I found this really interesting article about an young enterpreneur in zurich who offers to help any iphone issue

http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/zueric....13177484.html

if you google "iphone klinik zurich" you will find his very detailed website.
unfortunately I didn't find any english translation of either, but I'm sure they can help in english, too, if you call or visit them.

I thought the idea is pretty good and much needed, I will certainly try them at the first occasion. or does anyone already know how they work?

oh, if anyone needs help with translating the details, feel free to contact me

Or why not just book a free Genius appointment at the Apple store?

They even speak English ;-)

They don't repair your phone for free when you drop it on the floor though.

This service is predominantly for out of warranty older iPhones I'd imagine....it's hardly a new service though, and I don't see why it warrants a newspaper article about it

I can't tell about him, but this my experience:

I dropped my iPhone4 (3 months old), glass shattered.

Apple want to sell me a "new" Phone, somewhere in 500+ range
A Cellphone shop would do the repair for 300.-
Online I found someone for 150.-

I ordered at the end by amazon, in California for $ 29.90 plus 2.99 Tools and 12.- shipping
Arrived a week later, fits (don't buy AT&T iPhone, they are slightly different ?!!) Just read the customer comments.

Youtube has brilliant videos how to disassemble and assembly it again.
Lots of fiddling, tiny screws and connectors, about an hour, it works!

For testing I tried to separate the touch panel from the glass, no way!
Make sure you order the assembly and not just the glass!


George

well done! I wish I were as technically fit as you are. in your case you found the cleverest solution for you.
as for technical dummies like me I must say that I have found the you tube tutorials or other internet resources really helpful for software issues, but if it's about physical replacing or mending I certainly need "external" help, and that's why I found this service interesting (being the old fashioned type who prefers to walk into a shop and have someone in flesh and blood to deal with rather than trusting online services)

my experience with the apple store in bahnhofstrasse was mixed: they did replace the broken glass on my iphone 3G for 120 CHF in about 2,5 seconds from my walking in (which makes them cheaper than or comparable with the online service you mention for iphone 4) - BUT it happened so quickly that I didn't even have to time to consider if it was going to be convenient for me to do it in the first place (because of unlocking issues). so I felt pretty stupid and ill-advised, because they said - after repairing it - that they couldn't help me with telephoning issues, just with the functional aspect. thanks a lot!
in the end I managed to solve the problem on my own thanks to the internet tutorials, but it cost me a lot of nerves and time.

here's a short video about the clinic guy who explains in swiss german how he's repairing the glass on an iphone that has been run over buy a lorry
http://www.nzz.ch/notfaelle_in_der_i...deo=1.13173510

I think I would give him a chance to tell me his prices next time I have a problem, if he accepts to speak any other language that swiss german to me

I forgot to mention the help I got from EF members in solving the unlocking issues! better than youtube in my case.