed in 24 hours), and above all we’re accurate! We only fix what needs fixing. See our previous post with our Top Ten Reasons Not To Stand In Line And Fight The Crowds At The Apple Store.

Don’t forget that MacMedics Millersville also repairs all types of iPods and iPhones. Don’t pay Apple to swap out your iPhone for $199? We can fix your iPhone 3G glass or digitizer for $89 or iPhone 3G S for $99 (we also have “While-You-Wait iPhone service where we swap out the entire top half of your iPhone 3G for $124 or iPhone 3G S for $145. What’s even better, is almost iPhone and iPod service and repairs that come into our shop are fixed the same day. If you’re in by 12:00 Noon, we should have you out the door or your iPhone in the FedEx truck by 5:00 PM!

MacMedics is well know for our award-winning Macintosh service & consulting, as well as our iPhone & iPod repair. So much so, that other firms offering similar services have ripped off our name, our look, and even our ads.

In the case listed below, the image used in our ad was a photo that we actually took in our office. believe it or not, it’s quite difficult to get a picture of an iPhone facing the camera straight on. The iPhone’s glass or lens reflects right back to the camera so getting a good shot was no easy task. In order to get the shot for this ad, we created our own “white box” to place the iPhone so we could get the best shot possible.

MacMedics holds a U.S. Government Trademark on the name “MacMedics”.

Here’s one of the more recent cases of someone ripping MacMedics off. In order to prevent unintentional promotion for the other business, the names and information have been blurred out to protect the not so innocent.

I did e-mail the firm that posted this ad, and while they offered no apology or explanation, they did change the ad so that our image was no longer in the ad. They also switched up the layout of the ad, so it no longer appears to be a direct rip off. For that, I thank them.

Some of the other Internet based firms that offer iPhone service and repair are now making a big deal out of how they now accept walk-in repairs, and that they also same day iPhone service. MacMedics has always offered same day iPhone and iPod service. Drop your sick iPhone or iPod off in the morning, and we’ll have it done by the end of the day (in almost every case).

Even if you send us your iPhone or iPod, we normally have it fixed and back on the FedEx truck the same day it arrives. If you need us to send you a pre-paid FedEx label, just e-mail us your name, address, and phone number, and we’ll e-mail you back a PDF of a label. We just add $10 onto your repair for this service.

Do you have a 3G iPhone and you’re in an extreme hurry? Well, MacMedics does offer the iPhone 3G “Apple” broken glass or LCD repair solution. We can replace the entire top half of your iPhone 3G while-you-wait in about 5 minutes. Same price as Apple, $199. If you become a MacMedics “fan” on Facebook, and we’ll knock $10 of any iPhone or iPod repair!

I recently updated my Blog post warning against Do-It-Yourself iPhone repairs. I’ve copied-n-pasted a teaser below for your reading enjoyment. If you care to read the updated post, you can find it here!

We are seeing more and more iPhones that have been damaged during do-it-yourself repairs. Folks, the videos you see on-line make it look very easy. There’s a reason for that, the companies that make these step-by-step videos on iPhone and iPod disassembly and repair are the same people that are selling all of the parts, tools, and supplies you need to perform the repairs. They want it to look as easy as possible and they often edit the video in their favor making it look like it’s easier then it really is and that it takes less time then it will take you. I can guarantee you that guy/gal in the video is NOT performing the repair you are watching for the FIRST time.

This blog post is a bit of rant, so if you’re already on the same page as me, and you think paying $20 to $30 plus parts cost, and getting FREE return shipping via FedEx to have my guys fix your iPhone right the first time, and you want to avoid the risk of trying it yourself then, just use this form. If you need us to e-mail you a pre-paid FedEx Express label we can do that too, and we’ll just add $10 onto your total repair. Questions? Just call us 1-866-MAC-MEDICS or Email us. 99% of the iPhones that reach us are fixed the same day the arrive, and we pack them back up and ship them back for next day FedEx delivery. If you’re local to the Baltimore-Washington DC area, then just drop your iPhone off in the morning, and we’ll have it done by the end of the day!

