How We Calculate Repair Quotes - Full Transparency
Our quote = parts + labour + 10% margin + 0% surprises. Here's the breakdown.
Transparent Repair Pricing. Quick answer
Most Dubai repair shops give an "estimate" that becomes a different number when you collect. We give a quote - fixed, written, agreed in advance. The number comes from a simple formula, not a market guess. Here's exactly what's inside it.
Parts cost
We buy at wholesale from audited Tier 2 OEM-equivalent suppliers (see our parts policy). The quote line shows the part name, tier, and our cost + margin. If you choose Tier 3 aftermarket to save money, the line item changes accordingly.
| Part | Workshop cost | Your quote line |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 15 Pro screen (Tier 2) | Price on request | Price on request |
| MacBook Air M2 battery (Tier 2) | Price on request | Price on request |
| iPhone 14 charging port (Tier 2) | Price on request | Price on request |
| MacBook Pro 14 M3 keyboard assembly | Price on request | Price on request |
Labour time (per service breakdown)
Labour is billed by technician time, scaled by seniority and tooling complexity. As a quick reference for how long each job typically takes:
- iPhone screen / battery: 30-45 min of bench time.
- MacBook battery (glued): 75-90 min of bench time.
- MacBook screen assembly: 60-90 min of bench time.
- Logic-board micro-soldering: 2-6 hours of specialist bench time.
- Liquid damage cleaning: 90 min - 4 hours depending on extent.
Message us on WhatsApp for today's exact quote on your model and fault.
Why we offer free diagnosis
Diagnosis is the part where most shops trap you - pay a non-refundable fee just to find out what's wrong, and then they hold the device hostage until you accept their (inflated) repair price. We don't do that. Free diagnosis means:
- You pay nothing to learn what's wrong.
- You take the device back even if you don't proceed.
- You can compare our quote to other shops freely.
We absorb the diagnosis cost (typically 30-60 min of technician time) into the workshop margin on jobs we win. About 88% of customers proceed after a free diagnosis, which makes the math work.
What's included in the quote
- The part(s) at the tier you chose.
- All labour required for the planned repair.
- Adhesives, screws, gaskets, calibration tools.
- Post-repair quality check + battery / display diagnostic.
- Pickup & delivery if you opted in.
- The warranty of up to 12 months.
What's NOT included
- Hidden additional damage discovered mid-repair - e.g. opening the MacBook reveals corrosion behind the screen we didn't see externally. We stop, photograph it, send you a revised quote, and only proceed with your written re-approval.
- Out-of-scope upsells - we won't surprise-bill you for "while we're in there, we replaced the speakers too".
- Data recovery - quoted separately if needed.
How we explain quote variations
Sometimes two customers with the same model get different quotes - usually because one chose Tier 2 and the other chose Tier 3, or the second device had additional damage. The quote always shows the line items so the difference is visible.
No-fix-no-charge policy
If we cannot solve your problem, you pay nothing - not even diagnosis, not even pickup. Read the full policy in our no-fix-no-charge breakdown.
'Estimates' vs 'quotes' - we give quotes
| Aspect | Estimate (most shops) | Quote (us) |
|---|---|---|
| Binding? | Yes - fixed before work starts | No - can change at pickup |
| Format | Written, line-itemised, on receipt | Verbal or text message |
| Variance at pickup | 0% unless we re-quoted in writing | Often +20-50% |
| Surprise additions | Never without written re-approval | Common |
Frequently asked questions
- We stop, photograph the additional issue, message you with a revised quote, and only proceed if you approve in writing (WhatsApp counts). If you decline, we re-assemble the device free and you owe nothing extra.
- Volume + retention. We do 1,500+ repairs a month with 60%+ repeat / referral business. Lower per-job margin works at our scale and reputation. Pop-up shops need 40-60% per job because they don't get repeat customers.
- We can give a price range from photos and a description over WhatsApp, but the firm quote requires a 10-minute physical diagnosis. Most often the WhatsApp range is accurate within 10-15%.
- Sometimes yes, but only against legitimate quotes from other reputable shops (with receipt, address, warranty). We won't match a kiosk quote that uses Tier 3 parts and 30-day warranty.
- Yes - all our quotes are VAT-inclusive (5% UAE VAT). The receipt breaks out the VAT separately for business customers who need it.
- Yes - always. We return removed parts (battery, screen, board, etc.) on request as proof. If you don't want them, we recycle through certified e-waste channels.
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About the author
Ali is a workshop manager at MacBook Repair Dubai, Dubai's longest-running Apple-only repair workshop (since 2004). Personally signs the QC checklist on every job leaving the bench.