An Apple Store’s Genius Bar in Cribbs Causeway, Bristol, UK.
Apple has started a trial program to repair some broken iPads in-store, which may result in a return to how it was a decade ago.
If you have a damaged iPad, the current policy at most Apple Store Genius Bars is to ship it from the store to an Apple repair center, and offer customers a replacement. That may change by the end of 2025, with the possibility of a return to in-store repairs.
Sources of iGeneration say that Apple is reviewing its iPad repair policy as part of a trial. The site says that 30 Apple Store locations, located mainly in the United States, will be able to carry out a limited number of iPad repairs in-store.
This is not a new initiative. Apple started this evaluation process years ago, and recently ramped it up with the addition of the iPad to the self repair program.
More extensive repairs will be farmed out to repair centers, with European repairs handled by a Pegatron workshop in the Czech Republic. For simpler repairs, which are also described as being “modular,” they can be handled within the store itself.
Sticker shock reduction
While the change could significantly reduce repair times for damaged hardware, the policy could also help customers’ wallets.
At present, the policy for hardware needing repairs is to completely replace the unit. However, unless the repair is obvious, the customer is given a quote based on the maximum out-of-warranty price for the hardware, with exceptions for AppleCare+.
The actual final bill is calculated at a lower rate after the repair has been made and parts replaced. The problem is that this refactoring of the bill happens long after the initial handing over of the iPad for the repair, leading to sticker shock at the Apple Store.
By repairing the iPad in-store, this should significantly reduce the amount of time it takes to work out what needs replacement and to carry out the work. It would be a much more transparent process for consumers, who would know about the actual cost a lot sooner.
The initial report cites up to 30 locations getting the trial. At present, we know of 18 stores that have it for sure, and they’re all flagships or very large locations.
The trial doesn’t mean that all Apple Stores will do in-store repairs in the future. Stores with plenty of space “backstage” will be candidates, while other smaller locations will continue sending off repairs as usual.