If you need more convincing, then keep reading. I love to talk shop!

Update: 1/5/10

See all of our iPhone “Do-It-Yourself” warnings posts at this link. They have become some of the most popular posts on the MacMedics Blog because they are true. Check’ em out!

Update: 11/6/09

We are seeing more and more iPhones that have been damaged during do-it-yourself repairs. Folks, the videos you see on-line make it look very easy. There’s a reason for that, the companies that make these step-by-step videos on iPhone and iPod disassembly and repair are the same people that are selling all of the parts, tools, and supplies you need to perform the repairs. They want it to look as easy as possible and they often edit the video in their favor making it look like it’s easier then it really is and that it takes less time then it will take you. I can guarantee you that guy/gal in the video is NOT performing the repair you are watching for the FIRST time.

This blog post is a bit of rant, so if you’re already on the same page as me, and you think paying $20 to $30 plus parts cost, and getting low cost $10 return shipping via FedEx to have our MacMedics expert techs fix your iPhone right the first time, and you want to avoid the risk of trying it yourself then, just use this form. If you need us to e-mail you a pre-paid FedEx Express label we can do that too, and we’ll just add $20 onto your total repair. Questions? Just call us 1-866-MAC-MEDICS or Email us. 99% of the iPhones that reach us are fixed the same day the arrive, and we pack them back up and ship them back for next day FedEx delivery. If you’re local to the Baltimore-Washington DC area, then just drop your iPhone off in the morning (at our Millersville, Maryland office), and we’ll have it done by the end of the day!

If you need more convincing, then keep reading. I love to talk shop!

So you broke your glass on your iPhone, you look on-line and find what appears to be a reasonable price on the replacement part.

Here are some questions you NEED to consider BEFORE you pay for the parts.

1. Is it a real part, or is just a copy. If copies of the iPhone glass worked well, then I would offer them. I don’t and the reason is, they are terrible. Just like all of the other well made Apple products, the parts all fit together very tightly, so a cheap knock-off part is not going to have the same fit and finish as the real thing.

2. What’s the total price? Ok, so you’re buying the part. Something that weighs about an ounce, and they’re charging $5, $6, or $7 for shipping? That’s a rip off. If you have MacMedics repair your iPhone we offer $10 flat rate FedEx Ground , so you’ll have your phone soon day after we fix it. Want FedEx Express instead, No problem it’s usually about $20 total.

3. Do you have everything you need to perform the repair? You DO need correct tools, a “spudger”, and you need the correct supplies as well. When installing a new iPhone lens (the top glass) it needs to be correctly held into place. As you can see from the picture in this Blog post, people try all kinds of things including epoxy, Super Glue, and double-sided tape. This is not what you want to use. You need a laser cut adhesive strip that fits your iPhone model correctly.

4. What’s the warranty on the part you are planning on buying? Lots of people are selling parts on-line and on eBay, once they have your money and they’ve sold all of their parts that they got from who knows where, are they going to be around tomorrow to provide a warranty? Most likely not. MacMedics is a well established business founded in 1989, so we’ll be here if you have a problem with our repair. All of our iPhone repairs are backed by our 1-year no-hassle warranty.

4. Just like in the case mentioned below in the Blog post, people often break other parts of their iPhone when they try to service their unit on their own. If you make even one mistake, you could end up in a situation where you need two parts and that adds up very quickly. A common mistake is to crack the LCD while trying to remove the broken glass. (Like this guy!)

5. Do you have the right part? You can buy the iPhone glass WITHOUT the digitizer attached for about $10. This looks like a good plan, but separating the glass from the digitizer is nearly impossible and it’s just not worth the risk. With iPods more than iPhone, people that order their own parts often end up with the wrong item or the right part but for the wrong revision iPod or iPhone.

