Boomer0001

Former AASP tech speaking. Could look at it in 2 scenarios: Scenario 1: From our perspective, they'd be paying exchange price for all the parts because we could return them. We never ran into the issue about the stickers because no one ever messed with them. The ~$3400 + labor would have been about right. Our shop would have charged $65/hr, and that's about a 2-3 hour repair for everything, so coming in at ~$3600 + tax. Scenario 2: If we could have returned the MLB under warranty and they only paid for the screen, probably under ~$1600, but I don't have the pricing in front of me to say exactly. If MLB was replaced and PSU needed to be as well, we'd have tried to get that under warranty as well.

It may be the same panel but the cabling won't carry over necessarily. Connectors, lengths could be different, etc. As mentioned in the video thread, I think their best bet is to actually send it to an AASP and have them attempt the repair as warranty replacement first, and if they're blacklisted, do stock parts. Pricey either way, but it can be fixed.

So from what I can tell, looking at the prices that I have access too, a lot depends on if it's done as a replacement or stock parts. As a replacement, it'd run about $2300USD before taxes. As a stock replacement, it's about $5800USD. The large difference is whether or not Apple would accept the part if they've blacklisted the Serial Number. If Apple refuses parts, they charge a stock price that's outrageous. At this point, you would be better off sending it to an AASP for warranty repair and holding your breath they don't kill you on the Logic Board (Mother Board) pricing. The other option is to ship it to one of us in the US and we can try here at an AASP. However, there would be no video out of it because Apple refuses to let people record repairs on site without prior approval and fat chance at that.