Apple investigated by CBC News over Genius Bar repair policies and pricing

[StVincent]

@prodigalphreak

Yes, if you go to a small local shop for your repair, they may just find a bent pin that they can bend back and you get away with a $50 charge. This shop may also be unskilled and inexperienced and cause damage while in or opening your computer and have no access to certified/reliable parts and undo any damage they’ve done.

I popped for the 25 buck battery replacement on my iPhone 6 and the tab on the battery tab snapped off. Rather that trying to dangerously remove it through force, they just gave me a new phone.

So yeah, your mileage may vary.