6. How much time will you have to wait in order to get the part you ordered or how long will you iPhone be away at some “basement repair center”. Seriously, you don’t want to have to wait for some guy who works at Pizza Hut come home from his day job in order to process your order or repair your iPhone and then ship out the order/repair when he feels like it. Plus, your time is valuable! For a first-timer doing this repair, figure about 2 hours. Plus you’ll need to be grounded for static (another expense and risk. Read the Blog post below).

Save yourself a whole bunch of hassle and just send your iPhone to MacMedics for repair. Yeah, it costs a little more, but what’s $30 to $40 more, when it can be repaired quickly, and efficiently with a 1-year warranty and free return shipping via FedEx Express.

If you’re ready to ship your iPhone to us, just use this form. If you need us to e-mail you a pre-paid FedEx Express label we can do that too, and we’ll just add $20 onto your total repair. Questions? Just call us 1-866-MAC-MEDICS or Email us

Here’s an iPhone 3G that a client brought to us today. He tried to do the repair himself and not only did he mess up the part he bought (new top glass for about $50), he also ruined the gasket that goes around the glass. Also, note the red arrows where he tried to use double sided foam tape to hold the glass/digitizer to the frame. This DID NOT work. We also discovered that he scratched the LCD, and he must have NOT been grounded for static, as the logic board was also ruined. Sadly, he’s going to be buying a new iPhone – This unit is toast. We’ve pointed this out before, but going the DIY route only saves you about $40. Don’t risk further damage or delays, just send it to MacMedics. We’ll get it done same day, and we’ll do it right. We’ve already performed this repair many, many times. See our Blog post for all of the details.

Don’t forget this. In this case the client went the DIY route, bought all the DIY parts, DIY supplies, paid the shipping on the DIY parts, then destroyed the DIY parts trying to use them, so he can’t get his money back (and they might not have been returnable in the first place depending on where they came from), AND he has to replace the iPhone. So figure if you bought all you need it’s going to be about $75, the parts get messed up in the attempt, and the phone gets toasted in the process. That’s about $500 if you can’t get a new iPhone subsidized by a new two-year contract. So add up all your time and hassle, plus $500 versus a MacMedics repair which is $109.99 with a 1-year warranty.

iPhone front glass/digitizer + spudger + adhesive kit = $75.84 Paying MacMedics $34.14 extra to do it right = priceless http://bit.ly/4Jszz

MacMedics is pleased to announce that we are now performing all iPhone (first & second generation) and iPod touch repairs.

MacMedics will repair your 3G iPhone’s digitizer (the glass on the front of the unit) for $89.95.

Update 9/4/09: MacMedics is now also offering iPhone 3G S glass/digitizer repairs. Same deal as below for $99.95. MacMedics Facebook Fans get $10 off these prices (for a limited time).

Here’s what our service includes:

1. Same day service. Drop it off in the morning, and pick it up in the afternoon!

3. If send us your broken or sick iPhone to us, we’ll repair it return your iPhone via FedEx Overnight shipping for just $10. If needed, we can arrange to send you a pre-paid FedEx label as a PDF via e-mail, and you can securely pack and ship your phone to us for $10 extra ($20 round trip). If you live or work near our shop in Millersville, MD (5 minutes from BWI airport) you can drop it off in the morning and in most cases pick it up in the afternoon.

Having your iPhone repaired locally makes good sense, as you don’t have to worry about shipping it to the West Coast (or who knows where!) or when you’ll get your iPhone back. All MacMedics iPod & iPhone repairs are performed only in our Millersville, MD office. Of course, if you’re a MacMedics client or just someone that wants to ensure that your iPhone is being handled by a reputable Mac service firm, we are happy to accept iPhones that are mailed into our repair center. If you’d like us to e-mail you a FedEx label, just get in touch, and we’ll send one right over. We are going to be shooting for same day turn around for all iPhone glass repairs. You can drop your iPhone off in the morning, and we will likely have it done later that same day.

Apple iPhone 3G with cracked/shattered glass (digitizer)

Don’t forget that MacMedics also fixes all other types of iPods (including) the 4th gen Nano. We also specialize in difficult Macintosh repairs, like LCD replacements, MacBook and MacBook Pro hard drive upgrades (to 1 TB), liquid spill rescues, Mac & iPod data recovery, and logic board repairs at very competitive prices. All MacMedics hardware repairs are backed by our “no-hassle” 1-year MacMedics warranty. The Apple Store and most other service providers only offer a 90-day warranty.

As always, no appointments are necessary for all iPods, iPhone, and Macintosh repairs. Just walk in to speak to any of our expert Mac techs.

A number of MacMedics clients have asked if the Apple warranty or AppleCare will cover a broken iPhone screen. Sadly, no the Apple warranty is null and void if you drop the phone and break the digitizer or LCD. Same holds true for iPhones that have water damage. There are detectors inside the phone and at both the top (headphone jack) and the bottom (dock connector) that will turn pink to indicate when water has been present (from the factory, they are white in color).

There are also a number of 3G iPhone “glass” parts for sale on eBay and the Internet. They usually sell for about $20 or so. This part IS the glass for the front of the iPhone. The only problem is that there is no practical way to separate the working digitizer from the broken iPhone glass. The part we use is the glass with the digitizer already attached. This is really the best way to do this repair. Also, as a side note, all iPhones are very difficult to open without causing damage and the iPhone’s cables, screws, and parts inside the iPhone are TINY. We’ve already seen a number of phones that people have tried to fix on their own with unhappy results. Even if you can find the right part, that’s not counterfeit, or has flaws in the glass, you’re only going to save about $40 by doing the repair yourself. Bring it to us and let us take care of it for you. Don’t take my word for it, read this posting from Jay Garmon from TechRepublic. He did his own repair, and said he’d not do it again.

There’s a flurry of people all over the Internet offering iPhone and iPod repair services. We hear about them all the time, and we often have to “re-fix” items that have ALREADY been repaired once. We only use the parts we’d use for ourselves in our own repairs. We also are not afraid to spend an extra few dollars to get a iPod battery that’s actually pretty decent. Many of our iPod repairs include a free battery and all include free ground return shipping. Don’t get the run around from a guy that has to do his REAL job first, then work on your iPhone at night to make extra money. This IS what we do, and we love it! We’re also a REAL Mac repair shop, so come visit our Apple Certified technicians and we’ll help you figure out the best way to to get your Mac. iPhone, or iPod fixed for you.

Here's what the shop floor at MacMedics looks like.

About MacMedics:

Since 1989, MacMedics has offered its clients award-winning Apple sales, support and consulting to business, education and residential customers. The company offers a broad range of services including desktop computer set-up, maintenance and administration, system and network administration, consulting and technology planning, Internet service and hardware set-up and troubleshooting, onsite and in-store training, emergency response and preventative maintenance. MacMedics provides Apple Authorized sales and service to over 8500 clients from their three offices in Baltimore, Washington, and Philadelphia.

MacMedics is the oldest and largest Apple Authorized Value Added Reseller and Apple Authorized Service Provider in the Mid-Maryland area. Our headquarters in Millersville, MD is home to our award-winning Mac service center.

MacMedics’ Millersville, Maryland Apple Service Center is 5 minutes south of Baltimore-Washington International airport (BWI) and 1/10 of a mile from I-97. We are only 10 miles from Ft. Meade/NSA and just 1 mile from Severna Park and about 5 miles from Arnold.

Coming from the Apple Store in Annapolis, MD? http://tinyurl.com/cgzt4a

Coming from the Apple Store in Towson, MD? http://tinyurl.com/cbevvm

Coming from the Apple Store in Columbia, MD? http://tinyurl.com/cbftyl

Here’s an iPhone that we fixed recently. The damage is pretty bad, so look away:

After we replaced the glass and the LCD you can’t tell that this iPhone ever had a problem.